Remember that hilarious scene in Home Alone where the McCallister family runs around the house like crazy people before they leave for the airport and everything’s a mess? Yep, that is my house right now. And those people are me. I hope you’ll read on, but you’ve been warned… Continue reading The Big “What If?”
It’s said that writing is a solitary pursuit. Or is it? Continue reading Me, Myself, and My Characters
Recently I mentioned I’m a fan of the TV show Ted Lasso. Don’t worry, I won’t give anything away here, if you haven’t seen it yet. This is what you need to know: The bumbling, ever-positive Ted (played by an amusingly mustachioed Jason Sudeikis) is an American college football coach hired to coach a ragtag football (“soccer” to Americans) club across the pond. He literally knows zip about British football. But what he does have to offer is folksy advice—often unsolicited, but always on-point—to those who need a little motivation. Or a lot. Continue reading Through the Dark Forest: Ted Lasso for Writers
Early this morning I received an alert from my no-fail personal emergency broadcast system: my black cat, Lucy. Said emergency had nothing to do with the approach of Choose-Your-Category-Take-Your-Best-Guess Storm Henri. Her concern? Breakfast service, STAT. Continue reading Staying the Course
If you happen to be a Peanuts fan—or a writer—you’ve probably seen the cartoon of Snoopy on top of his doghouse, hard at work on his novel. He has the perfect opening line: “It was a dark and stormy night…” Continue reading It Was a Dark and Stormy Morning…
While flipping through my high school yearbook recently in an odd fit of nostalgia, I reread the caption under my senior picture. Somehow, I’d forgotten I had a sort-of nickname: Squirrel. But there it was, listed first thing. Continue reading Hey, Look–Squirrel!
Some of us authors and readers can’t wait to hit the road to conferences, bookstores, and libraries. Others are more hesitant, or unsure where to start. Recently, one semi-wary Chick had the perfect opportunity to dip one talon into the waters… Continue reading Yes, You May Take One Giant Author Step
As I pen this post from my New Hampshire kitchen, it is a quiet Easter morning—sunny peacefulness broken only by muffled sounds of cursing outside the window. Yes, over my pitiful objections, my husband is taking down our outdoor Christmas lights from the roof. And yes, I know what you’re about to say, dear readers. APRIL? The Shock. The Horror. The Disgust. But wait, hear me out… Continue reading In Defense of Spring Hygge
We Chicks are just warming up for National Library Week–and what better way to celebrate than to welcome back awesome author Olivia Matthews (a/k/a Patricia Sargeant) as our guest–and introduce you to her brand new Peach Coast Library Mystery series? Take it away, Patricia! Continue reading Guest Chick: Olivia Matthews
The one in which Extra-Chirpy Chick does her best to build a case for Mondays. Inconceivable, you say? It’s all in how you look at things. Just grab your coffee and hear her out… Continue reading Monday, Monday: Writers Pandemic Edition
So I wrote this post for Chicks a couple of years ago. But it seems wildly appropriate for our current times, so I thought I’d bring ol’ Murphy back for a spin. He’s hard to get rid of, as it turns out. Don’t say I didn’t warn you… Continue reading When Write Goes Wrong: Blame Murphy
I’d like to thank the Chicks for having me on as a Guest Chick, but if you don’t mind, I’m going to turn my blog post over to Waylon Jenkins, Zombie Cosmetologist, the hero of my story Pluck & Cover. He’s always bugging me to let him have his say so we might as well give him the platform. As a special prize for listening to him natter on, anyone who comments below is automatically entered into a giveaway for a free Pluck & Cover ebook. —JD Blackrose, Zombie Wrangler. Continue reading Guest Chick: J.D. Blackrose
Chicks on the Case 