The Presentism question in historical novels Sister panelists at the 2025 Historical Novel Society Conference in June. Hey there! At the...

I am still processing a firehose of insights and impressions I plan to share in the future.

Here’s what I’m learning: Embracing vulnerability can be a catalyst for growth. Instead of a weakness to be hidden, I’m finding that so far it’s a necessary step for my (and the book’s) genuine progress.

How past connections created a perfect Saturday. Connecting with Vincent van Gogh fans at a book signing for Saving Vincent at...

Warning: May contain metaphors about mountains and manuscripts Winter hike in Sedona, Arizona. This is what it feels like: You're no...

A taste of what's brewing post-debut and strawberry-rhubarb pie. Caught mid-sentence at a book party at Neighborhood Reads in Washington,...

I’m still trying to find the right words to express the impressions and feelings and takeaways of seeing Jo’s story out in the world.

All along it was the word “could” that danced as a north star. A gift because I didn’t need to write. There was no one telling me what I should be doing.

It’s been a bit rough-and-tumble out here in Debut Novel Land.

Three Weeks to Go: Echoes of Elopements, Births, and a Battle for Historical Truth. You are invited to come to a Live Instagram Event to...

The Amateur's Advantage and What the Creative Process Is Writing on a Sunday in 2017 when it all began People like us want to matter. We...

How I challenged myself to change a false narrative Photo by Nishaan ahmed on Unsplash I’m attending the nine-day Sedona International...

You would not believe how the word on Jo van Gogh’s life is spreading.

It can be tempting to get stuck and ruminate on what didn’t happen as you’d hoped, but I want to offer a different course.

It’s the author craziness when characters take on lives of their own, elbowing and clawing to get their words on the page.

I have a forever-fond memory of a girls’ trip. Another long weekend getaway that contained one singular moment that stands still in time.

This initial assessment, often based on appearance, body language, and tone of voice, can have a lasting impact on how we perceive others.

Like a friend throwing me a rope, inevitably the passages would haul me out of the impasse, and I’d be writing again.

I’m familiar with ye old 80/20 Rule but not 98/2. I’ve been mulling it over ever since.

Am I tinkering, or making material improvements?

In hindsight, my egoistic inexperience on what it takes to write “only” three thousand words kicked my tush.

After spending 15 months writing the first draft, then weeks doing follow-up research—for that matter, after giving up a 22-year profession.

But in light of today’s repression against writers, his [Vincent van Gogh's] letters have taken on new relevancy for me.

But to be honest, the bookcase clean-up also was a handy procrastination ploy to keep me from the real work I need to do.