Thought for the Week

Teehee

IWSG - October 2026

   

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the Aug 5th posting of the IWSG are

 Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Liza at Middle Passages, JH Moncrieff, and Jemima Pett!

Optional Question: 

Many people are calling for writers who use AI to disclose it. Most who employ ghostwriters do not admit it - do you think authors who use ghostwriters should have to disclose that, too?

TL/DR

*sigh* I've lived long enough to see a TON of technological advances. I remember being so excited when my office got an electronic typewriter with 2K memory! Good heavens, it was amazing, and it saved me so much time. Yes, even 2K of memory saved me so much time!

Whiteout was such a blessing, but then I got a typewriter that had correction tape as part of the keyboard, and I didn’t have to mess with whiteout anymore.

Then we got a word processor. Oh, my heck! I could edit a line without having to retype the entire page. And believe me, there was nothing worse than typing a document you thought you could fit on a single page—but you missed by one freaking line! 

When we got spellcheck and it could spot where I’d transposed letters and misspelled a word, it was awesome. Of course, some advances can bite you. *coughautocorrectcough*

The Internet made it so I didn’t have to run to the library every time I needed to look something up, or skim through loads of books. Once again, it comes with problems, and you have to verify your information. But you should be doing that, anyway.

And now we have AI. And man has it got lovers and haters. I’ve heard the term “witch hunt” a lot, and I can see why it’s called that.

It’s a complicated issue because AI isn’t a new tool that only does one thing like so many others

I know authors who dictate on the go. The biggest pain was taking those words and cleaning them up. They found they could give it to AI with the instructions to separate it into paragraphs and add proper punctuation but nothing else. Then the authors can shape what they dictated into a book that makes sense. They’re all still their words.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, there are people who give AI an idea and let it run with it to create an entire book.

And I’m hearing of varying kinds of use that range in degrees between those two. They’re all described as “using AI,” but they’re very different things.

I know people who claimed back in the day that “writing” a book on a word processor as not really writing. Ugh It makes me think of the person who told my son that listening to a book didn’t count as reading it, and this to a young man who has amazing hearing recall but is such a slow reader that he loses track to what he’s read. Try telling a blind person that listening to a book doesn’t count as having read it.

So, back to the original questions, I think I’ll ask some questions of my own.

How much assistance changes authorship?
I have several beta readers who give me feedback and help me to shape my books. And editors offer more feedback. When you’re with a trad publisher, you often have less say in the final product than you do when you’re indie.

Is there a “right” way to create a book?
Does it really matter if someone writes it by hand, types on an old manual typewriter, uses editing software, brainstorms with a critique group, or uses other tools available to them? At what point is it no longer the author’s book because there have been so many fingers in their pie (human or otherwise)?

What does an author’s name on the cover actually promise readers? And along that line, does it make a difference if you find out that something you assumed about an author was incorrect?
I loved the books written by Madeline Brent and was very surprised years later to discover that it was a pen name for a man named Peter O’Donnell. Did it make a difference in how I enjoyed the stories? No. But it could have made a difference on whether I picked up a historical romance written by a man.

It would have been my loss.

And for my final question.

Do most readers really want to know how the sausage was made, or do they just care if it’s a good story?

My Authorly Mascot

 I'm tired and needed something fun, so meet my author mascot, Pagewyn.

If you'd like one of your own, this is the prompt:

Give my personality a mascot using what you know about me and the uploaded photo for my appearance, invent a funny cartoon mascot that represents my personality. 

Feature a glamorous cartoon version of me posing beside the mascot as if we are an iconic duo. The mascot can be an animal, creature, object, or completely imaginary character.

Give it one small accessory or detail that connects it to me. Add its name and one short tagline explaining its energy. Keep everything else minimal. 

White background, clean composition, polished colorful cartoon artwork. Do not ask me what the mascot should be. You decide.

Thought for the Week

 

Thought for the Week

 

IWSG - August 2026

  

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the Aug 5th posting of the IWSG are

 Shannon Lawrence, Diedre Knight, Liza, and Pat Garcia!

Optional Question: As a writer/author what is something you regret? Or something that you wish you'd done differently in your writing process?

You mean that time I uploaded the wrong book's interior on Amazon because I was rushing as the preorder deadline quickly approached? And I didn't know until a reader contacted me?

Then when I asked Zon to notify people that the problem had been corrected, the Amazon support person told me they would only sent that notification for "catastrophic failure." I challenged them back and asked how the wrong book inside wasn't a catastrophic event.

They sent the notification, but the reader reported that it still took a week for the change to appear in her kindle.

To the Boy Who Lived

 

Happy Birthday, America!

250 years ago, ordinary people signed an extraordinary promise.

I'm proud to be related to one of them.

Arthur Middleton pledged his life, his fortune, and his sacred honor when he signed the Declaration of Independence. History remembers the signatures. It should also remember the courage behind them.

