Highlights of 2011

I can’t believe the year’s gone already! Was it really a year ago I sat down to write my recap of 2010?  And could this year be anywhere nea...

Gina Review: Top Five Series to Read

Today I bring you Gina's Christmas gift to me: a guest blog post on her 5 most favorite series of books to read. Interestingly enough, H...

Maybe Christmas Doesn't Come From a Store

Dr. Seuss was right of course. We all know it, even if we did scramble to make sure all our store-bought presents arrived on time and were w...

A Holiday Greeting Card for You

Happy Holidays to all my blogging friends! If I haven't been to your blog this week, please forgive me. This is the longest teaching wee...

A Slice of Salerni Life 2011

I've been doing family skits as a Christmas newsletter since 2002, when the girls were ages 2 and 5.  It's just a yearly peek inside...

This Is Not What I Intended to Write

I attempted to write two or three different blog posts yesterday and didn't get more than a few sentences into any of them before deleti...

Deja Vu: Seances = 19th C Twitter

While I was promoting WE HEAR THE DEAD in the early months of 2010, I had a startling revelation about the role played by séances in the 19t...

Hunting Anachronisms

It’s hunting season! But a gun is not my weapon of choice – and neither is that book on the right, although it was the first thing I bought...

Guest Post: Of Men and Cats

Today I have my brother-in-law Larry O'Donnell here with a guest post. (No, that's not him on the right.) I'm pretty sure I know...

How Do You Know When NOT to Jump Ship?

Last week, I came across two blog posts discussing troublesome WIPS and how to know when it’s time to give up on them. Meredith Moore wrote...

First Impressions #31

Our third selection for First Impressions in the month of December is another NaNo project. (Looks like some awesome stuff came out of Novem...

First Impressions #30

Our second First Impressions for December is a middle grade science-fiction/fantasy novel by Fiona Claire entitled FINDING OUT. Like the la...

First Impressions #29

As NaNo projects come to a close, a lot of writers are taking a breath and stepping back to look at their new creations. That’s why I’m exc...

Inspiration from Pictures

I know a lot of writers collect songs and compile playing lists to inspire them during their writing, but I’m more of a “silence is golden” ...

First Drafts = A Road Trip from Hell

Me : ( getting into car with a bunch of strangers ) Okay, everyone! I realize we don’t know each other very well, but I’m sure we’ll all bec...

Thankful

1. I am thankful that my lovely and talented daughter enjoyed her opportunity to perform live before television cameras in the Dunkin Donut...

Too Much?

The other night, I dreamed I went skiing. That’s not unusual, especially with winter coming on. I love to ski! Unfortunately, the skiing con...

Does Your MC Need a Character Arc?

I’m sure you all know by now I’m a hopeless Pantster. Outlines just don’t work for me. I can write ‘em, but I don’t stick to them. However...

Gina Review: Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island

My daughter Gina is here today with a review of GHOST DOG OF ROANOKE ISLAND, which she received for review from the author, C. K. Volnek. Th...

Where Do You Begin?

When starting a new project, where do you begin? I usually start with an inspiration, which eventually leads me to a starting point. My insp...

Open Minds: An Interview with Susan Kaye Quinn

When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep. Earlier this month, Susan Kaye Quinn launched her new book OPEN MINDS with...

STRING BRIDGE Chart Rush

Today is THE day to help Jessica Bell's debut, STRING BRIDGE , hit the bestseller list on Amazon, and receive the all-original soundt...

Holy Crap! That's Jerry Spinelli!

Yup. I’m not proud of it, but that’s what I said when I discovered Mr. Spinelli standing behind me at a book event last Friday night. Luck...

First Impressions #28

Our final First Impression for this month comes from Jerri George. This is the first page of SEADUCED, a generational saga set in the 1950’...