Category Archives: Writing for My Life

Romance, Suspense and Thrillers, Writing for My Life

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).

Beginnings, Goals, Writing for My Life

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.

The Divorce Planner

Editing Under Contract

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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.