A Brand New Novel
Josephine Baker, the early-20th-century African-American dancer, comic, and singer–hugely famous in Paris. Did you know that she was also a spy for the French Resistance during WWII?
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Tag Archives: writing
Why I Wrote about Josephine Baker
My novels tell the lives of extraordinary women in history who overcame formidable obstacles to achieve their highest potential—which, for me, always involves making a positive difference in the world. I delve into these women’s lives in hopes of inspiring others and myself. And yet when I first considered writing about Josephine Baker, the African-American …
Writers’ Night in Paris!
For an American writer, it’s a dream come true: being invited to speak and read in Paris. On Friday, July 10, 2015, I was honored to join the very talentedauthors Reine Arcache Melvin and Heather Stimmler-Hall in a lively Q&A discussion with 40 Parisians about the writer’s life, followed by readings from our works, in the …
NaNoWriMo Authors, Quit Your Jobs!
As the author of five published historical fiction books including my latest, THE SHARP HOOK OF LOVE, I seem to evoke a certain starry-eyed envy among would-be authors who dream of riches and days spent working at home in their smoking jackets. While I do work at home, often not getting dressed until I …
Does Joyce Carol Oates Promote Her Books?
I really hate making everything all about me. On my social media sites, my friends and followers must be grinding their teeth in boredom right now, sick to death of hearing about my new book only two weeks after its release. But what’s an author to do? The number of books published annually in the …
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5 Things Literary Agents Do For Authors
In these times when anyone can publish a book with the click of a mouse, finding a literary agent is too often an afterthought, or no thought at all. Just as most of us wouldn’t go to court without a lawyer, however, we shouldn’t enter into publishing without an agent. Because, in an industry where …
The Writer’s Life: Hob-Nobbing with Authors at RWA 2013
I had a blast at the 2013 Romance Writers of America Conference in Atlanta last week, hobnobbing with romance authors, signing my FOUR SISTERS, ALL QUEENS, dining with one of my favorite book bloggers, moderating and participating on a panel with my literary agent, Natasha Kern, and volunteering at the Rita Awards ceremony. But my …
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NaNoWriMo and Me
It’s National Novel Writing Month — NaNoWriMo — and I’m supposed to be writing my novel right now, even as falling leaves continue to blanket my front yard and sidewalk and my garden waits for me to mix compost into the beds and cover them with the aforementioned leaves. I’ve got 2,000 words to write …
A Room of One’s Own
After working at home for seven years — and loving every minute of it — I have decided to look for a studio elsewhere. The reasons for this are complicated, and have much to do with my new domestic partnership (hate this term!). He works as a university professor, and when he comes home from …
Help! My Character Wants to Kill Me
Have I created a monster? Last night, Blanche de Castille – the White Queen of France and the evil mother-in-law in my forthcoming novel “Four Sisters, All Queens” – tried to kill me. I don’t recall what I did to offend her. Nothing much, probably. I mean, look what happens to Marguerite, the oldest of …
Start Writing, or Shut Up!
Dear Reader, If I had a dime for every time I’ve heard someone say, “I want to write, but I can’t find the time,” I’d be richer than J.K. Rowling, who, I’m pretty sure, has never made this complaint. Usually, I bite my tongue in response — but here’s what I’d really like to say. …