Kathryn Jane’s post from January 8th, The Magic of Story, resonated so much with me that I just had to “ping back” to that topic today. I’m a big fan of Nora Roberts (okay, so she’s my idol, I’ll admit it), and I begin each day by posting one of her quotes on Twitter. Nora…
Author: Claire Gem
Claire is a multi-published, award winning author of both fiction and nonfiction. A native of New York, USA, she now resides in Massachusetts, USA with her husband of 39 years.
Filling in The Blanks
One of the maladies—and joys—of being a “pantser” novelist is that the story’s not over until it’s over. The raw, clay model of a novel can be reshaped, added to, and trimmed at any point in the process. Just like a sculpture. There is no outline. No rubric. Nothing written in stone. Anything, and everything,…
Getting to Know My Cast
Happy Friday! What better day than this to share some writing inspiration—and perhaps inspire us to make use of some the weekend to further our works-in-progress. I would have made a bad racehorse. My writing on a new project tends to start out like hellfire: I get a fabulous idea, a great premise for a story,…
The Magic Of New
Several years ago, I did a blog by this very same name. No, I’m not recycling blogs, because there is, definitely, magic in something new. Back then I was awed by my Floridian, then-toddler grandson’s reaction when he saw snow for the first time. This time, I’m wallowing in my own wonder of something new—a…
Chasing the Elusive Butterfly: Theme
Merriam Webster makes it sound so simple. “Theme is . . .the main subject that is being discussed or described in a piece of writing . . .” Then why is it so evasive, almost impossibly difficult to define in my own writing? Going in, I always think I know my theme. After all, my…
Anticipation? or Suspense?
Anticipation: the action of anticipating something; expectation or prediction. Suspense: a state or feeling of excited or anxious uncertainty about what may happen. The line between the two terms is very fine. They almost intersect at some point. Yet the term “suspense” definitely carries a more ominous tone. I pride myself as being a sister…
Birthdays & Such
You’ve spent months toiling away at your keyboard. Maybe years before that planning your plot, interviewing your characters, scoping out your settings, getting the local lingo just right. You’ve edited and proofread. Sent it out for copy-edits, and proofread it again. Agonized over designing just the right cover. And the day is finally here. Release…
Key Tips for Awesome Book Signings
Internet marketing is by far the most targeted method authors use to promote their books today. Tweets and Facebook posts are free. Blogging can be free. And there are many, many direct email promotions that can be purchased for little cost. And yes, it’s true—online sales—particularly for eBooks, have defined the future of the…
A Lucky Eight: Thoughts on the Book Trailer
Do you have a trailer for your latest book? And what’s your opinion of the medium, in general? Seems there’s some controversy as to whether book trailers have a place in the market at all. Some sources even suggest that the very notion of a book trailer is in direct opposition to a book’s innate…
A Launch Day Tribute
June 16th. A very special date for me, because today I’m launching the first Love at Lake George Novel, A TAMING SEASON. But I chose this date for another, even more special reason. Today was my father’s birthday.Frank Anthony Del Negro was born on June 16 over 90 years ago. I lost him in 2001….
Word by Word 