Are certain places more "lucky" or "fruitful" to write in than others? Are there spots that have proven so inspirational and productive to ghosts of authors past, that writer-pilgrims can visit them and be filled with fresh ideas? While James and I were vacationing last month in Rome, I discovered in my Italy tour book that there was a certain little cafe near the Spanish Steps…
I can actually say it: My novel will launch next month! The edits are finalized, the marketing details are being solidified, we're scoping out a venue for the book launch party for friends and family, and bit by bit, the Booktrope team and I are preparing the world to receive Moonlight and Oranges. This book was a product of much love, sweat, and tears. The inspiration to write…
Have you ever noticed how memories grow stronger and stronger the more you tell people about them? They are also reinforced through the act of writing them down. My husband and I decided to share a journal over our trip to Italy, taking turns recording the days. One particular day that stood out to both og us was our anniversary, September 20th. On that day an Italian grandmother sang to us…
I am on the verge of an international adventure in the beautiful country of Italy and I don't think there's any way I'm going to get over there and not write. I have a gorgeous notebook I received as a gift especially for this trip and the settings of Rome, Florence, and Venice are bound to be rich places to use it. What I will write about, I'm not…
If you're anything like me, you cringe when you hear that the cocktail party or social gathering is designed to be a 'networking' event. Oh no! Not one of those, you inwardly groan. Maybe your next step is to worry whether your business cards (if you have them) are up-to-date, or if your attire is professional enough for the occasion. You rearrange your hair three times before it looks right. …
My best lessons and indicators for what I should improve or refine in my work are sitting right in front of me, plain as day, in my last creation. In my case, this means that directions for improving my writing can be found in the last piece of writing that I completed. I'm in the process of reading Art and Fear, a book that my author friend…
In two and a half days, I logged over 10,000 words of story architecture, plotting, and brainstorming for my newest novel idea as a byproduct of a writers retreat that I and seven other individuals enjoyed this last weekend. Was the writing retreat productive? Absolutely. But it was so much more than word counts and fresh pages of prose. Can you remember those time-freezing, luminous moments that your…
In the art world, and in most places of life, change can come as fast as a tsunami wave--and my reaction to change may be compared to the terror of standing on the beach, watching the incoming wall of water, and wondering if I really am prepared for what's ahead of me. The analogy is imperfect. A tsunami would likely have killed me. The changes in my…
The world-changing news came on what could have been a very average day. I'm sitting at my computer, getting ready to leave it for a while and revise the printed pages of my current work-in-progress, when a new message on my screen reads: Dear Elise, we would like to move forward with your delightful story... And I realize that someone is telling me that they want to publish…
According to Wikipedia, a red-letter day is any day of significance and my goodness did I have one! Last week I sent out my normal batch of query letters via email. This is part of my marketing plan, which entails sending out queries for my manuscript, Moonlight and Oranges, every two weeks or so. That same day, to my unbelieving eyes, two positive responses came back from two…