I used dozens of pieces of music to write The Sunflower House, since music is a huge part of my creative process. Music always get the words flowing because it helps me get into character. (More on my process below the list of songs in […]
The dream of a white, blond-haired, blue-eyed ‘master race’ didn’t originate with Adolf Hitler. This idea was implemented in the United States decades before Hitler rose to power by American eugenicists, who sterilized tens of thousands of Americans through the 1970s, barred the marriage of […]
I’ve been thinking about light and dark this week, thanks to my chat with John Charles of The Poisoned Pen bookstore. John found The Sunflower House to be a hopeful book. I was glad to hear it, because I struggled to find hope during my research.
I didn’t set out to write about hope, not consciously. Yet early reviewers of The Sunflower House call it a hopeful book. As it turns out, the reason why hits really close to home. (This one’s for you, mom. ❤️)
What’s your muse? For me, it’s always been music. Music is the most reliable way to tap into the emotions I need to write honestly.
When it comes to crafting voice, emotion is even more important than technique. You have to be in touch with your MC’s joy and pain.
More than 200 rejections over 20 years? Yeppers! It’s been a long, wild, winding road to publication.
Taking a deep dive into research always helps me craft an authentic voice for my characters, because it gives them the freedom to move through a world in full color.
What do I love about my local library? Too many reasons to count, but here’s a starter list:
Rejection is often uncomfortable, but if you’re comfortable you’re probably not growing. Feedback, even when it feels brutal, is essential to improve.
