Using Real Herbs In Fiction: Yarrow
In the Landow Creek fiction series, the main character, Ivory, discovers the benefits of herbs for more than culinary uses. Naturally, to make the story as realistic as possible, I drew from personal experience and research. One of the first herbs I remember learning about is yarrow. I was...
Separating Fact From Fiction–Rex’s Grocery
Time to separate a bit of fact from fiction. The main character in my Landow Creek book series started her professional life as a sous chef or line cook in Chicago. Her dream was to open her own tapas bar in the city, but that future changed the moment...
The Seinfeld Method Didn’t Work For Me
Until it did, now I’m a believer. In writing circles, there is a story that Jerry Seinfeld writes a joke every day and afterward makes a big X through the date on a calendar. He makes forward progress in his craft by not wanting to break the chain of...
How I Plot Novels
Today, I’m sharing a glimpse behind the curtain into my novel writing process. As a writer, I’m always interested in how others do their work—always looking for new and improved ways to get words on the page. I used to feel guilt and shame over using so many analog...
Who Came First, The Cat Or The Character?
Anyone who knows me even the slightest bit, is fully aware of my affection for cats. Even the farm was named for the number of cats who moved to this acreage with us: Five Feline Farm. Writers have a special relationship with cats. Ernest Hemingway had his six-toed cats...
What Is Magical Realism?
Just as important, why do I like it? Magical realism, according to Google, “is a literary and artistic style that depicts the real world as having an undercurrent of magic or fantasy.” The story is “set in a realistic environment, but includes supernatural or dreamlike elements that are presented...
Natural Healing in Landow Creek
As I started thinking about writing a novel, I knew I wanted to include a story passed down in my family about stopping blood by quoting a verse in the Bible. The concept always intrigued me and my grandma quoted as fact that she had healed more than one...
The House in Landow Creek
The house inherited by Ivory in The Inheritance has specific characteristics which prompted questions, the primary one being: is that a real house? As my brother said when he read The Inheritance: “that’s our house!” When I wrote that first novel, I knew I needed to be as descriptive...
The Sacred Woods, Book Two from Landow Creek
Chapter 1 “Here we go, opening day.” Scurrying around the counter that separated the kitchen from the dining room, Ivory flashed a smile at Lisa, who was smoothing down the last of the crisp white tablecloths. “Look at my hands,” she said, holding her arms out straight for Lisa...
Is Landow Creek real?
After writing my debut novel, The Inheritance, I discovered people have questions about a few details in the story. I attempted to answer some in the Author’s Note at the end of the novel, but many more have been asked. Just so we are all on the same page,...