Sorry I haven't blogged in 10 days--but it's been a whirlwind since April 2. Here are a few highlights of the last two weeks. Book Launch Plus! First, there was the National Reconciliation Day event "Reconciliation Through Story" sponsored by the Levine Museum of the New South. I was joined by my fellow Charlotte authors,… Continue reading Catch My Latest Book News!
"This is the house that the Hinkle sisters lived in, and that's the muddy river where Thomas and Jackie fished together." Joyce Hostetter pointed out the car window as we drove around around her hometown, Hickory, NC--the setting for her Bakers Mountain Series. "See that old building? That's the hosiery factory where Junior worked for a few days. Over there… Continue reading STORIES IN JOYCE'S BACKYARD: A "PICK-YOUR-OWN" GIVEAWAY!
If you're a writer, then someone has probably said to you: "So, are you done with your book yet?" If the person who you are talking to loves you then he may say, "How's the book coming along?" Which is a softer, kinder way of saying the same thing. Either way, most people who are not… Continue reading Revision Revisited
One of the good things about writing historical fiction set in the not-so-distant past is that you can interview people who lived through the conflicts you are writing about. One of the hard things about writing "recent" historical fiction is that the people you interview--your experts--are elderly and die. Ten years ago I posted my first blog… Continue reading Thereasea Elder Wore Many Hats
Congratulations to Gail Cartee who won The End of the World and Beyond on last week's giveaway. When I began researching Half-Truths someone--I'm afraid I don't remember who it was--told me about how Brooklyn, an African American neighborhood in Charlotte that was leveled as a part of urban renewal. Tomorrow's Bread by Anna Jean Mayhew, breathes life into… Continue reading TOMORROW'S BREAD: A Review and Giveaway
Congratulations to Deborah Allmand for winning THE PLAYER KING from last week's blog post. ******** My blog readers know that I generally read and review books for children and teens. Every once in awhile I come across a book for adults that I want to share with you. Run to the Light (Bedazzled Ink, 2018) by Laura… Continue reading Run to the Light: A Review and Giveaway
Last week Donna Everhart, author of The Road to Bittersweet, relayed how she discovered her story, why she made Laci Stamper autistic, and why she included a traveling carnival. Thanks for coming back for this concluding post as we look behind the scenes of her writing process. QUESTION #1 CAROL Were you conscious of the themes… Continue reading Behind the Scenes with Donna Everhart- Part II
Congratulations to Darlene who won the seven audio book giveaway last week. ************* As promised two weeks ago, Donna Everhart generously agreed to give us a glimpse into how she developed THE ROAD TO BITTERSWEET. (If you haven't had a chance to read my review, I hope you will now. This interview will make a lot more sense if… Continue reading Behind the Scenes with Donna Everhart–Part I
Congratulations to Connie Saunders who won Blood Brothers from my last blog. ******* Thanks to all of you for leaving comments two weeks ago on Part I. In Part II, I answer several thought-provoking questions about the Half-Truths cast. At the end you'll find a list of my blogging colleague's posts. Check them out--these are… Continue reading Shared WIP Tag- Part II: Meet My Cast of Characters
The Backstory What do you do if you write a book based on a story in "your own backyard" because of an editor's advice (BLUE, Boyds Mills Press, 2006. The polio epidemic in Hickory, NC) and then the main character keeps talking to you and you want to know what happens next? (COMFORT Calkins Creek, 2009. Anne Fay deals… Continue reading AIM: A Review, an ARC Giveaway, and The Hero's Journey