Writer Unboxed

Talk about unboxed.  I’ve read a lot of wonderfully weird books in my service to WU, and Jim Krusoe’s literary novel Girl Factory, was about the weirdest, most wonderful read I’d had in years.  Maybe it was that at the time I’d been in the middle of one of my own increasingly bizarre adventures in California, but […]

First off, I want to thank you all for your congrats. This has been a wild few weeks, for sure. And, since Therese Fowler removed her supergirl mask in comments, I’d like to say a public thanks to her, too–my willing pre-publication blurber. Thanks, Therese! You’re the best of the best!
Okay, on to today’s post…
A […]

Last weekend, my DH and I had a rare night to ourselves and we decided to see a movie. In a sign of my old age, nothing seemed appealing. Demographically, I’m in the target audience for Mama Mia but I really didn’t want to expose myself to Colin Firth and Pierce Brosnan capering […]

If you missed part one of my interview with debut novelist Danielle Younge-Ullman–when we discussed writing a book in 2nd person, selling at auction and gave you the opportunity to read two chapters of her work–click HERE, then come back. Danielle’s novel Falling Under has been called urban fiction, women’s fiction and mainstream literary fiction. […]

Today’s guest blogger is Gavin Cramblet (aka Chro) from a blogsite we like called Journey of the Scribe. Recently, Gavin won the bid for a free critiquing session with novelist Brenda Novak, and he agreed to share his experience with us.
Our sincere thanks to Gavin for taking the time out to blog with us this […]

Hungry? Book Roast Team has the perfect meal. Authors. Plenty of them. Cooked nice and crispy.
Book Roast is one of the blogosphere’s latest and most entertaining additions. Never heard of them? We asked Chris and her roast-ready crew to introduce her unboxed concept to you.
Q: What, exactly, is Book Roast, and how did the concept […]

Last week I blogged about being under the gun with an editorial deadline for CLASS PRESIDENT, a YA novel to be released fall 2009 by HarperCollins, and the panic I felt at the three-week turnaround. Some of the editorial comments were asking for fairly detailed revisions; I had three new scenes to write, and […]

Danielle Younge-Ullman’s debut novel, Falling Under, will be released next Tuesday, July 29th. The description of her book caught my attention months ago. Said Kristy Kiernan, author of Catching Genius, “Danielle Younge-Ullman redefines modern fiction with this finely wrought, edgy debut. She is the best kind of new author— enormously talented and utterly unafraid.”
Sounded […]

Last week, Ray Rhamey blogged about creating good bad guys–antagonists we can empathize with or relate to, who are the heroes of their own stories. Consider Dolores Umbridge from the Harry Potter series, who was so worthy of our hate. But didn’t you get that she believed in her cause wholeheartedly, that she felt she […]

If you missed part 1 of my interview with Lucia Nevai, author of the gritty-wonderful debut novel, Salvation, click HERE, then come back. (There’s an excerpt of Nevai’s work at the end of part 1 as well.) In part 2, we discuss the novel’s theme, her research and the long evolution of Salvation once her […]

I’m deep into a serious rethink of one of my novels as a result of a critique by Lou Aronica, a top editor/publisher. A main focus is a primary antagonist. Lou says he’s not strong enough or smart enough to be an interesting character, and I have finally understood that he’s right.
This WIP is the […]

I just turned my revision of Unbounded in to Elisabeth last night, and so this week it’s going to be about balance for me. Taking my dog for a few more walks. Going for a massage. Catching up on current events (Brangelina had their baby Saturday? Where have I been?). Finishing the paint job on […]