The Fiddler: artwork that inspired the family saga, “The Bird that Sang in Color”

Posted by in The Art in "The Bird that Sang in Color" | 0 comments

I chose to use this image as the cover of my book because I believed that more than any other picture in the sketchbook, it most closely captured the true essence of my brother. He was a simple person, but not in the sense that he wasn’t

Read more

Indie Author Marketing: The Necessity of Editing

Posted by in Indie Author Series | 0 comments

After you’ve revised your manuscript several times, you should have it professionally edited. There are different levels of editing, from basic proofreading to more extensive editing which includes such elements as character development and flow

Read more

Tips for Writing Fiction: Dreaming Stories

Posted by in Writing Craft | 0 comments

When I dream, my subconscious mind is creating stories from various random things, people and events that have been thrown my way in my waking life.  The stories are sometimes funny and sometimes scary and always weird and nonsensical.  My

Read more

Fiction Books about Happiness: To Rise Above

Posted by in Finding Happiness | 0 comments

The theme of transcendence is explored within my novels as I am very passionate about this subject. I believe it is possible to live in the world while occasionally being able to rise above it, and that this is essential for one’s

Read more

Tips for Writing Fiction: Believable Dialogue

Posted by in Writing Craft | 0 comments

Readers will not be able to suspend disbelief if dialogue is not believable. Dialogue must flow naturally from the mouths of the characters and must be in keeping with the qualities, characteristics and motivations of characters. The Grecos are

Read more

Tips for Writing Fiction: Beginnings

Posted by in Writing Craft | 0 comments

Following the rules of writing effective opening scenes is vital so that readers will be able to suspend disbelief.  Readers must be grounded in the protagonist’s point of view in the beginning of a story.  They must see the world through

Read more

Fiction Books about Happiness: Musical Novels

Posted by in Finding Happiness | 0 comments

The theme of music is in my two previous novels and will be a major theme in my forthcoming novel. In Olive Branches Don’t Grow On Trees, Silvia listens to music while she paints. Music inspires her:  “The music seemed to go right

Read more

Tips for Writing Fiction: Creating Three Dimensional Characters

Posted by in Writing Craft | 0 comments

I wrote my first story when I was ten years old.  It was called The Magic Pen. This story was about a pen, that when used, created stories and poetry without the use of any human input as if a sacred power came through the ink of the pen. I

Read more

Tips for Writing Fiction: How my words teach me

Posted by in Writing Craft | 1 comment

I write fiction for many reasons. It’s fun; it gives me joy; it makes me sane; I feel a need to tell stories to the world. I also write so that I can learn life’s lessons. In Olive Branches Don’t Grow On Trees, Silvia learns

Read more

Portland, Oregon: places from the road trip story, “Discovery of an Eagle”

Posted by in The Places in "Discovery of an Eagle" | 0 comments

Portland is the destination of the journey and so it is the last stop along the way. Situated near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, Portland has several bridges and is also known as the “City of Bridges.”

Read more