When I was writing my steampunk novel, The Commodore's Gift, I was sure the main character, Owena would be a strong independant woman, even though the genre's setting is a combination of Victoriana and the Industrial Revolution. While most women were restricted in...
When we are considering buying a novel, our initial draw is the book cover. Many give a hint of the genre and storyline, then we turn to the blurb on the back. As readers, many of us also read the first sentences, or two of the narrative. I thought it would be fun to...
With the explosion (excuse the expression!) of 'spicy' literature across the social media platforms and book stores, it is now customary to have a page of explainations of the content to 'warn' readers what to expect. Whether you prefer spicy or not, or something in...
The cover of a book initially draws us to it, even before we read the blurb, or check the author's name. A cover has a powerful psychological affect on our subconscious. It is appealing in a variety of ways and gives us clues as to the genre well before we know...
The definition of science fiction is narratives based on imagined future scientific, or technological advances and major social, or environmental changes, which frequently portray space, or time travel and life on other planets. We are used to the main categories of a...
As readers we all love books and the stories they contain. Whether we have a favourite genre, or read multiple, the joy of immersing into other worlds, characters and narratives is the same. Many of you know I read multiple genres, because I write many, as well as...
I am thrilled to have been given the chance to talk about my writing this past week. Many readers want to get to know the person behind the stories, and how those narratives are created, so here is your chance. You can choose from an article, an interview, or a...
This year's celebration, is from October 7-11, 2024, and marks the 35th annual READ IN Week in Edmonton, Alberta. Usually held during the first full week of October, the event highlights the crucial role reading and literacy plays in schools, libraries, workplaces,...
I don't know about you, but writing villain's can be much more fun than 'normal' characters. We are able to dig deep into the dark places in our imaginations, trawling through the many movie and novel villains we have encountered in our lives. And also maybe some...