Chapter epilogues
Epilogues – those summaries at the end of the book – are intended to provide closure to the story or offer a glimpse into what happens after the main narrative ends. Readers of the On the Dakota Frontier series are familiar with some sort of “chapter ender” element in all the books. Proving Her Claim used […]
The tyranny of deadlines
I was ruled by deadlines throughout my professional career in advertising and marketing. Most of them were not self-imposed deadlines; rather, I had to finish my portion of the project in order for someone else to begin their contributions. Early in my career, I was a copywriter, writing scripts for television commercials. I had to […]
Naming characters: what I’ve learned
While writing my current novel, I realized I was re-using names for new characters. That’s confusing for readers. It’s also a violation of the Author Rule (I made that up), but it should be avoided. There are guidelines for naming characters. In a blog I wrote several years ago, naming characters, I referred to Writers’ […]
TikTok whiplash
I’ll admit I have dragged my feet regarding TikTok. Oh, I have an account thanks to the urging of certain millennial influencers who insist that BookTok is where I NEED to be. (You know who you are…) I’m not “fluent” in TikTok. I struggle to create engaging TikToks. But, given the speed at which TikTok […]
Hello 2025! It’s time for New Year’s resolutions
It’s a new year. And, like many people, I’ve made New Year’s resolutions. Last year I was two for three: I resolved to set up a Free Sharing Library. √ I resolved to become a Master Gardener. √ (Editor’s note: I’m an Intern until I complete 40 volunteer hours.) I resolved to learn how to […]
Historical Research for Iron Horse Claim
Historical novels rely on research for background, historical accuracy, and plot lines. Each “On the Dakota Frontier” book has required research before and during the writing. The fourth book in the series, Iron Horse Claim, is set in 1872. Unlike the other books, this is a sequel to Medicine Creek Claim – a continuation of […]
Best Books of 2024
After the holiday paper and ribbons have been scooped up, it’s time for the “Best of” lists to appear. Here’s my “Best Reads of 2024” list. I track my reading through GoodReads, more so that I don’t repeat books (sometimes I still do…), so it’s fairly accurate. This year’s list includes lots of fiction and […]
Christmas at Lone Tree Claim
Just like today, Christmas on the frontier of the 1860s was celebrated with homemade gifts for friends and family using the materials at hand to make those special gifts. In Lone Tree Claim, sheepherder Katie Rose Kelly learned how to weave using the wool from her sheep. Katie wrote about the Christmas gifts in her […]
Podcast questions: What’s your favorite book?
Part of marketing a book includes being a guest on podcasts. I must admit that it’s kinda fun. The podcast questions have also given me a new insight into myself. One of the questions that podcasters like to ask authors is “What’s your favorite book?” While there are a number of authors whom I enjoy reading — […]