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A few weeks ago I posted on the problems with prologues. I admit I’ve seen some awesome prologues in published works. I’ve also seen some great ones written by unpublished writers. Even the best have problems. I remember a prologue set in the past that was so well written and so vivid I fell in […]

Friday was day 1, and my first time there as an instructor. The opening speaker was electric. Alex is the author of \”There Are No Children Here\” and other non-fiction works where he gives people\’s life stories. SOme of his excerpts had people crying in the seats.

That\’s what I\’m blogging about today on Romancing the Genre\’s. No, it\’s not what you think, but yes, I hope you will enjoy reading about Young Adults and what it takes to write for them, so come over.  Added bonus, you get a chance to win a huge blog launch package of prizes. Like PULL

Not long ago one of the writers email loops I belong to had a discussion on pseudonyms. I prepared to chime in and say anyone can find you if they really want to, when I received proof of that statement. A letter addressed to B. A. Binns arrived in my home mailbox. The reason that

I spent Friday at the 31st Annual Children\’s Literature Conference as part of their YA Panel. I had the opportunity to talk to area teachers and librarians, listen to featured speakers Laurie Anderson, Jon Scieszka, Mac Barnett, Sara Prineas, and Thom Barthelmess. The conference was held out in the cornfields – almost literally. Northern Illinois University,

I am proud to be published by WestSide books, especially now, when books by two of my sister authors have been selected by YALSA for special honors. Scars by Cheryl Rainfield (ISBN 978-1-934813-32-4) was named the #1 book on the 2011 Top Ten YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers!  And Hope in Patience by Beth

There is strong language in PULL, it is not rated G or PG. I understand that there are concerns about the use of this book in some classrooms and I was asked for my feedback when I visited a classroom recently. First, no kid who doesn\’t use curse words will start because he reads this

This weekend I\’m guest blogging with Barbara White Daille, about my first sale. Come over and check things out. One lucky commenter will get an autographed copy of PULL!!

Agents and editors are not our writing coaches. They’re not there to teach us how to fix mistakes we should have learned in craft classes and writing groups. If our manuscript is close, if it’s getting there but still needs work, that’s our issue, not theirs. Hence the form rejection. Any kind of personalized rejection

Your author’s Writing Voice is the force that makes one reader hate your books, and (hopefully) thousands of readers love them. This voice isn’t about how the hero or heroine speaks. A character’s southern accent or stammer or expletive-laden manner of speaking is different from an author’s writing voice. Your writing voice is part of