Thoughts On My Author Journey

Toot your own horn! Be proud of what you’ve created, and never feel embarrassed to promote yourself. Excitement is contagious! IN MY twenties, I met my favourite author Anne Rice, creator of The Vampire Chronicles. Though our time together was brief, we chatted about several things, including her inspiring, descriptive writing style. It’s a memory […]

Killing Your Darlings

I WAS once asked if it was difficult to “kill one’s darlings.” Let’s look at this more broadly than just the mechanism of killing off a primary or popular character for plotline purposes (but I will get to that in a moment, not to worry). It takes courage and fortitude to cut storylines you’ve worked […]

My Favourite M/M Component In Vindictive Too

I’D LIKE to take a moment to highlight the scenes between Police Inspector Declan James and Dr. Thaddeus Madden in Vindictive Too. Not only were they great fun to write, but also a poignant learning experience. It was important to add diversity to my novel, as it is for all my books, but I wanted […]

The Genesis of My Covers for Vindictive/Vindictive Too

THANKFULLY, I was fully involved in the creation of my novels’ covers, and yes, I had a plan from the get-go. The concept and design for Vindictive and Vindictive Too, to suggest a theme of revenge through starkness and specific, impactful imagery, was a relatively straightforward process. Both books have the same basic colour scheme […]

Do I Have A Favourite Scene in Vindictive Too?

OCCASIONALY I get asked, “What is your favourite scene in the book?” With Vindictive, I don’t believe I’ve ever answered that question, and I’m not sure I can or ever will. At least not to anyone’s satisfaction. When I think of a scene in my first novel that tickles me, another one that thrills me immediately comes […]

The Vindictive Series & the Queer Thriller Genre

(What started as a conversational post about my novels being part of the Queer Thriller Genre became more of an “essay-like” piece, as my husband termed it (LOL), but I think it’s still compelling while remaining accessible.) MY NOVELS, Vindictive and Vindictive Too, are staunchly in the Thriller Genre. What I feel sets them apart from traditional thrillers […]

The Necessity Of Revenge

REVENGE IS a complex concept. At its core is the desire for vengeance or retribution motivated by perceived wrongdoing. The perpetrator, the one who carried out the unforgivable slight, the immoral act, the unforgettable harm, must pay for their transgression, and they must pay in a manner that will equal the pain and suffering of the […]

Writing Became My Revenge

  REGARDING MY writing process, I take time to develop a story, formulate a unique plot, and design the characters’ personalities thoughtfully. I’m no pantser, but I allow for organic creativity. If inspiration strikes, I’m not so rigid that I won’t alter the course of a character’s preset fate or adjust a storyline. Admittedly, I’m […]

Spousal Support (Not the Divorce Kind)

  I AM a writer. Not shocking news, right? Are you a writer? Does your spouse/partner read your work? Would it make a difference to you or affect your relationship if they didn’t read it or even show an interest in what you do creatively? While it is always great to have a spouse/partner who […]

A Difficult Lesson For A Writer To Learn

AS AN author, one of the most challenging parts of the writing process is knowing when to stop. What does that mean exactly? Well, when you write your story, you have to understand that there comes a time when the rewrites and the editing process have to reach a final stage of acceptance that the story […]