On April 15, we can say Happy Birthday to Leonardo da Vinci! Let’s celebrate by being curious. One option, if you live in Pittsburgh, is to stop by Riverstone Bookstore in McCandless for a Think Like Leo challenge! If you can’t get to Pittsburgh, then get a copy of the book and try out… Read more »
Inspiration
Tech Tricks for Writers: Apple Maps Update
Here’s another tech tip for writers! Setting is so important to story. Are you writing a book set in a place far from home? Are you not sure what monuments or buildings look like as your character walks down the street? Apple Maps has a new update that gives you a 3D look at places, mostly… Read more »
What Would You Name Our Owl?
We first noticed our new neighbor in January. I mentioned it in my First Birds of 2022 post. We weren’t sure it would stay, but it seems to love the owl box we hung for it. We’ve seen it all through February! So, now that it has stuck around, we think it’s time to name… Read more »
Tech Tricks for Writers: VRBO
Time for another tech trick for writers. Where does your character live? What does their house, apartment, or room look like? There are lots of ways to get interior design ideas from Pinterest or Wayfair or Houzz. But what about VRBO? VRBO is an app that lets you look at the interior of a house… Read more »
What would be your Color of the Year?
Every year, Pantone selects a Color of the Year. For 2022, the color is Very Peri. Here’s an image from the Pantone website: I love the idea of a color of the year. I love the meaning that Pantone has ascribed to the color- joy, creativity, courage, and imagination. We all need those qualities every… Read more »
All About Puppies
We are a dog family. We have a schnoodle and love puppies. At a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, this spare brush painting from Japan engaged me on a deep emotional level. I loved it. I wanted to jump right into the scene. Puppies are an excellent subject for artistic masterpieces…. Read more »
Tech Tricks for Writers: Autocorrect
Here’s a fun tech trick for writers. Have you ever gotten really frustrated with autocorrect? Of course you have. But sometimes it offers genius moments. Unexpected combinations of words. Creative interpretations our logical brains would never produce. Hilariously inappropriate statements. Just recently I suggested that my husband get a cough drop but autocorrect suggested a… Read more »
First Birds of 2022
I love birding. I love being out in nature, listening to bird song, spotting a feathered friend in the leaves and branches. I love keeping track of birds from year to year. January 1 is so exciting because I get to count familiar birds all over again! I’ve some wonderful birding moments this year and… Read more »
Is #PitMad Worth It?
Is #PitMad worth it? Did you have any luck at the most recent #PitMad? I think a lot of people think that unless they get a book contract sent via DM that day, they failed. But I say you need a broad definition of success. Here’s how it worked for me, and why I think… Read more »
Help for Writers who are Parents and Parents who are Writers
In 2016, I was picking my kids up from art camp when I received a phone call from a New York phone number. Since this was the summer of 2016 (and the election had not yet happened) I was just still a naive, optimistic person. I answered the phone. It turns out I had won… Read more »
