My first two thrillers—Nocturne In Ashes and Steadman’s Blind—were inspired by a real life concern. Especially for those of us who live in the great Pacific Northwest. Mt. Rainier is primed for disaster. The volcano will blow. No one knows when, but all indications point to the western flank as the weak point and it’s […]
I love writing. And I believe the stories I write are suspenseful, entertaining, and emotionally engaging. But let’s face it, sometimes it takes a bizarre premise or opening paragraph to grab us as readers and pull us into a story. Weird and wacky news items make good fodder for the pen. I am always on […]
Years ago, at a Friends of the Library sale, I came across a thick book entitled, Murder Ink: The Mystery Reader’s Companion, by Dilys Winn. Of course, it became mine in a matter of seconds and I’ve spent fun times and magical moments with the book ever since. Murder Ink is not really the kind […]
Over Labor Day weekend, my husband and I visited one of our favorite cities, and I’m excited to share Prague with you now. It was one of those magical journeys when everything seems to go right. We lucked into a great deal at a hotel right on the Old Town side of the Charles Bridge. […]
As a reader, you pick up on all sorts of tiny cues that add to, or detract from, the story. When a book pulls you in, grabbing your attention, compelling you to turn the pages, many elements are orchestrating to achieve that effect. When a book fails to capture your interest, some of those elements […]
A couple of years ago, my husband attended a week-long business conference in the beautiful resort town of Garmisch, Germany. I was thrilled to be going along with him. It was early spring, great weather, and I had all kinds of plans to go hiking, exploring the quaint village, riding the cable car up the […]
I love language. When I write, I try to create sentences and paragraphs that pull my readers in, that tickle and delight or thrill and give fright. I try to use lovely and effective description, designing word pictures and using syntax and structures that evoke emotion and fall gracefully on the reader’s ear. All of […]
A couple of incidents in my life coincided to make me ponder this question—do animals tell each other stories? If you’ve read many of my blog posts, you know that I’m fascinated by the power of Story and I explore it in a variety of aspects and invite you to consider the impact it has […]
What if I told you there is such a thing as a time machine and that story is what fuels it? Stick with me for a few moments and I’ll explain what I mean. Remember story problems in math class? Some students love them, and some hate them, but either way they are an important […]
If you think about it, each one of us functions as a storyteller in some capacity and in certain circumstances. We share a joke at a party, make up an excuse for why we failed to accomplish something, embellish a rumor, relate an anecdote, formulate a little white lie to keep the peace. Come on, […]
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