A New Chapter Begins
Chapters Unbound: Inside the Life and Craft of a Bestselling Novelist
After much reflection, I'm expanding the focus of this blog/newsletter beyond the mechanics of fiction writing to share something more personal and, I hope, even more valuable: the story of life as a working novelist. Hence the name change of the blog from Fiction Writing Salon to Chapters Unbound.
Don't worry – you'll still find craft advice here. But it will come wrapped in context, embedded in real experiences from my journey as a writer. Because the truth is, mastering craft is only part of the story. The rest? It's about everything that happens around the writing.
It's about the mornings I've stared at my laptop for what seems like hours, convinced I have forgotten how to write (spoiler: I haven't). It's about the thrill of holding that first—and most recent—hardcover bearing my name in proud hands, and the fear of reading the first reviews. It's about navigating relationships with agents and editors, about maintaining creative energy through moments of self-doubt, and about finding the courage to start again when one story ends.
Over my career of 30+ years, I've published eight novels (and two non-fiction books), with my ninth coming from HarperCollins this March. Each has taught me something different—not just about writing, but about resilience, creativity, and the unique business of turning imagination into bound pages that find their way into readers' hands.
What can you anticipate from this expanded focus?
You'll get a close-up look at:
The daily reality of writing for a living (less glamorous than you might think, but more rewarding than I can express)
The emotional ups and downs of the publishing journey
The challenges of sustaining creativity and confidence
The moments behind the scenes that never make it onto the page
And yes, specific craft techniques—but now you'll see how they arise from actual writing challenges.
Why this change? Because I've realized that the most valuable things I've learned about writing didn't come from books on the craft or workshops. They came from living this life, from making mistakes and celebrating victories, from finding ways to keep going when the words wouldn't flow and maintaining momentum when they did.
I believe this broader perspective will serve both emerging authors and curious readers. For writers, you'll see how the principles of craft play out in real situations. For readers, you'll gain a deeper understanding of how your favorite books come to be.
This is still a space for learning about writing. It's just that now we're expanding our definition of what that means. Because sometimes the most important lesson isn't about plot structure or character development—it's about how to believe in your story—and yourself—enough to keep going.
I hope you'll join me on this expanded journey. I have much to share with you about what it means to live a life shaped by stories.
Welcome to the next chapter.