Archive for the 'Book Talk' Category

I’m Somebody’s Mozart

So I went to Madison to speak at the University of Wisconsin’s Writer’s Institute and to launch my latest novel, Lucy in the Sky, which is set in hippie times of Madison and Milwaukee in 1969, and thus seemed like the right place to officially introduce the book to the world. I was in for [...]

You say Potato, I Say Potato, You Say Tomato, I Say Book Sales

Kath here. We’re thrilled that novelist Liz Michalski is back to guest with us! Liz’s last guest post with us was just terrific, and we’re so pleased she agreed to return and discuss a quite unusual way of marketing your book. Her haunting debut novel Evenfall has received praise and buzz. Booklist says, ”EVENFALL is a [...]

The Starting Point

“In that book which is my memory, On the first page of the chapter that is the day when I first met you, Appear the words, ‘Here begins a new life’.” ― Dante Alighieri, Vita Nuova For everyone, a book starts in a different place. Recently, while I was on vacation, I received a mystifying [...]

Time Out

I’m going to write a whole post without using a certain 8 letter word describing something short people and aspiring writers can build and climb up on in order to be more visible. That’s not to downplay the value of other contributors’ recent posts about balancing your writing time with your visibility time, or the [...]

Let’s Throw It Out the Window and See if it Lands

This is a big month for me in my effort to make the most of the brave new realm of indy publishing. Beginning with a launch party at the Wisconsin Writers Institute, I will introduce to the world (or will have introduced, depending on when you read this), my new novel, Lucy in the Sky, [...]

Writing to Answer Your Central Question

My new book, The Garden of Happy Endings, has just hit the shelves. It began with a single question: how can a benevolent being/Universe/Higher Power/etc allow young teenage girls to get kidnapped and murdered? It’s the thing that bugs us the most, right? If there is a God, what the heck is s/he doing when [...]

Updating Traditional Motifs to Create Fresh Fiction

I want to do something a bit different today. My new book The Boggle Hunters, a fantasy adventure novel for kids aged 8-12 has just come out this month in Australia (Scholastic Press Australia) and I want to talk about the sheer magic of creating this book and the fun I’ve had creating a new [...]

Take Five: Barbara O’Neal and The Garden of Happy Endings

Kath here again! Bestselling author and valued contributor Barbara O’Neal’s latest novel The Garden of Happy Endings, has released today, and we’re thrilled to be able to have her share her writer’s journey with us. Kirkus calls it a warm romance “about the healing powers of nature, love and community.” Fans of Barbara’s writing know that [...]

Take Five: M.J. Rose and The Book of Lost Fragrances

Kath here. We’re so pleased to share the news that valued contributor M.J. Rose’s latest book, The Book of Lost Fragrances, has released! When Therese and I met with M.J. last summer in NYC, she was deep in the throes of writing — and as soon as she described the premise to us, I knew [...]

Interview with Kate Forsyth: Part Two

Last week I talked to Australian author Kate Forsyth about her new novel, Bitter Greens, which is being released this month by Random House Australia. This week Kate discusses the novel further, talks about her life as a working writer, and gives us an intriguing preview of her new project. JM: I know Bitter Greens [...]

On Rejection

As a writer, you may think you have the market cornered on this. This is one job where you can plug away for twenty years without positive reinforcement from the industry. Then one day, everything changes. Instead of an endless string of no-thank-yous, you get a yes, please. That sale or signing with your agent [...]

Interview with Kate Forsyth: Part One

I was recently lucky enough obtain an advance reading copy of Kate Forsyth’s new novel, Bitter Greens, to read during my Christmas break, and was bowled over by its magnificent blend of history, fairytale and sheer storytelling flair. Bitter Greens will be released this month by Random House Australia, and not only has Kate agreed [...]