Post Roundup for March 2025
#5 Sunday Snippet
March posts brought a tapestry of insights—from how to break social media dependency to crafting page-turning suspense. From interviews with thriller royalty Karin Slaughter to exciting news about my Hollywood option. Whether you're seeking writing wisdom or a glimpse behind the publishing curtain, there is something here to inspire and motivate you.
Breaking Free from the Social Media Treadmill (Part 2)
I explore the middle ground between completely unplugging from social media and letting it consume our creative lives. Setting firm boundaries is essential for creativity and productivity, with my mantra being "Write the damn book first," because without a compelling story, all the clever hashtags in the world won't matter.
Capturing a Sense of Place
When handled imaginatively, the setting breathes alongside your characters, becoming almost another character. If I set significant portions of a novel somewhere, I must have lived there or visited often enough to understand its essence, as I did with Martha's Vineyard and Potomac, Maryland in CHLOE: A Novel of Secrets and Lies.
My Conversation with Karin Slaughter
I had the privilege of chatting with international bestselling author Karin Slaughter about CHLOE: A Novel of Secrets and Lies. We got into genre transitions, reimagining classics, creating vivid settings, and the importance of structured writing routines. The conversation offers valuable takeaways for emerging authors who want to develop their craft.
Using Suspense To Elevate Tension in a Novel
A dash of suspense can transform an ordinary scene in any genre into something readers can't look away from. At its core, suspense is about anticipation—making readers aware of possibilities and then delaying the revelation by strategically controlling information, raising stakes progressively, and using character secrets to create that page-turning feeling.
#1 Sunday Snippet. Write Everyday... Or Don't: 8 tips for finding your rhythm
I've written novels both ways: daily without fail (even setting my alarm for 5 a.m.) and in focused sessions with breaks in between—and in both cases the books made it to store shelves. Whether you join Team Daily or Team When-It-Strikes depends entirely on your lifestyle and circumstances. What matters most is finding the rhythm that sustains your creative fire.
#2 Sunday Snippet. Turning Bad Weather into Great Writing
For those seeking writing inspiration during a lazy Sunday, I offer three tantalizing prompts: placing a character in an unexpected environment, incorporating a childhood object into an adult character's life, and exploring changing beliefs through character dialogue. These exercises are designed to stir your imagination.
#3 Sunday Snippet. My Latest Novel Chloe and Other Creepy Things
A peek into my one-hour chat at Poisoned Pen Bookstore with award-winning thriller author Wanda Morris. Hosting is John Charles of Poisoned Pen.
#4 Sunday Snippet. My Film Deal: Why This One Feels Different–and What’s Next
Exciting news! A&E Television Networks has optioned the rights to one of my novels after negotiations that spanned a few years. Though less than 10 percent of Hollywood film options lead to completed films, this one feels different with a major star attached.
On sale at Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com and other fine bookstores.