Author’s Blog

5 Reasons Planning Doesn’t Work

Sigh. You may have noticed I like to plan my life. I think I’m good at it, but I’m deluded. I try to plan, I really do, but there are reasons planning hasn’t worked this summer: Weather. Specifically, heat is disruptive. My glorious office with windows down three sides becomes a stifling greenhouse when the […]

“Christmas” Gifts For My Readers

  Christmas in July—and August as well! The heat here is oppressive. Thinking about the winter holidays may just be what we need to cool down. Here is a gift and a giveaway. Take a chance! You might win. Click here for a gift From Caroline Warfield Click here for even more from the Bluestocking […]

Turmoil in the Holy Roman Empire

Highlighting Historical Romance: Anna Markland, in which the author gives us a taste of the research involved in moving her series to Bavaria, Saxony, and other parts of Europe. __________________________________________________________ I chose to set my current series, The Von Wolfenberg Dynasty, in medieval Germany. I did this because the series is based on a book […]

5 Thinks That Drive Me Crazy

Writer’s block. Why won’t my characters tell me what comes next? Weeds. If they can’t stay away they should at least hide behind the bushes because I don’t have time to kill them. Dieting. It. Does. Not. Work Junk phone calls when I’m waiting for an important one. (The rest of the time I ignore […]

Bean Counting and Productivity

Once you publish a book or, if you’re fortunate, books, you’re not just creating, you’re running a business. You find yourself with a full complement of tasks that have nothing to do with writing. The sales, customer service, and marketing departments of that business can easily swamp the creative and editorial departments, demanding and getting […]