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Two Releases.

This is the first time I’ve had two books released in the same month.

No Amends is a dark psychological thriller.

Last Chance is a sweet contemporary romance.

I wrote No Amends a year ago after a devastating turn of events. It is my most plot-driven story based on two characters and what they desire. The novella originally won first place in a writing contest but I declined accepting the award and the subsequent publication once I realized I could not negotiate the rights I wanted.

Last Chance was originally titled One More Chance. A UK publisher was interested in purchasing it, calling the story “endearing” and “Hallmark-like.” But their marketing department didn’t think the company could recoup their investment in an overseas author. So, I went on the hunt for a publisher that would.

I don’t like the business of publishing, and it is the least favorite of the topics I teach when I coach my students to become professional writers. But it is a necessary evil if you want to reach an audience beyond the handful of family and friends who will read anything you write, published or not.

When I started out over 15 years ago, I had been advised to write in one genre only, but now those same agents and publishers are advising against that technique, stating readers want diversity and a blending of genres. Why not write everything for everyone?

And so that is why you have your choice: thriller or romance. The thriller has a hint of romantic elements. The romance has a historical bent. But both are fiction, inspired by life but born out of the imaginings of my mind.

Enjoy either one of them (or both).

Trust the Ones Who Believe in You

At the end of this month, I leave for a week long retreat to study with the author Natalie Goldberg.

I met Natalie when I was a creative writing student at Sonoma State University in the early 1990’s. She appeared at Copperfield’s Bookstore in Sebastopol, California, to discuss her latest book, Long Quiet Highway: Waking up in America. Sitting with Ed, who always attended every poetry reading, lecture, book signing, and festival with me, I listened to Natalie speak from the heart about her life, her book, and her writing practice.

Years later, while completing my five mile morning run, I received a call from the Santa Fe Writer’s Lab. I had been invited to attend Natalie’s last 2018 retreat. I had read Natalie’s latest memoir, Let the Whole Thundering World Come Home, about her surviving cancer and knew her time teaching was limited. The invitation arrived after several misadventures left me questioning my decision to pursue writing full-time as a career. To be invited to practice beginner’s mind and explore the world through writing practice infused me with hope.

As soon as I arrived home, I told my husband, Kevin. “Sounds like an opportunity.” He quickly checked the calendar. “We have no plans. You should go.”

Next, I called my ex-husband, Ed. I would need to rearrange our childcare schedule in order to attend the retreat.

“Of course,” he said.

An hour later, after speaking with the retreat coordinator, I called Ed again. “I don’t think I’m going to attend. Everything is more complicated than I first envisioned.”

“When are you going to go?” Ed asked.

“I’m not going,” I said.

“When are you going to go?” he patiently repeated.

When would I go? Tears stung my eyes. The invitation was not for next year. Who even knew if Natalie would be alive and teaching? I had watched my father pass quickly after his lymphoma diagnosis. Within less than two weeks, he was gone.

“You may never get this opportunity again,” Ed said. He had rescued my first novel from a broken hard drive when I was seventeen. He had met Natalie when I was a college student. For thirty years, he witnessed my writing practice. “You need to go.”

Strengthened with resolve, I straightened my spine. “Okay, I’ll go.”

Within the next two hours, I found a flight, booked a room, and confirmed my schedule with the retreat coordinator.

Remember to listen when the Universe calls—not only to the opportunity being presented but to those who believe in you.

Editing Under Contract


After signing the contract for publishing The Divorce Planner, I started the self-editing process. Every publisher has its own standard formatting for print, although most publishers abide by the Chicago Manual of Style for grammar and spelling.

Formatting addresses how the manuscript looks. I changed margins, removed tabs, added four asterisks between scenes, and deleted extra spaces between periods.

Grammar addresses how the manuscript reads. I evaluated each sentence to correct everything from dangling modifiers to comma splices.

Three weeks later, I sent the manuscript to my editor for a review. Here’s what I received back the next day to correct:

12 instances of “it is”
153 instances of “it was”
12 instances of “there was”
29 instances of “trying to”
57 instances of a comma before “then”

Now after I submit my additional corrections, my editor will schedule a year of edits—from developmental edits to address any issues with the storyline to galley edits in which the final manuscript is examined for any errors before it is printed and released for sale.

Muddle

Frustrated Woman Using Laptop

I’m in the middle of the first draft of my anti-romance novel and have hit the wall. I know how the story begins and how the story ends, but the middle is where I am fumbling.

Much like life imitating art, I often know what I want but do not know how to go about getting it.

And I know from experience the only thing I have going for me is the combination of patience and time and writing my way through it.

