Passing for local could be life or death. A British spy in WWII might lose everything over the way a button was sewn, or how he held up three fingers. It’s the tiniest details that betray us—on the battlefield, in foreign lands, or even just trying to order coffee after moving countries. Trust me: I’ve lived it. The wrong Tuesday nearly gave me a migraine.
The Devil’s in the Details—and It Might Save Your Life Read More »
Can we talk about the death grip serial killers have on romantic suspense? Lately, it seems like every book I pick up in the genre has a villain who’s a serial killer. It’s like they’re being handed out with publishing contracts. “Oh, you’re writing romantic suspense? Great! Here’s your serial killer starter pack.” I get
Serial Killer Fatigue: Can We Mix Up Our Villains, Please? Read More »
There’s something about a good mystery that just gets under your skin, isn’t there? The kind that makes you sit up a little straighter when it shows up in a documentary at 11:30 p.m. and suddenly you have to know what happened. Amelia Earhart is one of those mysteries. Maybe the mystery.
Still Flying: Why Amelia Earhart’s Mystery Might Be Better Unsolved Read More »
Imagine strolling along a beach, hand in hand with your love, the salty breeze curling around you, the sun dipping low on the horizon. Romantic, right? Now, imagine bending down, picking up an old glass bottle, and discovering a 132-year-old message inside.
Have you ever watched a romance movie based on a book you loved only to leave the theater (or your couch) shouting, “What was THAT supposed to be?!” It’s a universal truth: Hollywood struggles to capture the magic of a romance novel. Instead of swooning, we’re rolling our eyes. Instead of rooting for the couple,
Why Can’t Hollywood Get Romance Right? Read More »
In light of recent allegations against Neil Gaiman, I find myself grappling with the complex relationship between an author’s personal conduct and their creative work.
When Stories Collide with Scandals: Neil Gaiman and the Reader’s Dilemma Read More »
Several months ago, on the Reader’s Hangout, there was a discussion about romances featuring older heroines. I ran a poll at the time, asking if readers would like to read romances that featured older women, as none of us is getting any younger. 🙂 Here’s the results of that poll: I took the results seriously,
Paranormal Women’s Fiction Read More »
Today in 1629, the Dutch tall ship Batavia was wrecked off the coast of Western Australia, not too far from where I grew up. The photo, above, shows a replica of the Batavia, which was built in the Netherlands and is currently on display in Geraldton, Western Australia…where I grew up. The survivors of the
Diving over the Batavia Read More »
Since moving to Canada in 1996, I have been slowly replacing all the books I sold to finance moving here with ebook copies. Sometimes those copies have been slow to acquire because the books weren’t yet issued in ebook format. I’m very happy that traditional publishers are finally getting a clue and re-issuing their backlists
My, How Movies Have Changed! Read More »
What do you feel when you look at photos like this? What about when you’re on high balconies? Heights of any kind? Do you get the strange sensation that you could just…jump? Even if you’re not in the slightest suicidal? That sensation is so common, it has a name. The French call it l’appel du
Call of the Void – A Writer’s Mind At Work Read More »