Category Archives: Books

Heeeere, Shippy, Shippy, Shippy!

Posted on June 26, 2020 by

This week:  If, suddenly, after all your years of writing, your “ship” finally came in and your titles were receiving wide acclaim (and sales… and INCOME), what would you like to do with that “positioning” to help aspiring writers? That’s … Continue reading →

Posted in art, author's life, authors, big plans, blessings, Books, careers, decisions, experiences, friends, helping others, inspiration, inspirational people, lifestyles, Miscellaneous, poetry, Preparing for writing, reading, research, teaching, The Author Life, Tonette Joyce, using talents, writers, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

POP Go the References

Posted on June 19, 2020 by

When we were discussing advice to young, new or would-be writers, I omitted some pieces of advice. One is: Avoid ‘pop’ references. As far as I am concerned, they age your work and make it seem irrelevant very quickly. Of … Continue reading →

Posted in authors, big plans, book review, Books, characters, Christmas, dialogue, helping others, history, imagination, Miscellaneous, movies, Random thoughts, reading, research, Tonette Joyce, writers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Rambling Reader Reviews 2020, Part Five

Posted on June 15, 2020 by

I did a LOT of reading this month. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m getting weary of the story I’m trying to write, or if I’m tired of all the sewing I’ve been doing. It’s also possible that I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, book series, Books, Christmas books, cozy mystery, free week, Goodreads Challenge, historical, Mystery stories, Patricia Kiyono, reading, romance, spring | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Gladys Aylward: The Little Woman

Posted on June 12, 2020 by

Since the first time I saw it on TV as a teenager, one of my favorite movies has been “Inn of the Sixth-Happiness”, with Ingrid Bergman, Curt Jürgens and Robert Donat.  I bought a VHS tape of it when as … Continue reading →

Posted in America, authors, autobiographies, big plans, biographies, blessings, book review, Books, careers, characters, decisions, experiences, Faith-centered stories, Family, historical, history, inspiration, inspirational people, Life, memories, movies, reading, romance, Tonette Joyce, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Slices of Life

Posted on May 29, 2020 by

Question: Have you ever used real-life experiences in your writing? Answer: Often. I have a very good imagination. I can write about experiences which have never crossed my path. I’ve had them published and I have received awards, but… with … Continue reading →

Posted in author's life, awards, Books, characters, childhood, Children's books, Christmas books, Compilations, creating scenes, decisions, experiences, Family, goals, history, Holiday, imagination, inspiration, inspirational people, Life, memories, novels, poetry, publishing, Science Fiction, short stories, Tonette Joyce, writing, writing from experiences | 4 Comments

Just in Fortuna

Posted on May 27, 2020 by

Have you used something that happened to you in real life in any of your stories? Did you change it at all? As a rule, I mostly use my imagination in my stories. Sometimes one of the characters might like … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, characters, creating scenes, Elaine Cantrell, Miscellaneous | 5 Comments

Subleties

Posted on May 15, 2020 by

I have always been aware of how a simple gift can lift a spirit, how a kind remark or compliment can make a day, or even be remembered for years by the recipient. I also know that a mean action … Continue reading →

Posted in authors, Books, characters, cozy mystery, decisions, experiences, Family, free week, helping others, imagination, inspiration, inspirational people, Life, phrases, plots, protagonists, Random thoughts, reading, Tonette Joyce, villains, writers, writing | 10 Comments

Spaghetti and The Sentence

Posted on May 13, 2020 by

Several of my heroines have loved cooking, and one of them was Rachel Amos, heroine of The Sentence. I thought about what I’d have Rachel cook and decided that spaghetti was something a young woman would probably know about. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, characters, Elaine Cantrell, Miscellaneous | 9 Comments

Rambling Reader Reviews 2020, Part Four

Posted on May 11, 2020 by

I’m still sewing like crazy, but I managed to read five great books this month. Yes, I’m still laughing my way through the Miss Fortune Mysteries – I just can’t put them down! But I sandwiched in a few others, … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, Books, cozy mystery, Goodreads Challenge, Mystery stories, Patricia Kiyono, reading, romance, TBR List | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Abundant Advice for Aspiring Authors

Posted on May 8, 2020 by

This week: What advice would you give to an aspiring author? I actually have a list. There have been many who talk to me about writing. I also have had many young writers around or in touch with me, so … Continue reading →

Posted in art, author's life, authors, big plans, blogging, book series, Books, characters, clothing, decisions, dialogue, experiences, Family, fantasy, friends, goals, imagination, inspiration, interview, Life, novels, plots, protagonists, Publishers, reading, romance, Science Fiction, self-publishing, shyness, subplots, technology, Tonette Joyce, traditional publishing, using talents, Validation, writing, Writing and other professions, writing from experiences | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments