author & ghostwriter
Aware that I haven’t the slightest idea of how to write a mystery, I began searching for good ones to read. Ever loyal to the classics, I am reading Agatha Christie–but since what I’m writing is present-day, I’m also looking for modern mysteries.
Sooner or later, we all learn what true love is like. The journey isn't easy, though. You make mistakes and later reflect on how silly you were--chasing an infatuation, thinking it would be your happily ever after!
Let it be said of meThat my words wadedWhere the wavesDevour, Intent on saving youFor a new Day,For it was notYour Hour. I don’t believeI will meet you;I shall not KnowWho you are, Yet my words,Relentless, found you,Be it near or far. For those who found my work long aft I’ve faded like a flower, … Continue reading To Whom It May Concern
It’s frightening to grow up. Taking on responsibilities, leaving old habits behind, speaking of childhood in the past tense—it’s no wonder so many people take their time, whether or not they realize it. The world is a scary place, after all. I believe this message was the strongest theme for Nine Ladies Dancing, the fourth … Continue reading Nine Ladies Dancing: Clinging to Youth
The Belles of Christmas collection has been the highlight of the season for me. Each novella is short and sweet enough to make the wait for Christmas Day more bearable! No two are the same, though they share similar elements--like handsome gentlemen, sweet dances, and the Happily Ever After! Last week I got to interview … Continue reading Q&A With Author Ashtyn Newbold
If a story is good, if it has the author's heart in it, the reader will never forget the day the book was read.
I enjoy it when historical fiction books are written in different settings. So many seem to take place during the Season or inside of country houses. Though these books are enjoyable, a different setting ensures that I will remember the story. The Captain's Daughter by Jennifer Delamere provided a new setting. A good deal of … Continue reading The Captain’s Daughter by Jennifer Delamere + Author Q&A!
What does it mean to be a writer? Ask anyone who practices the craft. You might hear several answers, because people have different reasons. Anne Lamott's memoir Bird by Bird offers a response I believe few would disagree with: The very first thing I tell my new students on the first day of a workshop … Continue reading Bird by Bird: On Writing & Honesty
This is my first Hemingway novel. It's a quick read and struck me for being so detached. The writing style seems indifferent by nature, focusing little on the main character's emotions and more on dialogue. I don't know if Hemingway's writing is like this in other novels. It isn't bad: the way the main character … Continue reading A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls--the book title was clever. I'm not sure what I expected to find once I started reading. This is a good thing. Any book title is used to draw readers in: it makes them want to lift the cover and glance at the first page, where there should be a hook. … Continue reading Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls by Lynn Weingarten
I was looking for a lighthearted read to end the year of 2017. Perfectly suited for the job, A Study in Charlotte turned out to be a clever and captivating spinoff of Sherlock Holmes. Parallels to the classic mystery books give it a sense of familiarity--"I've read this before!"--while the new setting made it refreshing. … Continue reading A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro
Every couple of years, I find myself in the mood once more to read the Harry Potter series. The story never gets old; it's earned itself a special place in my heart. I think people are still drawn to these books because they feel like home. When thousands of people gather to read a story, … Continue reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
Mariella Hunt 