I’m in an odd position. I’ve just sold a book, finally achieved the acclamation for my work I’ve longed for, and yet I feel more self-doubt than ever before. Despite visible success—a signed contract—I’m not convinced I know what I’m doing. I open Word tentatively, bucking up my courage to address my previously written files. […] Read more…
Snow in southern England
Southern England doesn’t get much snow, but in the last couple of years we’ve woken up to snow more than once. I love a snowy morning, before the snow drops from the tree limbs. This is the view from my bedroom window this morning. Last night we got about two inches of snow, on top […] Read more…
The Call
On January 11 I was preparing for bed. Deciding to check my email one last time, I opened my iPad and saw an email from the editor who’d been reading my manuscript. I tapped. And there it was, The Call. The Call is what writers call the moment you receive the first call (or when […] Read more…
Tidying up
My goal this weekend is to tidy my office. Wait, that sounds too British—not that “tidy” isn’t a perfectly proper verb in any English speaking nation, but used in this sense, it’s a typical British understatement. Because my office needs a lot more than “tidying”. It needs a wall-to-wall overhaul. A colonic cleanse. A therapeutic […] Read more…
Feed your muse
I once wrote an article about fueling your muse. No, it wasn’t about healthy eating, although I am something of a health nut. No, this was more direct fueling of that spirit responsible (some say) for our creative endeavors. I feed mine M&Ms. Here’s the reasoning: When I eat M&Ms, my critical mind sorts them […] Read more…
Music for writing
Does music set the mood? I find my creativity increases the minute I turn on music. And I’ve learned that specific music works in certain situations, for different manuscripts. For instance, while writing my book set in Pennsylvania’s Amish country, I wrote to the soundtrack of the movie Witness. An obvious choice, perhaps, but there […] Read more…
Images to inspire
This is Blenheim Palace, home of the Duke of Marlborough. This is the imposing side. This is the less imposing side: After visiting the newly completed Blenheim Palace, King George is said to have murmured to Queen Charlotte, “We have nothing to equal this.” Really George? Not even Windsor? Blenheim Palace, along with other […] Read more…
Welcome to my world
I thought you might like to see the full image from the banner above. The bluebells that arrive in Spring in England are one of my favorite sights. And with that, welcome to my blog. Read more…