My Life
Fresh, fun and tasty.
We have a movement on Maui--a microbusiness movement. It involves many people who've had to adjust to the economy, and in the true entrepreneurial spirit of America, started their own thing--often centered around an interest or passion. Maui Country Farm Tours is such...
The nature of water.
I've always loved water. Perhaps it's growing up in Hawaii--some of my earliest memories are the intense physical sensations of the ocean, the cold of a freshwater stream, the refreshment of an outdoor shower. Water is life. 70% of our bodies are water. As the rest of...
Handling stress the fun way.
Memory is a tricky thing. I know better now than to trust it, but still they remain, handprints in the gray cement of brain. Early impressions are some of the most deep: the sun on the top of my mom’s head as I ride in a backpack while she bikes. The swaying, the wind...
Breaking through resistance. A theory from physics about America's current politics.
Not gonna lie. Resistance is constant. Change is hard. en·tro·py (ntr-p) n. pl. en·tro·pies 1. The tendency for all matter and energy in the universe to evolve toward a state of inert uniformity. 2. Inevitable and steady deterioration of a system or society. This is...
Traveling. New perspectives and blisters.
Traveling isn’t what it used to be, I think, holding my arms above my head for the full-body Smart Scan as I leave San Jose Airport, trying not to imagine someone seeing right through my underwear to all my vulnerable bits. Ten seconds never felt so long. Some things...
“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.”
(Forrest Gump's mama) I bit into a real cherry bomb with my post yesterday (now deleted) and I'm feeling pretty Gump-esque. It's been an opportunity to learn to watch my words and opinions in the very public forum of the Internet. I appreciate a lot about the...
The dark side of paradise.
Dualities fascinate me. Good and Evil. Sunshine and rain. Rich and poor. Moral and corrupt. Light and dark. Clever and stupid. Love and hate. Prejudice and acceptance. Kind and cruel. Crippled and strong. The Hawaii I explore in my mysteries is a beautiful place with...
My Writing
Seven Publishing Predictions and Plans to Deal with Them
Seven Publishing Predictions and Plans to Deal with Them I follow a number of industry blogs/websites including The Shatzkin Files, GalleyCat, Seth Godin’s Blog, Publishers Weekly and others, just trying to keep marginally abreast of what’s happening in the publishing...
Stephen King is my writing coach.
Stephen King is my writing coach—even though I’ve never seen or met him, or even read more than a couple of his books. Here’s why: it’s Christmas day, and I’m writing—both on my novel and this blog post—and I love King because he gives me permission for this...
Photographing ferns for a #book #cover is tricky
Photographing ferns for a book cover is tricky. My professional photographer husband Mike Neal and I have been trying to get a good shot for my newest mystery, Broken Ferns, for over a month. The problem? Ferns. With several hundred types to choose from, they still...
Marketing for #authors: ten reasons to build your fan base with Mailchimp.
Marketing for authors: ten reasons to build your fan base with Mailchimp. Marketing for authors is a constant process, and many efforts, like ads, have debatable impact--but not capturing the ongoing commitment of your true fans. In my minibook on author...
Tips for NaNoWriMo writing.
Tips for NaNoWriMo writing. I’ve participated in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) for the last four years. Yes, I’ve signed up with milling hordes of other unkempt and caffeinated writers and aggravated my carpal tunnel syndrome on an annual basis. I highly...
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