To read them or not to read them?

I think it’s probably best not to read reviews. Bad ones make you feel bad, good ones distract you from the writing you’re doing and possibly make you feel all proud and big-headed. And yet, they’re like junk food…so irresistible! My editor...

Happy Birthday, Sweet Pea!

Today is my wonderful friend Eileen Cook’s birthday. You should celebrate and buy yourself a present. How about one of her fabulous books? Happy Birthday, Sweet Pea!

Win an ARC of The Right & the Real

Speaking of other people doing publicity for me…the fabulous and fun blogger, James over at Book Chic is hosting a double giveaway. Enter to win by leaving a comment and you could win one of two advance readers copies of The Right & the Real! Isn’t he...

Oh, my aching head!

I’ve had a headache all week. This has made writing my new novel challenging, but I was sick with a cold four of my five writing days last week, so I have made myself carry on in spite of the headache. Since drugs don’t usually work for me, I don’t...

My First Review for R&R

I’m pretty excited to share with you all my first review for The Right & the Real! From Publisher’s Weekly: Fast pacing and a strong first-person narrative voice combine to make this coming-of-age story a harrowing page-turner....

Exciting Stuff!

The following video includes some exciting stuff (at least for me), but I forgot to include one really, really cool thing. Went to the Poetry Festival all day yesterday. They have these little cabins without electricity surrounding the lodge where it was held and for...

Women In the Line-up

I’m very excited to be participating in the Poetry Gabriola Festival next weekend. I’ll be performing on Thursday, February 16th. Here’s the blurby thing that explains it. If you’re in the area, I hope you come. And not just to my event. The...

Another reason to shop indie bookstores…

There is much talk about supporting indie bookstores for the simple fact that they need our dollars to keep the lights on. Without them, writers and readers will be cheated out of choice as big chains choose what we read by making available their choices, not ours. ...

Who doesn’t love cats?

I realized today that I’ve been writing soooooo much that I haven’t updated the blog in forever! But did you see the part of that sentence that said “I’ve been writing soooooo much”? That’s the good news! Anyway, not much to say...

Words Have Power

To help celebrate the launch of her new book, Holly Cupala put together this excellent video called Words Have Power. I was lucky enough to be asked to be in it....

A Must Read for YA Writers

I am only 84 pages into this, but I seriously think it is a must read for all Middle Grade and Young Adult writers. It’s kind of sad, really, but fascinating too. The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth by Alexandra Robbins When school lunchroom doors open, hungry...

Happy Book Birthday to Unraveling Isobel!

That’s right! Today is the release of the fabulous writer Eileen Cook’s new book, Unraveling Isobel. You know you want it. So go get it! I read an early draft of this fun ghost story. You’re going to love it. And what an excellent cover! It would...

Favourite Reads of 2011

Time again for the list of my favourite books that I’ve read this year! As usual, it’s a real mix. Some are fluffy and light murder mysteries or chick lit, most are young adult, some are more literary, some are just plain useful or amusing nonfiction....

Ideas Are For Everyone

Quite a while ago, I read a theory on ideas and I honestly can’t remember where I read it, but if I had to guess, I’d say it was probably in Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. Essentially, the theory stated that ideas (story, businesses,...

The Cabin Reveal!

Finally! Welcome to Chateau Joelle, where the paint on the walls is creme brule, the floor is Cabernet, and it was built by a Frenchman! But much to my agent’s relief, the writing will all be in...

Grocery Store Musings

The other night I was at the grocery store and the man in front of me…a grown man, with grey hair (in other words…not a twenty-something) was purchasing 2 boxes of frozen mac & cheese, a package of hotdogs, and some pepperoni sticks. Sometimes, when I...

Racy & Pacy!

Another great blurb for The Right & the Real! I read R & R through in one large gulp.  It is marvelously gripping, racy and pacy. – John Rowe Townsend, author of Noah’s Castle, The Islanders, and more than twenty other books for young...

Cabin Update #6

Here we go! We’re almost there! The reason I dug the trench (I never say why in the video), is for the elextrical...

Author Pic?

I’m kind of wishing this was my new author pic for The Right & the Real. I guess I’ll have to write another book. Photo © Victor Anthony 2011