I’ve been brainstorming bad habits and traits to make my characters more messy, more real. In my writing group, we talked about smoking as a bad habit that is, unfortunately, such a great affectation to write. You move both your fingers, your mouth, it affects the way to take in air, and let it out….
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LYFM: First Draft Insights and Thoughts
I want to do a quick update on my Leaving You For Mars journey, now that I’ve finished my FIRST FULL DRAFT. This is the first novel I’ve written, so just getting here has been a big accomplishment. A few quick takeaways: Draft 1 is 134,652 words long (474 pages in the PDF I’ll be…
Why I chose Leaving You For Mars
Climate change and complacency With this blog, I wanted to periodically talk about my progress with my novel and some of the more fun things about writing. Leaving You For Mars isn’t quite a sci-fi. I wanted to make the story about climate change, complacency, and what “survival” means to each of us. In…
Let’s Talk: A Manual For Tough Conversations
Sale breaks down intimidating topics so our brains don’t jam I was fortunate to stumble across this ARC that happens to be right up my alley. I’ve listened to Anna Sale’s Death, Sex, and Money podcast a bit, but never felt hooked. After her book, I’m eager to give it another chance. Let’s Talk About Hard…
Waiting for Normal
Everything we want in this world seems to come with a time stamp. I can sit and write today for 30 minutes. I can meet for lunch for 45. The drive to and from work takes 15. I’ll publish this article in the next day or two. I’ll publish my book in the next 2–5…
How I Choose Books While Traveling
And books that choose me One of the many things I love about books is the way they can connect you to a specific time and place. Not only the fictional location and space, but certain books can tether you to the experience you had when buying or first reading that book. My most treasured…
Things Unexplored
I love this question: What is your favorite place in the whole world? I never have a good answer. I always wish I did. Would it be the beach in Wilmington, North Carolina, where I first found the mysteries of the ocean? I was certainly at peace being jostled and cradled by the shoulder-deep waves,…
Of Women and Salt: A Sharp Meditation on the Resilience of Women
A Cuban-American classic about the power of survival Of all the ARCs I was never granted, I’m thrilled Of Women and Salt was not one of them. When I read the synopses about a multi-generational tale of Cuban and Cuban-American women, it struck me that I am completely ignorant to the culture or history of…