Tag: Writing
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The Last Supper (of Salmon and Storytelling)
Today was our last day of writing.This morning, we really focused on revising—learning some strategies and digging into our drafts. I’ve pretty much revised one chapter, just a little polishing left to do. One down – 82 to go! (I’m nor so good about cutting out unnecessary words!) At 11:30, we all piled into the…
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From Templar Stones to Irish Tunes: A Writer’s Day at Temple House
This morning’s writing session was slightly longer than yesterday’s and included a field trip! The focus today was on using setting and dialog to express emotion. After pulling on our “wellies” we trudged out to the side lawn of the the Temple House estate and explored the ruins of medieval castle associated with the Knights…
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A Writer’s Day Out: Syntax, Sligo, and Bill Murray
Today was an early start of writing. We had a quick workshop from 8:30 to 10 where we focused on improving our sentences—syntax, tone, rhythm, and all those good things that keep our readers engaged. Then at 10:30 we were on our way for an entire day of sightseeing! We started with a tour of…
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Writing, Whiskey, and the Hill of Witches
Today was the first full day of writing at the Family History Writing Studio Retreat in Sligo, Ireland. So far, we’ve been incredibly lucky with the weather. Yesterday, on our trip west, we stopped at the so-called Hill of Witches—actually a Neolithic cairn on Knocknarea. I had no clue what we were going to see…
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From Gilded Age Grifter to Aer Lingus Diva
I’m sitting at Gate 9 at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut, waiting to board a 6:05 p.m. plane to Dublin. The seats are filling fast. Uh oh. Does that mean some poor schmuck is going to get wedged between me and my husband? He likes the window. I like the aisle. (Seventy-year-old bladder. Two kids.)…
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Relax, Nobody’s Stealing Your Masterpiece (Probably): Practical paranoia tips for writers who want to share online without losing sleep
DISCLAIMER: I am not a lawyer. The information I share here is gleaned from my experiences and various sources I have consulted. Copyright law varies by country—always double-check your own country’s rules. If you’re a writer in 2025, chances are you’ve workshopped a scene online, uploaded a chapter to a critique group, or asked an…
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Chicago, 1892: A Day in the Life of a Divorced Diamond Seller
I took up Coach Carole’s Thursday GenAI Club challenge for Week 2: Time Travel Thursdays. The prompt invited us to time-travel with a favorite ancestor, so I adapted it for my husband’s great-grandmother, Catherine—who just happens to be the subject of my next novel (Countess of Cons: The Story of a Gilded Age Grifter). I…
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When “I’m Done” Isn’t Really Done
A love letter to every writer who’s ever found a typo … after launch. I thought I was done. I revised the children’s book. I corrected all the errors. I double-checked the margins, the text boxes, the captions. I pressed the magic button: Download. I uploaded the newest version (Number 6,262?) to Amazon. Ran it…
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Late-Night Thoughts Before My Book Launch: A Letter from Mom (Sort of)
The timing is a little awkward — my new children’s book comes out this Sunday… and I’m leaving on vacation the very next day. Oops. Real life! Thankfully, my trusty writing assistant (who I call Scripty McPromptface) helped me map out a plan — launch soft now, with more buzz later in August when I…
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A True Story for Young Readers – Coming June 22
I’m thrilled to announce the upcoming release of my newest book, Doris’s New Home, launching June 22! This illustrated children’s book is based on the true story of my mother, Doris, who left Vienna with her own mother in 1938. Together, they escaped the growing threat of Nazi rule and made a new life in…
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