Little did I realize when I wrote a blog post in April 2019 that it would be a whole year before I wrote another one. There is a certain amount of defeat in that realization, since I’d been pretty regular about checking in, sharing books I’d written or read by other authors whose work I …

As a reader, I was lulled into Soulla Christodoulou’s beautiful, heartbreaking and triumphant novel “The Summer Will Come”, which gives the reader a look into the idyllic life on the tranquil island of Cyprus in the early 1950s. An average day for these islanders wasn’t much changed from what their ancestors’ lives had been like …

Before I embarked on my first novel 18 years ago, I harkened back to a piece of advice attributed to Ernest Hemingway: Write about what you know. The author of this week’s guest post is a perfect example of someone who has done just that in her debut series. Her protagonist, Isabel Long, is former …

It would be hard for me to think of a book that affected me on a personal level as much as Jennifer Irwin’s “A Dress the Color of the Sky”. Not only is it about as perfect as book can be in terms of narrative, flow, descriptions and overall story, it reflects a side of …

There’s a reason readers like myself love Nina Romano’s novels and short stories. With her natural curiosity and lust for life, she is drawn to anything that is special in some way, even if to others it might seem commonplace on the surface. After she’s finished describing it, we know how rich and varied it …

We now live in a world where anyone who yearns to write can publish a book without an agent, a publishing company, a degree in literature or any of the credentials that signify someone has what it takes to tell an engaging story. The result is a tidal wave of authors and a tsunami of …

There are some writers who bring so much to the table besides good storytelling. You know instinctively they’ve come about their unique perspective the hard way, whether through their own challenging times or through observing the suffering of others. I’m not saying you have to suffer for the sake of writing, but seeing a larger …

I’ve had several creative outlets over the years that allowed me to envision something that didn’t exist and create it. I painted, sewed, made ceramics pieces and mosaic furniture. Writing was something I never gave a thought to because all the wonderful books I had read convinced me that was a talent I didn’t possess. …

It takes confidence as a writer to create irritatingly flawed protagonists whom the reader ultimately roots for. Author Catharine Riggs manages to achieve this feat in her debut novel, “What She Gave Away”. Not only does she walk that tricky path, she slyly coaxes the reader to empathize with the frighteningly conniving Crystal Love and …

When I started reading “Dying Takes It Out of You” by S.S. Bazinet, I was immediately mesmerized by Dory, the hard as flint protagonist fighting for his life. The opening scene runs at a gallop and we’re right there witnessing it as Dory struggles to break free. Even though there’s such urgency in the opening …

Learning about the past while indulging in my favorite pastime—reading—doubles my pleasure. Good historical novels have now become a predominant presence on my Kindle. “The Innocents”, the first book in a new detective-mystery series by author C.A. Asbrey is a superb example of getting first-rate entertainment while getting an accurate glimpse of life in the …

The Eifel Tower has been a sensation since it’s construction in 1889. It has gone on to become the most well-known and most recognized landmark in the world. From our current evolved state, it’s hard to imagine what an incredible feat it was to construct such a monument. It was an absolute act of daring …

Maggie: A Journey of Love, Loss and Survival by Vicki Tapia is one of those books that rings true right from the start. From the first page, I was transported back in time by descriptive writing of a period so different to the world we live in now. Each scene conjured up perfect images of …

Daniel Beckett is an appreciator of women, and not just in a carnal sense, but in every aspect. Whereas the women in “Femme Fatale” are mostly coveted for their physical attributes, Mr. Beckett’s interest in them is genuine and all-encompassing. It may rightfully be said that he’s never met a woman he didn’t find something …

A setting can play a dramatic role in story writing, as if it is a character unto itself. Shaking its fist in the background of “Beulah’s House of Prayer” like malevolent spirit is a bleak spot of history that resulted from a financial collapse and the destruction of the land. But the story Cynthia A. …

The most vital part of any story is the authenticity of the author’s voice. Is it believable? Do we trust the message he or she is trying to convey? Does the language put us in the moment, allowing us to see what is unfolding, feel what the characters are experiencing? While reading the debut novel …

The idea for Golden State came to me quite out of the blue while taking a walk with friends on New Year’s Eve 2007. It had been a year since I’d received the correct diagnosis for what had been torturing me from within for nine years. Reflecting back on a time that is happily in …

I had read a few books dealing with Alzheimer’s before I started “Blue Hydrangeas” by Marianne Sciucco. The difference was they were true-life accounts of dealing with the disease, though Marianne’s tale is every bit as believable and moving. It’s a story that allows us readers to witness the heartbreak of the diagnosis along with …

The fun thing about being an author is not knowing when or where inspiration will strike. For anyone who’s decided they wanted to write a book and gone as far as sitting in front of their computer with absolutely no idea what to say, I’m sure you can appreciate the caprices of creativity. It likes …

In the same way some films take you by storm and don’t let up until the last frame, “Bishop’s War” explodes right off the page and never gives you a breather. My taste in books is all over the place, but I’ve always loved crime, espionage and war movies—anything with good guys vs. bad guys. …