(I teach writing classes all across the country. Check my Events page for upcoming classes) The question came as we were wrapping up the discussion about my novel, Oil and Marble: "How do you find and choose specific details in your... Continue Reading →
I'm a novelist, so I know the feeling: You conquered your fear and started your novel. You wrote for months or maybe years. You survived the long desert known as "the middle." You wrote your favorite parts; the parts that... Continue Reading →
Now that my debut novel has hit the Los Angeles Times bestseller list and garnered glowing reviews (including from The New York Times), other writers often ask which books helped me develop my craft. There are plenty of "Best Writing Book" lists... Continue Reading →
Before I started scheduling my book tour, I read many blogs claiming that traditional book tours are passe or, worse yet, wastes of money that don't produce sales. In this digital age, many people say, go on a "blog tour" instead! Well, I... Continue Reading →
Today is Super Tuesday when voters in 13 states and American Samoa will go to the polls for Democratic and Republican primaries and caucuses. The major party candidates may be solidified today. It is also publication day for my debut novel, Oil and... Continue Reading →
“Writing is the art of applying the ass to the seat.” ― Dorothy Parker “You must write every single day of your life... You must lurk in libraries and climb the stacks like ladders to sniff books like perfumes and wear... Continue Reading →
I love to travel. When I was a kid, my parents drove us from coast to coast in a motorhome. When I was eighteen, I went to Europe with a traveling choir. I've studied art in Italy, snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef, and just... Continue Reading →
The other night, I went out with a group of fellow television producers (I've been a TV producer for fifteen years). As always, we shared stories about shows, executives, production disasters, talent (actors/writers/directors celebrities) and potential gigs. Per usual, we had... Continue Reading →
I often hear people say, "Write the book you want to read. If no one has written it yet, it's up to you!" There is one true thing about this advice: you should NEVER write a book you do not want to... Continue Reading →