Many authors feel the same way about the muddling middle. Forty-thousand words into the story and the complications get so intense and the stakes get so high no one in their right mind would ever want to live through it if it was real life. So why do I willing sit and stare through tears at the screen as each painful letter is pounded out?

Because I want to get to the end where the conflict is resolved and everyone lives somewhat better even if it is an anti-romance. Maybe there is a funeral or a wedding or a showdown in the back alley of a bar where both parties realize they’ve drawn blanks, but whichever way the story ends, the puzzling middle is long gone.

In the midst of sleepless nights, I struggle to write through those 40,000 words to crest the summit and head toward those last 40,000 words to finish.

But until I start coasting toward THE END, I’m a miserable person to work with, live with, and love….

My Apology

I’m sorry for disappearing.

I should have told you the truth sooner. Maybe you would have understood. I wasn’t trying to avoid you. I was just unable to write.

For over the last year, I’ve been embroiled in the process of ending 23 years of marriage to my biggest fan.

I pushed through the first six months, propelled by the sales and marketing campaign for my memoir, Red Eggs and Good Luck, and the resulting nationwide book tour. But when I returned to California last November, I stopped writing. I would pick up a pen, but I could not find the words to express what was going on or what I felt or needed to say. I could not tell a story, write a poem, or compose a letter. I thought my writing days were over, that I had done what I needed to do, and that my career was finished.

But once my ex-husband signed the final marital settlement agreement, I felt my spirit lighter and my attitude brighter. The first half of my adult life was over. I was free to start again.

Instantly, the words returned.

The first thing I wrote was an apology to you, my fans, my community of readers, my extended family.

I want to thank my ex-husband for the gifts he gave me. For 25 years he protected me, cared for me, guided me, and partnered with me. He helped me grow up and into the woman I am today. He read every story I handed to him, encouraged me to continue on the writing journey despite rejection letters and other setbacks. He never said, “Quit. Get a real job.” I will always cherish those memories of unconditional love and support.

I admit I failed him. I broke his trust and his heart. I didn’t give in and I eventually gave up.

It’s always been difficult for me to write a good ending. That was my ex-husband’s specialty. Getting those last few words right. He isn’t here to do that anymore. It’s one of the many skills I am going to have to learn going forward.

And that’s alright because you’re here with me. We’ll help each other, one word at a time.

Four Must Haves for a Successful Book Tour

1. Hire a publicist. Not only should your publicist schedule your book events, she should also make your hotel and travel arrangements. This extra service is worth the expense, since it prevents missed opportunities. I only listened to half of this advice by hiring a publicist to arrange only the book signing events. Because my publicist did not plan my travel arrangements, I ended up being unable to reschedule one leg of my flight to take advantage of a last minute TV interview. If my publicist had managed the entire trip, this would not have happened.

2. Hire an author escort or roadie. An author escort meets you at the airport, takes you to your hotel, and drives you to the event. She may also highlight points of interest in each city and suggest places to go for meals. If you can’t afford an author escort, you can also hire a roadie who will carry your bags to and from the airport, drive you to your hotel and events, and take pictures for your website. The roadie won’t pack your suitcase, so you may still forget that beautiful angora sweater on the hotel duvet, which is exactly what I did.

My Roadie
My Roadie

3. Bring your own pen. Every bookstore manager asked, “Where’s your pen?” Not only was I unaware of the expectation that each author has a special book tour pen, I only carried those fine tipped ball point pens I use to jot down notes when inspiration strikes. If I had known better, I would have purchased a red fine tipped felt pen for autographing books – red to emphasize the title and the message of happiness.

4. Bring your own bottled water. Most bookstores supplied water, but the schools I visited did not. You do not want to lean over a water fountain with a highway of students pushing and shoving down the halls between periods in the hopes of quenching your thirst. It does not work. If I had brought my own water, I would have been less hoarse and tired after giving 5 presentations in one day.

Best Book Launch Party

From left to right:  authors Jennifer Lynn Alvarez, Angela Lam, and Jan Ogren
From left to right: authors Jennifer Lynn Alvarez, Angela Lam, and Jan Ogren
I had a great time at Best Wishes! Cards, Gifts, and US Post Office in Santa Rosa visiting with long time fans and friends at the book launch party for Red Eggs and Good Luck.

Special thanks to Carol Lueck for hosting the event. She makes every occasion warm and wonderful just like her store–the best place to buy one-of-a-kind gifts, mostly locally made, and easy to ship from the onsite USPS service station.

It’s been a long and glorious trip, full of adventures I’ll cherish forever. I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. Not even the crying babies on the two-and-a-half hour flight from Washington DC to Chicago. It’s all been good.

Most of all, it’s good to be home!