Actually, I didn't hear it, but if I had TV, and I'd known it was on, I could've watched ABC Family Chanel's original Christmas movie called Snow 2 Brain Freeze and apparently in the bar scene (a bar scene in a family Christmas movie???), I would've heard my husband's...

I've never been that good at math, and throw metrics into the mix and well...let's just say I've had to go back to school. But I'm trying to be a good Canadian, so here's what I think are approximately correct statistics for this storm. Forecast: 1-2 centimeters of...

There are a few people out there who I have helped with writing hooks/pitches/queries who will probably think I got my comeuppance* yesterday. You see, if you ask me for help with your query, I am tactful but ruthless. After I sent my agent my new manuscript, he sent...

Sadly, not a launch party for my book (just yet, but trust me, there will be a big one someday!). Today I'm helping my husband, Victor Anthony* celebrate the launch of his new website. Visit him here. The actual URL is http://www.victoranthony.ca (note the .ca as...

When my book sold, my agent advised me to get on Facebook. He said it would be important later on with teens. He was probably just hoping I'd find some other people to email/chat with besides him! I'd actually had a Facebook account for six months or so, but I hadn't...

I can't remember if I've already posted a post about this or not. I know I wrote an article about how listening has improved my writing that got one rejection and I never bothered to send out again. Perhaps I should dust that off and try again. Anyway, over the last...

There's lots of good stuff on Need To Read (although not all of it's available yet). However, the following warrants front page on my site. My friend Eileen Cook's debut YA novel will be out in a few weeks! Congratulations, E!!! It's called WHAT WOULD EMMA DO? and...

I know y'all have been listening to me say for months, "I'm almost done with my WIP" only to have me come back later and say, "Umm...well, I read it and now I have a bunch more work to do..." And then I wrote here, "I sent it to my critique group!" and what I didn't...

Hi All, I just wanted to say a quick word about the post below Hurry Up And Wait. When I wrote that yesterday, my intention was to compare the movie and publishing process favourably and humourously. My husband pointed out that it sounded a little like a subtle way of...

When you're involved in the filming of a movie, there is a saying, "Hurry up and wait." It comes from the fact that as soon as you arrive, at the crack of dawn, or often before, you are rushed into action. Not movie action..."getting ready" action. Here is what a day...

As you know, I like to cook. Sometimes writing and cooking are a lot alike. Sometimes you are not quite sure what you're doing but you have to trust that everything you add to the pot (story) will meld together into something fabulous. Other times...there is such a...

Garfield I am not! I love Monday. I always have. I was the nerdy kid who loved school. In fact, at the Senior Awards Night in high school, I received an award certificate for missing less than 5 days of school in my entire four years there (and one of the days I did...

...even though I'm supposedly on vacation. 1. OMG! I am sooooo relaxed bored! Here I am at the end of my vacation rope! Yeah, yeah...It is true I needed some time off, but a whole week? I took five days. Give me a break. I'm not a European who is used to seven weeks...

No...I'm not talking about the word count on my NOW FINISHED AND SENT OFF TO MY CRITIQUE GROUP MANUSCRIPT!!! Although, maybe after they read it, I might find that I do indeed have too many words. For now though, it is just right! Can I just say how good this feels? I...