Of Tenacity and Perseverance
When my son was a young teenager, he dreamed of being an elite-level gymnast. Only one thing held him back: lack of physical ability. “Some gymnasts are strong. Some gymnasts are flexible,” his coach liked to say. “You are neither.” What my son did have was tenacity....
Thinking Big Picture
My agent search isn’t going great. It’s a competitive industry, and agents are very picky about who they take on. (Fun fact: most agents request less than 1% of the manuscripts queried.) I’m not deterred. A writing career isn’t built on one manuscript. Writing...
Listen Linda, It’s Not a Hobby
Last week, I listened to a true crime podcast about a writer who killed her husband. Because she was an independent romance writer, I wasn’t surprised when the hosts made jokes about bodice rippers. Misogynistic, uninformed comments come with the territory. But then,...
Five Women Authors Over Fifty
Attention colleagues! Are you an older female writer struggling to sell that ‘big book’? Do you felt a nugget of anxiety every time you read about another 30-year-old signing a major publishing deal and wonder if your window of opportunity is rapidly closing? Fear...
Why I’m Pursuing Traditional Publishing
A few months ago, I mentioned to a group of authors that I wasn’t interested in independently publishing my historical fiction, and they looked at me like I had two heads. Why on earth, they ask, would I endure the headaches and constraints of traditional...
Ten Tips for New Authors from an Old-Timer
Recently, I was asked if I had any advice for an aspiring author. I had a lot of thoughts, but in the spirit of brevity, I’ve narrowed my tips to ten. My writing friends will note that much of what I’ve written I should heed myself. As with all advice,...