Every story needs a good, juicy conflict — something that propels the narrative and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. To create conflict, clever authors understand the power of inserting a villain to play the role of the story’s antagonist. For centuries,...
For all the books we may have read during our lifetimes, we probably haven’t paid much attention to the actual parts that, collectively, comprise the interior content of books. From the title page that launches the front matter to the index or bibliography that...
1. When did you first know you wanted to be a writer? Actually, that story is in my book, Francois. My mom told me I had a knack for it when I was in sixth grade. By sophomore year of high school, I thought I ought to take writing seriously if I wanted to have any...
What can be more satisfying for a self-published author than the moment when you tap the “Publish my Paperback” button on KDP? After all the months of hard work, the fruits of your labor are finally realized. Now, as a published author, you anxiously await the slew of...
Congratulations, you have finished your first draft and are now well on the path to self-publishing! But before you send off your manuscript to a professional editor, consider having a few beta readers take it out for a test drive. Beta readers are those kind souls...
1. When did you first know you wanted to be a writer? I wanted to shine light on the the global pandemic of childhood sexual abuse and encourage people to talk about this taboo subject. But when it came time to blog I just couldn’t put down my thoughts. One...
