Snake charmers, donkey carts, and couscous in Marrakech, Morocco – Part 2
Okay, there are just so many great things to see on your visit to Marrakech, that I couldn’t fit it into one post. So, if you’re planning to take a trip to Marrakech, be sure to read Part 1 of this post as well. And, plan more time than we had, because Marrakech is located…
Read MoreAm I the only one who never gets any writing done during the holidays?
In theory, the holidays should be a great time to pile up the word count. The weather is cool, and staying home at the computer doesn’t seem such a chore. Days off from work should translate into productive days working on writing… and yet, it never quite happens that way for me. I have yet…
Read MoreSnake charmers, donkey carts, and couscous in Marrakech, Morocco
Long, long ago, on an ‘important’ birthday, I decided not to get hung up on growing older, but instead to book tickets to a destination where I’d never been before. After all, I love travelling and exploring a new destination each year as I added another candle to the cake seemed the best way to…
Read MorePhantoms, fainting heroines, and evil Italian villains: The Gothic novel!
What do Frankenstein, Dracula, Jane Eyre and Rebecca have in common? They’re all descendants of the 18th and 19th century Gothic novels. The Gothic novel was immensely popular in the late 1700s and early 1800s. It blended romance and horror and were widely read in their day – particularly among women, who (like today) are the…
Read MoreThe Café de Turin in Nice, France
Nice is a wonderful city for visitors to southern France, offering beautiful architecture, art and an ideal position along the turquoise waters of the Riviera. Nice is also – not surprisingly – a wonderful place to enjoy seafood. The Café de Turin has been famous for serving up seafood to visitors and residents alike since…
Read MoreTraditional publishing or self-publishing? That is the question.
The literary agent Rachelle Gardner had an informative post on her site recently: Can I make more money via traditional or self-publishing?. Her post looks at the issue from the agent side, specifically what the monetary threshold (e.g. amount of the advance) of her clients is before they would choose to self-publish. I am a…
Read MoreReason #5360 to love Rome: SS Giovanni e Paolo and the Ancient Roman houses
Even after years of living here, I’m still in love with Rome. I love walking around and seeing all the layers of its long history. Although most visitors concentrate on Rome’s Ancient, Renaissance and Baroque splendors, medieval Rome is also fascinating to explore. One of my favorite corners of Rome starts at the tiny, cobblestoned street of Via…
Read MoreJoining writing groups to stick to deadlines
Deadlines are a writer’s best friend. Unfortunately, they’re often a moving target. Maybe writers with six or seven figure advances whose contracts detail very precise deadlines have fewer problems, but for the rest of the mere mortals writers out there, deadlines are often self-imposed. That’s why writers can be quite creative in figuring out ways…
Read MoreGo west, young woman!
Okay – so a bit of artistic license in the title. Although, you will be sure to note, I have not altered the word ‘young’. Sometimes one just has to be a purist (particularly when it’s more flattering…). I’m often back with my family in New York and, while in the US, my husband and…
Read MoreIt’s National Short Story Week!
For all you short story writers out there – and for all those who’ve “always meant to write one” – here’s your chance: 12-18 November marks National Short Story Week! I’ve always loved reading short stories, but I’ve only recently started writing them myself. To be honest, I was always a bit intimidated by the…
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