It is the happiest of times. It is the saddest of times. It Is a period of genius. It is a period of ignorance. We are the epitome of empathy. We are a disgrace of indifference. It is a decade of growth. It is a time of regression. We are the enforcers of justice. We …
Continue reading “Writer’s Life | The Inspiration of Imperfection”
The unlikely inspiration for my blog this quarter is my teenage crush, Boy George. I’m sure you’re baffled and wondering, dear writers, what on earth a left-of-centre singer of the 80’s has to do with Christian writing. Let me tell you. What’s in a Title? But first, allow me to fill you in on the …
… when it’s an illegal lottery. This post is a revision and update of a 2018 post, How to Conduct an Online Giveaway. Note: This is not legal advice. I am not lawyer and am not qualified or licenced to give legal advice in New Zealand or anywhere else. If you want legal advice, you …
Continue reading “Throwback Thursday | When is a Game Not a Game?”
Characters, setting, plot―these are the three main building blocks of a great story. In my last blog post here, I shared how I find the characters for my next story. Today, I’d like to share some things I do to create memorable settings for my historical novels. Some of these tips could work just as …
Continue reading “How to make your story’s setting feel real”
Does anything satisfy more than writing “The End”? In my case, it’s writing “Finis” for my Roman-era stories. It’s time for a celebratory cup of tea, a special dinner, a relaxing stroll…and planning the next story. How do we know what that next story should be? The characters, the setting, the plot, the theme…how do …
Continue reading “Writing the next story: how to choose the right characters”
When we create a novel for our readers to enjoy, we might start with the first sentence of chapter one, but we shouldn’t consider it finished when we type “The End” after the last sentence of the story. It’s time to write the front and back matter to give our readers more. We can add …
Continue reading “Adding Front and Back Matter to Give Our Readers More”
For a man to check out a book online or in a store, the cover must hold the promise of a story men would enjoy. Historical novels where romance isn’t the most important plot focus are often enjoyed by both men and women. So, how can our choice of cover let men know our story …
Continue reading “How to Design Covers Both Men and Women Love”
Audiobooks are big business. According to some they are ‘the new reading’. Whether or not they are going to take over from traditional written books remains to be seen. But the trajectory of growth is undeniable, with the Audio Publishers Association recently revealing double digit growth in audiobook sales for the tenth year running. Some …
Historical fiction lovers are also lovers of history. Every time we write a novel, we’re creating a special place for our readers to visit. We build a world for our characters to live in. The details of that world are up to us, but whatever we create, it must be believable. Even fantasy and sci-fi …
Continue reading “Writing Historical Fiction That Readers Will Love”
One thing that distinguishes Christian fiction from general market is the role of faith in our characters’ lives and the realistic spiritual arcs in their story. Some know what they believe and why, and they try to live accordingly. Others were raised in Christian homes so they’ve heard the Gospel. They might call themselves Christians, …
