Fiction & Fables

What should you read next? Check out this list of ten clean fantasy book recommendations for young adults. Helpful tip: click any book cover to bring up its Goodreads page. The City of Brass by Shannon Chakraborty Shannon Chakraborty is my favorite historical fantasy author. The Middle East is fertile ground for all things mythical and fantastic. I also love Amina al-Sirafi and can't wait for the second book in the series to release in May 2026. Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson...

I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs. —Stephen King You have the perfect story concept. One you’re sure people will love. The problem? The plot alone can’t save a story. Execution matters. Your writing will never improve unless you have specific, actionable steps. This post focuses on the verb. If the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell, then the verb is the powerhouse of the sentence. Problem #1: Weak verbs She quickly opened the door and ran in from the rain. Sure, we get...

Most Anticipated Books of 2026 I get it—you opened the email to look at the books. So without wasting your time, I'll jump right to the list. (Don't you wish recipe blogs cut to the chase with recipes?) Contemporary/Historical Fiction Vigil by George Saunders Coming: January 27 Jill Blaine is tasked with ushering souls into the afterlife. But she might get more than she reckons with her latest charge: the powerful K.J. Boone. Vigil takes on the tolls of capitalism and a reckoning for a...

I'm sharing part of my personal self-editing checklist. Because weak words can kill a book. Write without Fear. Edit without mercy. —Tom Albrighton 1. Very: Very busy: Bustling, frenzied, chaotic Very happy: Ecstatic, elated Very tired: Exhausted, weary 2. Really: Do you really need this word? The answer is usually no. 3. Somewhat: This is somewhat vague. Try using something more specific. 4. Somehow: Are you missing important information or skipping over a logical cause and effect? 5. Slight...

Stay tuned for the end for my list of resources to stay on top of content creation. AI use for creators has become a controversial topic, with some claiming that if you don’t use it, you’ll be left behind (I’m not saying they don’t have a point, but these also tend to be the same people selling templates, masterclasses, or coaching services). Others tell you that if you use AI, you’re not a real writer (and I won’t disagree with this camp if you write with AI and try to pass it off as your...

As a creator, keeping organized notes is essential to keep from losing your mind resources. Where do you keep track of all those helpful sites, articles, reference images, your to-do list, inspiration, and ideas to revisit? Notebooks are great for journaling or jotting down ideas before they float away to the memory dump, but they’re not ideal for things like calendar events or copying links. As far as free note-taking sites, you have options—Microsoft OneNote (part of Microsoft 365 online),...

Welcome back to marketing for authors. If you missed part 1, you can find it here. Last time we discussed steps 1-6, from making a plan to implementing it across several platforms. This week we'll dive right into step 7. 7. Book Reviews & ARC (Advanced Review Copies) Traditional publishers send out free books to social media influencers, bloggers, book reviewers, etc. This has a dual purpose: it helps create buzz around a new release, and it gives your book social proof. Reach out to book...

Welcome to marketing for authors. If you've written a book, or you're an aspiring author, you're in the right spot. Book marketing is… tough. There’s no way to sugarcoat it. You’ve spent countless hours writing, and after all the editing, formatting, and back and forth with the design, you’ve finally hit publish. You’re standing with your book in hand, proud of your finished product, but that new book feeling starts to wear off when you notice your sales—or lack thereof. Don’t get me wrong,...

We're at the final email for the mini-series on writing, publishing, and marketing your book. In this edition, we'll be focusing on part 3. In case you missed parts 1 or 2, you can click on them below to review. Make sure to stick around to the end for my new giveaway. Part 1: Research, Planning, and Writing Part 2: Self-Editing, Beta Readers, Getting a Professional Editor, and Choosing a Publishing Path This Week: Part 3: Cover Design & Blurb, Formatting & Distribution, and Marketing &...