In which a debut author has her first book launch

In which a debut author has her first book launch

For five years I have been immersed in various stages of writing “Saving Ellen: A Memoir of Hope and Recovery.” Yet the act of writing a book, and now having written one, is a constant revelation. I am in new territory. During my decades-long career at four...
When technology is not your friend

When technology is not your friend

I was editing my book, “Saving Ellen: A Memoir of Hope and Recovery” and could see the finish line. The draft I had handed into Skyhorse Publishing at the end of April had weighed in at 86,000 words. I had written the book over two years starting at the beginning of...
Keep a writing schedule (yeah, right)

Keep a writing schedule (yeah, right)

I am the queen of datebooks, calendars, and organizers. You need a list? Call me. I even carry a small reporter’s notebook in my purse. When inspiration strikes, I scribble it down. I have multiple day planners and various systems to boost my productivity, make me a...
The Lede: Making readers want to stay

The Lede: Making readers want to stay

Writing a good lede is like meeting an angry drunk in a dark parking lot. You have to hit him over the head right away to get his attention. At least, that’s what an editor told me early in my career. While the comparison is a bit violent for my taste, it is...
Setting: Chasing Irish Rainbows

Setting: Chasing Irish Rainbows

In my mid-30s, mourning the unexpected death of a sister and wanting a change, I traveled to Ireland for the first time. I visited the farm in County Mayo that had been in my family since the 1600s. It was a lesson in the power of setting. I had always taken my Irish...