Welcome to a special Monday edition of the blog, Tartlets! By now, it's no secret that some of my book-inspired recipes have been published in the Companion Cookbook for In the Garden of Monsters.
My beautiful Blood Orange Tart post gave you some glimpses of the four other recipes I created for the cookbook. Today, I'm sharing the details with you about how I became a part of this amazing collaboration, as well as details about the other...
Welcome back! We've made it to Part 3 of my hybrid publishing series. Thanks for hanging in there! Today we're talking about how to find a good hybrid publisher that's right for you.
This post will give you guidelines about how to determine a reputable hybrid publisher from a "meh" one -- and from a really bad one! I'll also give you some tips about what you should look for in a hybrid publisher based on your preferences as a writer and...
Thanks for joining me for Part 2 of my Hybrid Publishing series! Today, I'm sharing the details about my experiences with two hybrid publishers -- both the good and the bad!
A Tale of Two Publishers
As I mentioned in How to Decide if Hybrid Publishing is Right for You, I was offered not one, but two hybrid publishing contracts. Yes, I was ecstatic when this happened. But my enthusiasm was tempered by so many questions.
Obviously, I can’t...
Writers, I have gone down a freakin' rabbit hole when it comes to Hybrid Publishing. Which is pretty incredible considering that I didn't even know hybrid publishing existed until a few months ago.
If you're wondering what hybrid publishing is and if could be right for you, you've come to the right spot. Join me for a three-part blog series that delves into the ins and outs of this lesser-known author option that's gaining ground in the...
Confession: when I signed up for my first novel writing workshop, I didn't think it would be that helpful. Really, I signed up as a last resort.
When I hit a roadblock trying to turn Hyggely Ever After from a rom-com into women's fiction, my confidence crumbled. I doubted myself as a writer, and I doubted I could make my story into the version I knew it could be.
As you all remember, I threw in the towel and decided to shelve the manuscript....
Hey, Tartlets. Coming at you today with how I finally -- finally -- revived a manuscript that I thought was a lost cause.
Notice that I said "revived" and not "revised." That's on purpose. Remember when I called Time of Death on Novel #3? Yeah, that was a rough day.
When I announced my decision to shelve that manuscript (amidst a flood of tears, I might add), I was convinced I was doing the right thing. I’d been trying for the better part of...
The good I wrote my third novel.
The bad Instead of querying this manuscript to literary agents, I'm going to shelve it.
In case you're unsure: THIS WAS NOT THE PLAN.
Prepare yourselves, Tartlets, because this is, indeed, the Saga of Novel #3. A lament, if you will. Because in shelving a manuscript, I've lost a lot.
Let's back up
It's been almost a full year since my last writer life update. Soon after I posted that, I started...
Confession: I've never read a Stephen King novel. Yes, even though I adore horror stories. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft is the first work by this insanely famous author I've read.
A good writer always needs more writing advice I picked up On Writing because so many other writers, readers, agents, and editors have recommended it to me as a must-read for aspiring authors. I received a library copy in 2019 during The Great Concussion...
Some variation of the question “What’s it like being a writer?” inevitably comes up when I tell people what I do in my spare time. As a writer, you'd think I'd have a brilliantly succinct answer ready at a moment's notice. However, since delving back into the arts, I've learned that the writer life is not so easily summarized. Most individuals, when asking the question with gleaming and sometimes envious eyes, expect to hear someting along...
Among all the questions plaguing aspiring authors, one of the most depressing has to be "When should I stop querying my manuscript?" Unfortunately, I think I've found an answer. It's been awhile since I've posted a writer life update. While there's been a lot going on behind the scenes, I've kept quiet since my last post because I was hoping that, by now, I'd have some good news to share with you. You may remember that in early 2020, I revamped...
