“You’ll always have moments within a manuscript of feeling stuck but just to push through. In fact, that’s often when the magic happens.”

“Too much information kills tension. But showing – through dialogue, active sentences, strong word choice and carefully chosen visceral reactions – pulls the reader into the story and makes them an active participant rather than a bored onlooker.”

“All kinds of romances have this complex journey (inward and outward) for the characters, with emotional investment from me, the reader, and a feel-good ending. Reading a happy ending makes a reader happy – and who doesn’t want to be happy?”

“I don’t write books with the intent of sending a message – if you write a great story there will be themes and ideas that shine through naturally.”

“A great synopsis shows that you understand very clearly what you are writing about, that you are able to encapsulate the intent and trajectory of the manuscript, and that you know where your project fits into the marketplace.”

“Once you have that first draft you have something to work with, you’re not facing a blank page and pulling ideas out of the air. Once you have a bunch of ideas on the page in front of you, you’re ready to shape, expand and trim them to achieve the effects you want.”

“Family history certainly helps us to develop empathy and understanding. Knowing what shaped our ancestors helps us understand what has shaped each of us.”

“It’s about becoming attentive, slowing the mind to create space for a poem to breathe. I am in dialogue with mystery, time, and with space.”