About an hour later I was very much awake when I heard the sounds of a fierce rabid battle taking place outside our tent. I tapped Dave on the shoulder and said, “I think there’s something outside our tent.”
“Oh, there’s something out there, alright,” he said.
Read More“I thought she was supposed to glue it to her forehead, so this didn’t keep happening,” Amelia responded.
Her ten-year-old niece giggled as she entered the kitchen. “She wants you to call her phone. Can I do it?”
Amelia looked up from the snowman sugar cookie she was frosting and nodded toward her phone on the counter. “Absolutely. Have a cookie, too.”
Wasn’t that part of the cool aunt creed? Spoil thy niece with screens and sugar at all opportunities, especially during the Christmas season.
Read MoreLook, I’ll admit it. I judge a book by its cover. Which is why I got nervous last year when I knew I was opening an email that would show me the cover for my debut novel, Dear Henry, Love Edith.
What if I don’t like it? What if it’s not cute? I’m a rom-com writer. I need a cute cover. My publisher knows I need a cute cover, right? They better have given me a cute cover. I don’t know that I can promote a book in good faith if it doesn’t have a cute cover. Not even my own book. Especially not my own book. I have my dignity to maintain after all. Please be cute, please be cute . . .
Read More“Not again,” Beth grumbled loud enough to be heard. She shelved the last book from her cart—an Agatha Christy novel—then tried swerving around the giant customer who was staring her down like an angry bull. Well, an angry bull with cute dimples and an adorable cowlick.
Aiden shoved his work boot in front of her cart, the faint whiff of sawdust wafting from his jeans and Carhart utility jacket. “I just don’t understand.”
“And I don’t understand why you don’t understand.”
“It’s Little Women. Little Women!”
Read MoreWhat? No. Kat had to be seeing things.
She raced out the front door and skidded onto the porch. “Brady, what are you doing here? You’re supposed to be there. At a conference. In Colorado.” She pointed toward the blue house across the street, then realized Colorado would be in the direction of Ms. Appleblossom’s house to the left since that was more westward.
Ack! Why was she worrying about the direction of Colorado in relation to her tiny Illinois town when the real issue was Brady. Here. In his driveway. Dragging a duffel bag out of his SUV right as Mr. Walton, their mailman, ambled down the block with a bag full of mail. Mail that included a love letter Kat never would have written and mailed if she thought Brady was actually going to read it.
Read MoreI love telling stories. I love quirky characters. So more than anything I love telling stories about quirky characters. Which is why I’m going to tell you this story. (For the record, I’m not the quirky character in this story. I don’t know why, but there always seems to be some confusion about that aspect in my storytelling.)
Read MoreSince a couple of podcast hosts have invited me onto their podcasts before the release of my novel, I’ve been anticipating the questions they might ask.
How long have you been writing? What snacks do you eat when you’re writing? What in the world ever possessed you to think you could write a novel and then have the audacity to get it published? Oh, and while we’re at it, which Mr. Darcy do you prefer—and it had better be the right one.
Okay, some of these questions I haven’t anticipated. They’ve just appeared in my podcast interviewing nightmares. Which is why I’ve been practicing interview questions inside my head in an attempt to be prepared for anything.
So, Becca, how did you get into writing?
Great question, Becca. How did I get into writing? Well, let’s see. Huh. Such a great question. Did I mention that’s a great question? Because that is. A great question. One I’m sure I know the answer to. If I can just think of the answer. Why can’t I think of the answer? Oh my goodness, how about that Mr. Darcy, right?
Wow. You really stink at this.
Why do you think I’m practicing inside my head right now?
Read MoreIn roughly six months my debut novel will release into the world. Which means scary words are popping up more frequently these days. Words like marketing. Promotion. Launch. Preorder. Sales.
Ah! See? I warned you it was scary. Part of me wants to hide under the bed until all those scary words go away. Especially when those scary words are followed up with an even scarier word—strategy.
I’m supposed to have a marketing strategy? (All the members of my marketing team are nodding their heads yes. It appears I’m supposed to have a marketing strategy.)
Well, good thing I’ve been saving a special marketing strategy in my back pocket for such a time as this. It stems from an incident I had about nine years ago. An incident that resulted in my husband suggesting I never answer the door again when he’s not at home.
Read MoreA few weeks ago we took a family trip to Disney World. Considering my two kids started a countdown back when we still had seventy-plus days to go, I think it’s safe to say they were excited. And since they now claim everything about the trip was totally epic, I think it’s safe to say the trip was a success.
In fact, here’s a few pictures of my kids having a blast.
Read MoreA lot of authors get asked the question, “How did you come up with the idea for your story?” So it only stands to reason you’ve been curious to know what inspired my upcoming novel.
No? Not really? Never crossed your mind?
Okay. Well. I’m going to answer the question anyway, because I’m sure afterward you’ll be glad you asked. (I know. You didn’t ask. But let’s not get hung up on semantics at this point.)
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