We all know the saying “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” (Or as the Scot in me would say, “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft a-gley.” – Robert Burns, “To a Mouse”). Well, perhaps in my case it would be “the best intentioned plans . .… Read the full blog post …
I suppose I should be telling you about my next book, but there are several things up in the air at the moment (most importantly the cover and the release date), so instead, I’m going to talk about my birthday present. Anyone who follows me on Facebook already knows about this, but I’m still tickled and… Read the full blog post …
One of the first blogs I did after joining Austen Authors was on names and their meanings. (You can read it if you click on that first sentence.) I looked at the names Jane Austen used in her books, the meanings of those names, and the possible inspirations. Well, I have been at it again… Read the full blog post …
I cannot remember the collection, but I remember reading a short story once where all the Pride and Prejudice characters were in a green room of sorts waiting for their call to enter a new story. It was funny because they physically changed based on how the new author described them. (Poor Mr. Collins seemed… Read the full blog post …
My husband and I are about to become empty nesters. Our youngest is chomping at the bit for her senior year to end so she can move on with her life and begin studying what she wants to learn instead of what the school tells her she must know. Our lives are about to change… Read the full blog post …
Does anyone else feel like they have been repeating themselves a lot in the past year? Not like Groundhog’s Day or anything supernatural, but more of a “Didn’t I just say/do this?” Last month my topic was Never Say Never and I am already having to pull my foot out of my mouth. As many… Read the full blog post …
There are a few sayings that my family anticipates from me, and I probably heard them from my mother. First is “If something happens three times, pay attention. God is trying to tell you something.” The other is “Never say never” or, as it is said in the Mists of Avalon, “Never name the well… Read the full blog post …
I am aware that it is Christmas, and perhaps it just fits with the type of year we have had, but our household is running a bit behind. For one thing, I am in the process of transitioning my living room into a library (more on that in a future blog), but most recently, my… Read the full blog post …
The most important characteristic of a good heroine for me has always been a positive outlook. Sure, they might have moments of distress, but overall, they will not allow it to take them down. I have mentioned before that I grew up on classics. Laura Ingalls Wilder, Jo March of Little Women, Jane Eyre, and… Read the full blog post …
A few months ago, I posted a scene of some of our favorite characters as children. This led to a book idea which I have been working on since then. Unfortunately, life has interfered and caused a delay, but I thought I would share an excerpt today. Like most JAFF authors, I enjoy taking some… Read the full blog post …
I’m feeling a bit scattered lately, so I thought I’d give you a quirky look at one writer’s dilemma. The worst advice anyone ever gave me regarding being a writer was to read. You might remember from my bio or previous posts that I am a voracious reader. With ten years between me and my… Read the full blog post …
As I mentioned last month, I am between projects at the moment. It seems like I have a tendency to fall into a short slump after releasing a book. To fill that time, I read, and the number of new releases this summer has been outstanding. So many gifted writers and creative ideas of what… Read the full blog post …
I am currently between projects, but that does not mean I am not writing. Little ideas pop into my head from time to time and I thought I would share one here. In truth, this is one that I have no intention of writing. There are many other authors out there who have a much… Read the full blog post …
