Writing a Mystery: Crafting a Series

In the first part of this blog series, Writing a Mystery: Introducing Jade Riley, I introduced the protagonist for The Godfather of Dance. A journalist by trade, Jade hails from Melbourne and has a past tinged with the tragedy of her best friend’s death. Today, I share how I am developing the Jade Riley Mystery Series, and how I envision future books. Of course, this will almost certainly change along the way due to factors beyond my control or my evolving creative preferences. Continue reading Writing a Mystery: Crafting a Series

Lisa Darcy on Tuscany and Tennis

Lisa Darcy, author and writing coach, has just led an amazing writers’ retreat in Tuscany. Join us to hear about this and her latest novel, The Pact, which features sisters who are also doubles tennis champions. What could possibly go wrong in such a situation? Quite a bit as it turns out. Darcy takes us on a wild ride that is alternately victorious, heart-breaking and uplifting, and will leave you wanting the best for both sisters. Continue reading Lisa Darcy on Tuscany and Tennis

Writing a Mystery: Introducing Jade Riley

Jade is an everyday hero. In the first book, she’s a rookie journalist with more ambition than experience, more passion than finesse. She’s Australian, from my hometown, Melbourne, but she’s living in The Woodlands, Texas, a satellite suburb of Houston, where she works for a local newspaper. By no coincidence, this is where I lived with my family for five years. She’s also passionate about ballroom and Latin dance. Continue reading Writing a Mystery: Introducing Jade Riley

Bella Ellwood-Clayton on Weekend Friends

Dr. Bella Ellwood-Clayton’s debut novel is set in a cliquey suburb where belonging to the in-group is everything. It features intense female friendships and explores parenting in our perilous times when social media can build someone up as quickly as it can tear them down.
Join us as we talk about motherhood, friendship and how to write a good plot twist. Continue reading Bella Ellwood-Clayton on Weekend Friends