I obviously won’t be reading all of these at once, but look at this gorgeous stack of books I (finally) just picked up from one of my new favorite local indies, Loyalty Books in Silver Spring, Maryland. So can’t wait to dive in!
Okay, I’m not reading ALL of this right now, but look at this gorgeous stack of books I just picked up at one of my favorite indie bookstores, One More Page Books, in Arlington VA!
I often find hearts in unexpected places, each one a welcome reminder that love is everywhere. I hope these hearts inspire you to look for the unexpected love in your world, too.
After waiting months to share this exciting news, I’m beyond thrilled to announce I’ll be presenting a Cash & Creativity: How Cleaning up Your Finances Can Spark New Creative Success master class at the James River Writers 2017 Conference on Friday, October 13 in Richmond, Virginia!
The list of conference speakers and master classes plus all the registration details just went up online – I’m so honored to be included in this stellar group of writers (including the brilliant Meg Medina, one of my all-time faves) and industry professionals.
Hope to see you on Friday for my master class, and throughout the weekend at the main conference, too!
While at the annual retreat of the Washington Romance Writers chapter of the Romance Writers of America this past weekend, I had a lovely conversation with some equally-lovely writer friends about those moments when inspiration zings you, when ideas come so unexpectedly you have to grab at whatever’s closest to scribble them down before they fly off again.
For me and many of my fellow writers, our muse shows up while we’re in the middle of otherwise mindless, mundane tasks like driving, doing the dishes, or taking a shower. That’s definitely true for me, and the reason I now keep a stack of note paper and a pen in a bathroom drawer.
Some writers swear by waterproof note boards or writing on tile walls with crayon. I’ve tried dry-erase markers–both on tile and on the bathroom mirror–but it turns out steam is not exactly friendly to that type of ink. So now I depend on the humble, practically-timeless combination of pen and paper whenever a spark of an idea hits.
Of course, I have to actually jump out of the shower to write those notes, and that’s exactly what I did the morning after the retreat, when I’d just barely rinsed the shampoo out of my hair when idea after idea for the young adult mystery I’m revising slammed into my head.
Trust me when I say it’s tough to write notes when your hands are soaked and water’s running down your arms and right onto your paper. As you may be able to tell from this picture, my counter ended up completely soaked and my notes did, too, but all that mattered was that I could read them.
You may also notice that photo’s pretty blurry; I did that on purpose to save you all from spoilers. I am writing a mystery, after all. Someday, I promise, you’ll thank me.
Just like I’m keep thanking my personal shower muses for some many, many new ideas, water-logged or not.
Another month, another review in my Book Value column in BetterInvesting magazine.
You can find the latest right here, fresh off the press!
Another month, another review in my Book Value column in BetterInvesting magazine.
You can find the latest right here, fresh off the press!
Angele McQuade 