Writing can be a challenge at any point, but in a lockdown, it can be nigh on impossible. I feel lucky that I've managed to write two full novels, one nonfiction title and rewrite two books during the past 14 months or so. But it was far from easy. The First Lockdown Looking back to the first … [Read more...]
My Lockdown Story
You're a writer so you would spend your lockdown writing a story, right? Well, yes, in theory... A Good Writing Routine I have worked from home for quite a few years now, and have a well- established routine for my writing and coaching business. On the other hand, my husband's job involves … [Read more...]
Change of Genre?
Like many other writers, I often want to change the genre I write in. I want to escape the shackles of the romance genre and write something gritty. Fair enough, my Nordic fiction isn't exactly bodice-ripping, Hallmark movie type of romance, but neither is there too much mystery and absolutely no … [Read more...]
How Do You Like To Read?
I'd love to know how you like to read. In particular, what format do you prefer? January is the time to plan next year's goals, but this year, because it's a new decade, I also want to look a little more ahead. And that means planning what type of new formats I'd like to publish in the next … [Read more...]
New Year, New Freebies, and New Resolutions
Happy New Year! I hope you've had a lovely, relaxing (!?) Christmas holiday and a good start to the new decade? New Year Not Skiing The Englishman and I spent Christmas with family and New Year in the stunningly beautiful Swedish ski resort, Åre, where one of my books, The Christmas Heart, is set. … [Read more...]
Season’s Greetings
It's nearly Christmas and the end of the year so I wanted to send you my Season's Greetings! New Series Looking back to 2019, I've had a fabulous writing year. I've published two novels in a new series, Love on the Island, set on the stunningly beautiful Åland Islands. Book I, … [Read more...]
How to Turn Your Life into Fiction Step 3: Plot
When you want to turn your life into fiction, one of the most important steps is to decide on the plot. "But I know my own life story," you say. That's true, but don't forget that you are writing a novel. Telling a story in a novel form requires you to follow some of the rules of storytelling. The … [Read more...]
How to Turn Your Life into Fiction Step 1: Research
This is first in a series of blog posts about how to turn your life into fiction. Today I'm going to be talking about research. Why Me? I've talked extensively about how to turn your life into fiction in blog posts and seminars. I've even written a book about it! This coming Tuesday, I'm going to … [Read more...]
How to Write in Another Language
Would you like to know how to write a regular blog, novel or a nonfiction title in another language? When I tell people I’m a writer, the first thing they ask me apart from what I write (Nordic contemporary fiction), is what language I use. I graduated from a Finnish College with a Baccalaureat and … [Read more...]
The Mother in Fiction
How do you find the mother characters in the fiction books that you read? Are they believable, loveable or not true to your own experience? In my novels, I've used mothers and complicated family relationships to both move the story along, and to explain the motivation and difficulties of the other … [Read more...]
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