Final notes on printed pages, wearing the same sweater for the 3rd day… this is what it looks like to be close to the end of a first draft
Series or Standalone
People ask if I prefer writing series or standalone. I put it like this, some days you want to see old friends, people who know you well enough that you never have to explain yourself. And some days, you want to venture out, to something new. It’s sort of like that. Maybe not really but a little. There’s something comforting about a series, about characters who are so familiar. But it’s exciting to find a new world, too, and that can be equally tempting. Maybe more.
Your circle matters
I met a writer recently. She’s hugely talented and motivated, willing to do the work. But her husband isn’t a fan of the writing. He thinks it’s a waste of time, the odds too much against her. I don’t want that to matter for her, but it does. It matters so much to have the support at home… for the days when it’s hard. And there are a lot of those days.
Writing retreat
I snuck back east (after testing and quarantining) to spend a week with 2 wonderful writer friends. We worked long days, took breaks walking along the beach (a special treat for a Montana writer), and spent the evenings, drinking wine and eating take out food, talking about the day’s work. Writing is a solitary business but when you can do it in the company of other writers, it’s such a lovely change.
First flights
I’m one of those travelers who puts on her headphones and curls into herself on planes. I like the silence in general and I’m not always comfortable with tight spaces or flying in general. In some ways, the pandemic seat spacing and the masks to hide behind make flying that much more comfortable. Is it only me?
Spring break reads
Every spring, we drive down to Arizona for a week of thawing out from the long, Montana winter. While I read mostly thrillers the rest of the year, I dedicate the one week of break to light material. I usually zip through 4-6 books that week, some romance, some YA and it’s a wonderful treat. Here are this year’s choices.
Unexpected hobbies
One thing to come out of the pandemic is that I’ve learned to bake bread. I even have my own sourdough starter. And when the news is all bad and the world is shutdown, fresh bread tastes pretty darn good.
Adding to the family
We have two big golden retrievers and I never thought I’d be a small dog person, but… well, here I am. Meet Teddy and tell me he’s not the cutest thing ever.
Dark Humor
With the pandemic seeming to stretch into forever, I’m finding my humor is growing increasingly dark. I could see this mug in my cabinet. But I guess the good news is that I’m still laughing…for now
Giving back
Like many of us, I’ve been deeply impressed by the medical community’s efforts during the pandemic and while I write from the point of view of a medical doctor, I’m certainly not one myself. (I veered off the course of medical school early on to try to be a writer.) But, I have recently become a volunteer at our local hospital and it feels really good to be involved in some small way.
The graph of a thriller
It’s a bizarre thing to see the emotions that come with reading a book in the form of a graph, but this one does a pretty good job of mapping out the revelations when it’s done well. For a pantser like me (that is someone who doesn’t plot a book out), this happens mostly by intuition and, as far as I can tell, a little big of magic.
A new appreciation for TV
I consider myself a reader more than a TV-watcher. But this year, with parties and people at a minimum, books can sometimes feel too isolating. And let’s be honest, TV has gotten pretty darn good. Here are a few recent don’t-miss shows for me.
Winter Wonderland
While there is nothing more important to writing that time spent in the chair, there is another, more elusive, component to the creative process. For someone as compulsively driven as I am, this second part is often tougher. Time away. It takes a little prodding (and sometimes force with a crowbar) to pull me from my writing. But time away, fresh air, a little sweat—these are as vital to my writing as the dedicated computer time.
"There is always light..."
Whether or not we voted for Biden, whether we believe in Covid, whatever our politics or religion, how could we not be moved by the words from the young and incredibly talented Amanda Gorman?
The final stage
There is nothing quite like holding your completed book in your hands. But this final stage, the page proofs, is its own bit of thrill. There’s the excitement at how close the final version is, but also a true sense of nervousness that this it the very last chance to catch any errors and typos that have snuck through uncaught.
Best thrillers I've read in 2020
And here are my favorite thrillers of 2020.
Best books of 2020: non-thrillers
I’ve read over 110 books this year. The pandemic, combined with grown children has meant a lot more time to read. I’ve compiled a snapshot of the best books I’ve read. Or two snapshots, rather. The first is non-thrillers books. And the second is suspense/thrillers since I read so many of those. Here they are the first batch. I hope you check some of these out. I think you won’t be disappointed.
Giving back
Every year, I donate books to an amazing organization that facilitates distributing books to soldiers. I make it a point to donate 2 books for every year I’ve been alive, a way to celebrate my birthday and also give back. This year, I donated 100 books. If you’re interested, check them out HERE.
New Book Site Venture
I’m not much of a follower. Being a writer, I tend to be most comfortable while lost in a story. And I’m terrible at promotion. Truly, I’d be more likely to sell you the book of whoever I’m standing with than one of my own. But, the rare exception is when I’m part of something that I think offers huge benefits to others. Then, I’ll toot on and on about it until you can’t shut me up. This is one of those times.
My exciting news is: BingeBooks.com, a joint venture from about 120 bestselling authors (including me!), with the goal of giving readers a friendlier, more modern way to discover new books and authors.
In all, BingeBooks has over 38,000 authors in its catalog, including ones from the top publishing houses to the top indie authors. Start with my page HERE and give it a gander. I think you’ll be pleased. I am.
What happened to the bride?
Saw this bouquet abandoned during a stop in a small town on a driving trip last week. A cold wind and a slate sky, the scene was eerie. I started to wonder…
Where is the bride? Why leave your bouquet behind? What happened to you?
