• Castles!

    Castles are amazing, mythic places that always inspire the fantasy novelist in me. Towers, barbicans, winding staircases, crenellation — the very words evoke magic and wonder. Of all the “standard” elements of fantasy stories and… Read more

  • Why is Self-Promoting a Book So Difficult?

    On January 1, 2021, I made several New Year’s resolutions relating to writing. In one of them, I resolved to “develop a marketing strategy before the next book is released to help improve its visibility… Read more

  • Meanwhile at Emerald Cove…

    It’s been a while since I provided an update on the Emerald Cove writers’ critique group, so this seems like a good time. The big news is that we may actually be able to start… Read more

  • Second Draft Anyone?

    There comes a point in an author’s career when one must face the prospect of…shudder…rewriting. I tend to approach writing the second draft of a novel with all the enthusiasm of eating leftovers. It’s a… Read more

  • Blogging About Writing: What My First Year Taught Me

    Woohoo! Tomorrow (May 1) is my one-year anniversary for writing this weekly blog. It seems like a good time to reflect on what I’ve learned from blogging for a year. 1. The most important lesson:… Read more

  • Is Fiction Writing Like Exercise?

    Prior to the pandemic, did you ever run into this scenario? You pay for a monthly membership to the local fitness center. At first, you’re all excited about the prospect of getting into shape. The… Read more

  • When You’re Bored…Write!

    Are you looking for more time to write your novel during your crazy, hectic schedule? Here’s a suggestion: Use those times when you are forced to sit and wait for an appointment. Even during the… Read more

  • Back to the Drawing Board

    In a recent blog post, I discussed the brainstorming process that John and I use to develop plot ideas for novels. Last night, John pointed out to me that I forgot to mention my favorite… Read more

  • Writing Sequels Responsibly

    Ever since John and I published 60th Hour a year ago, I have been learning about the marketing and writing strategies employed by successful Indy authors. (Yes, I should have learned about those strategies before… Read more

  • Brainstorming Plot Ideas

    So you’ve finished your fantasy book. Now what about a sequel? If you’re an Indy author, people expect you to write sequels. If you’ve done your world building well, your readers are already invested in… Read more

Welcome to Susan’s Monthly Blog!

On the first Friday of every month, Susan writes a short post about our books, the craft of writing, upcoming projects, travel, writing inspiration, and similar topics that strike her fancy. We hope you enjoy reading them.

Feel free to leave a comment. Susan loves hearing from readers!