Insecure Writers Support Group - July 2026

  

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the Jul 1st posting of the IWSG are

 Rebecca Douglass, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Cathrina Constantine, and Jacqui Murray!

Optional Question: Is there anything you'd like to see changed, added, and/or rearranged
about the book publishing industry?

There are so many aspects about the publishing question. While I'm indie now, I was first trad published, but I remember how long everything took. There's a lot more work I have to do myself now and making sure I have the right team (editor, for example) is important. But it's also great to know I can decide who I want to work with.

How about you? What's your experience been?

I Had a Baby!

 A book baby, of course. And it completes another series. 

Christmas at Kellworth is officially live. I'm a finisher, so it's a rush to say the Twickenham Full-Moon Ball series is complete. As I promised in For the Magic, Reese and Jem finally get their Victorian Christmas.

"It's Christmas. That means grace applies extra." ~Jem

Christmas 1853.

Reese and Jem Taylor are exactly where they want to be, celebrating the season with the friends who feel like family. But the Twickenham magic has followed them to Kellworth — and Christmas has a way of bringing things to the surface. Hopes that have waited decades. Hearts that are finally ready. Gifts no one thought to ask for.

The magic isn't finished yet. And neither is love.

And, now it's time to go back to writing another book.

IWSG - June 2026

 

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the Jun 3rd posting of the IWSG are

Victoria Marie Lees, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and C. Lee McKenzie!

Optional Question: Do most of your story ideas come from one place

(the news, dreams, etc.) or do they hit from all over the place?

My story ideas comes from all over. I'm a discovery writer, so while I may know some of what I want to happen, other things are revealed to me as I tell myself the story.

There's something so fun about writing away and... boom! Oh, they knew each other in high school. I can work with that.

My first book started with a dream.

For another, one night, I was driving home from a late city council meeting not long after having LAZIK. The glow it created around lights got me thinking about what if there was something in the light. That morphed into a mirror and the idea of an alternate dimension. That turned into a portal fantasy. Which just got a new cover. 

What about you? Where do your ideas come from?

Thought for the Week

 

Happy Mother's Day!

 Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers and the motherers.

To the people who gave life, raised life, protected life, encouraged life, rescued life, and made room for others in their hearts. To the women celebrated today, and also to the men who quietly stepped in and filled a mother’s role when it was needed most.

To the grandmothers, stepmothers, foster parents, aunts, sisters, teachers, friends, mentors, neighbors, and pet moms.

Where would the world be without the people who step up, show up, love deeply, and make someone feel safe?

Today, we celebrate you. 💐

Insecure Writer's Support Group - May 2026

 

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the May 6th posting of the IWSG are Jenni Enzor, Jemima Pett, Jamie of Uniquely Maladjusted but Fun, and Kim Lajevardi!

Optional question - What was the most inspiring feedback
you received from readers, including agents, editors, and beta readers?

That I made them cry. Does that make me mean? I tend to write about hard things people experience in life, and if I do it right, the reader goes through that with them. I guess that's why I don't do romcom. I'm serious and if I'm ever funny, it's almost by accident. 🤷🏻It does happen sometimes.

I have a special folder where I put emails I've received. It's called Bummer Day. On a day when I'm feeling wear or beat-up by this writing life I've chosen, I can go to it to see what people have said. It uplifts me.

What about you? What inspiring feedback have you received?

Smile for the day.

 

Thought for the Week

 

Insecure Writer's Support Group - April 2026

 

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the April 1st posting of the IWSG are
 Melissa Maygrove, Cathrina Constantine, Kate Larkinsdale, and Rebecca Douglass!

Optional question:

April 1 question - If you have a playlist (or could put one together) that either gets you in the groove to write or fits with one of your books, what is it? What type of music or what songs?

I often like music that matches the characters. So, for example, while I'm not normally a metal fan (my sons are and taught me how broad a genre it really is), I would listen to Power Metal groups as I was writing a couple of characters in my Safe Harbors series. One of the characters doesn't survive the modern-day pirate attack on a cruise, so it's kind of bittersweet.

Or if I'm writing action, I like epic soundtrack music. Usually I prefer music without words when I'm drafting, but not always.

What about you?

Are you a "only in silence" writer?

Or do you have tunes that put you in the mood?

Thought for the Week

 

IWSG - March 2026

 

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the March 4th posting of the IWSG are
PJ Colando, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, and Natalie Aguirre!

Optional question:

March 4 question - What elements do you include in your book launch? Or what do you have in mind for your future book launch? Or what advice do you have to offer to others planning to launch a book?

I usually talk in my newsletter about the book and characters in the weeks leading up to the launch, and then I notify them when it's live. Mostly I send my newsletter and do book swaps with other authors.  

I'm kind of lousy with launches. I'm usually already working on another book.

Are you good at book launches?

Thought for the Week