Last year I turned sixty-one. My husband, Warren, has been with me for three and a half decades, and he is two and a half years older. This has meant I've had insight into how I'll view life in coming years, no matter what age I am. At times I haven't understood his point of …
My friend used my novel for his AI assignment!
A friend of mine is studying AI. He is doing the course for his job and at one stage asked if he could use one of my manuscripts for an assignment. At least, that's what he tells me. I don't recall. The thing is, he used an unpublished manuscript I asked him to read because …
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Tinkering with a polished manuscript
I'm entering a competition. It's for a chance to be published with a well respected publisher. I seriously don't think I'll be one of the finalists judging from past winners, but it gives me a chance to be seen by local industry professionals. Some would say, 'why bother?' Well, first off, I'm a paid member …
Book Review – The Last Love Note by Emma Grey
They say, write what you know. This is evident in Emma Grey's beautiful novel, The Last Love Note. It's the story of Kate, a thirty-something woman who is married to her soul mate, Cam, a young English professor who is suffering from Alzheimer's. This story begins several years after Cam has passed, then flits back …
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Literary Speed Dating
Last week I did my second Literary Speed Dating event. This event was online unlike the previous one I did. Back then I joined a large number of eager authors waiting in line to impress representatives from publishing houses. We rehearsed our spiel, performed for an acquisitions editor, answered questions, then joined the next queue hoping …
My first self published book
This is a blog to celebrate the release of Grayson's Magical Mishaps. It is part of the Haunted Hearts: Season of the Witch series; ten MM Romance novels written by ten different gay authors, all released leading up to Halloween and all featuring a wizard. Queer horror writer, J.P. Jackson, instigated this project after the …
When AI steals your cover art
Some freaky things are happening. Authors are receiving emails with AI generated praise to convince them to sign up for paid promotions. Several of us have been comparing these in online writers' groups. Two popped into my inbox in just as many days and they sound like this: I just finished reading about Drama Queens …
Book Review – King of Dirt by Holden Sheppard
First off, the plot is perfect for a movie. It lends itself much easier to a screen adaptation than Holden Sheppard's other works - each dramatic cinematic beat is here. Two earlier scenes really resonated, setting up Jack Brolo's low opinion of himself, and later, his state of mind returning to the town he grew …
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Writing to a deadline while on holidays
In two months, my first self-published novel will be out. Well, at least it will be at the time I write this blog. It's titled Grayson's Magical Mishaps and is part of the Haunted Hearts: Season of the Witch collaboration - eleven Urban Fantasy romances written by gay authors. I usually spend years on a …
How harsh should a beta reader be?
When I first beta read, I was harsh. Not in my criticism. In my tone. Since then when I'm asked, I share both praise and critique, preferring to share my notes on a video call so the right tone is applied to my comments. Last week, a beta reader contacted me after reading my first …
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