There’s a silence that comes after a book is born. Not the kind that brings peace, but the kind that rattles inside your ribs—echoing through the empty corners once filled by characters, conflict, and craft. As writers, we spend months—sometimes years—growing a story. We nurture it, worry over it, rewrite its flaws, and chase perfection like it owes us something. The book takes up residence in our minds and our bones. It whispers when we’re…
Posts tagged as “Project Zone”
I received a (scam) email offering to buy the rights to my second novel and decided, just for funsies, to see what might be said about me in these Google Search streets. What I found is both surprising and hilarious. Vitae: Heirs of the Five—the first novel in my dark fantasy series—has been out in the world since 2020. She’s been through a pandemic, multiple edits, cover glow-ups, and enough character drama to qualify as…
There’s a moment in every story when a character stops being words on a page and starts breathing. You know it when it happens. Suddenly, they’re making choices you didn’t plan, saying things that aren’t in your notes, dragging the plot in a direction you didn’t intend—but can’t resist following. That’s when you know they’re alive. Creating characters that feel real isn’t about giving them a tragic backstory or a quirky catchphrase. It’s about knowing…
The first draft of a novel is a glorious, chaotic mess. There’s no other way to describe it. You get the idea, you chase it, you lasso it onto the page while it’s still half-feral and snarling, and for a while, it feels like triumph. Like art. Like the great masterpiece has arrived in the form of a blinking cursor and 90,000 words that you just know are at least 87% brilliant. Then you reread…
When I first dipped my toes into the audiobook world, I thought it would be a fairly straightforward process. After all, the book was done. The story was edited, polished, published, and live. What else was there to do? Answer: A lot. I expected to simply sit back and listen to my novel come to life in audio form. What I didn’t expect was that I’d be immediately confronted with every sentence that sounded better…
There’s a certain narrative that floats around the writing community like gospel: Be patient. Wait for the right deal. Don’t rush into publishing. Good things take time. And sure, good things do take time—but how much time is too much? How long are we supposed to sit in limbo, manuscripts in hand, waiting for the elusive green light that signals we’re “worthy” of being read? Because here’s the truth: Some writers wait forever. Some never…
There’s something magical about a well-narrated audiobook. The way a skilled voice actor can breathe life into a story, shape the tone, and wrap the listener in the world like a cozy (or chilling) blanket—it’s an art form all its own. So when the time came to bring my books into the world of audiobooks, the question wasn’t should I do it? The question was how. Because, let’s be real—audiobook narration is not cheap. A…
You’d think that by the time I hit my third novel, I’d have formatting down to a science. You’d think I’d be a trim size whisperer, effortlessly crafting a perfectly sized book on the first try. You’d be wrong. So there I was, excitedly tearing into my proof copy of Hey, Roomie!, ready to admire my handiwork. The cover? Chef’s kiss. The interior layout? Flawless. The trim size? An 8.5 x 11-inch monstrosity. My sleek…
Yes, you read that right—that’s the official title of my third novel, and it’s finally official! I know that I’ve made mention of the title before, but it’s been a while and I wouldn’t blame any of you for forgetting! But… mark your calendars because “Hey, Roomie!” will be making its debut on 05/05/25! I can’t wait for you to dive into this one—it’s a story designed to keep you guessing, gasping, and maybe even…