TEAR DOWN AND DIE The first book in the Second Chances Mystery Series By Joanna Campbell Slan ~ DEDICATION ~ For Sally Lippert, who believes in second chances. Prologue Late August, St. Louis As if he were looking out into the future, the light faded in Sven's brown eyes, and his weight settled in my arms. A sob burst from … [Read more...] about Prologue from Tear Down & Die, My Newest Book–
Improve Your Sequencing To Improve Your Writing
This morning I heard a radio commercial about a pair of work gloves. The announcer explained that these were "more abrasion and tear resistant than leather." I was left wondering, "Does he mean the surface of the gloves is abrasive?" I doubt that. I suspect he meant that the surface of the gloves was "more resistant to tears and abrasion than leather." (And if he had added one word--"tougher"--the whole description … [Read more...] about Improve Your Sequencing To Improve Your Writing
Writing a Book In A Week–Can It Be Done?
Twice a year, my friends at RWA put together an experience that they call "BIAW." That's short for Book In A Week. Last time I participated, I wrote more than 22,000 words that week. My friend Beverly Bateman was the word-wrangler, and bless her heart, she kept cheering me on. After the first day, she emailed me to say, "Can you keep up this pace?" I sure did. We're all different. Our goals vary. We're motivated by different needs. I love … [Read more...] about Writing a Book In A Week–Can It Be Done?
Could Anything Self-Published Be Worse Than This?
One of the big arguments against self-publishing is the idea that publishers perform a valuable service for readers by sifting through dreck. Supposedly, they only publish the best of what's available. Uh, not always. Another argument is that self-published work isn't always edited as well as it should be. The big publishers have fabulous editors working for them, and these magicians can turn a rough manuscript into a gem. Fair enough. I have … [Read more...] about Could Anything Self-Published Be Worse Than This?
Grieving the Loss of Your Pet
In Memory of Victoria Slan Special Tribute to Victoria by Sally Lippert Have you ever lost a pet to illness or accident? Or were you forced to give one away or leave one behind? We all felt Joanna's pain last week when she could no longer watch poor Victoria suffer. Joanna made the painful choice to release her pet. As her vet told her, "This is the right thing for Victoria; the hard thing for you." I visited Joanna's house a few … [Read more...] about Grieving the Loss of Your Pet
How to Make Paper Beads
Sure, you could recycle those old magazines, but some of the colors are too pretty to waste. Why not turn the pages into paper beads? Here's how-- 1. Start by carefully choosing your paper. Remember, you'll be wrapping strips of paper, winding them on top of each other, to get a bead, so not all the original image will show. It's a bit tricky. I suggest you start with a solid color, or nearly solid, like the paper on the right. Also … [Read more...] about How to Make Paper Beads
