That's right, I'm developing an online course that you can take that will have you writing a mystery novel in 8 weeks. It doesn't matter if your genre is cozy, thriller, or horror - I've developed a great system that will sharpen your focus and reduce your writing time to…
Next up on the calendar of events for the local Treasure Valley area are a few things I'd like to share. September 14, WRITER CEO ONE-DAY WORKSHOP with Donna Cook And Colleen Story. This is an all-day workshop at the Hampton Inn & Suites, downtown Boise. You can see more…
I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July! I spent it with a couple of amazing writer friends in a lake house in Donnelly, Idaho. So beautiful! But what's coming up next? Where's here's what I know: Wednesday, July 17 - 6:00 pm - Meridian Library on Cherry…
Pile on the doubt. Did he really see a crime or not? When in doubt, cast doubt. No only do the neighbors doubt, but now the character doubts himself. A can of traits. Every minor character has unique traits that stand out. Be sure to add all five senses. Hear…
Join me on Wednesday, May 15 at the Meridian Library, 1326 W. Cherry Lane. This class is part of the library's Writers Bloc and starts at 6:00 pm. We'll cover these great topics and how they relate to short stories: Character Setting Conflict Plot Theme Dialogue Killer openings and endings…
I have the pleasure of teaching a workshop at this year's Idaho Writer's Guild annual conference. I'll be showing attendees the 10 steps to writing a great mystery. The Idaho Writers Guild is a wonderful organization of writers helping writers. They have a fantastic lineup of presenters and speakers this…
My daughter received the Ancestry DNA pack for Christmas. I've never researched that far back. Instead, I've found some very interesting things about my own parents while researching my early childhood for my newest book, The Man In Number 7. You see, I don't have very many memories of my…
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth," ~ philosopher and writer Albert Camus. As I am nearing the end of the first draft of my new book The Man In Number 7, I realize the impact of Albert's statement. Yes, this book is fiction. And yet it…
Being a fictional writer, I'm always scouring and searching for the best names to use for my characters. Have you ever noticed that some names are so amazing they invoke an image as soon as you hear them? That's what happened when I saw an obituary for Mayme Divine. I…
I have a shopping list on the side of my fridge. It helps me remember what to buy when I go to the grocery store. I have a list of errands to run. I use it to create my route, saving as much gas and time as I can, and…