Patricia Mason tells us to always look on the quirky side of life for story ideas

As authors, it helps to look outside the box. Many times we think we have to color inside the lines. Is this true? What if we want to make the tree orange and the sky green?
Patricia Mason broke out of her box and finished her novel:
"For many years—I’m embarrassed to say exactly how many—the completion of a novel seemed to elude me. I would work on something for a few weeks but then interest would wane and the first three chapters ended up under my bed or taking space in some storage tub full of memorabilia. They say to “write what you know.” For me that didn’t seem to work. I didn’t want to write about my real life. Real life is sometimes depressing and always boring to anyone but me. So what is an aspiring novelist to do?

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Economical ways to do promotion

We all strugle with ideas for promotion. You can drop a pretty penny on it. Local author, Delle Jacobs, shares a few idea on how to create your own bookmarks on the cheap:
"Now that I've got a cover for LADY WICKED, my coming-soon release from The Wild Rose Press, I just had to do a bookmark. A little re-positioning, fine-tuning, and some blurbs and addresses. And a new design on the backside. Add a subtle color gradient for spice. (Oh yeah, I put a dress on her. Just because I could.)
For those of you who have a thing for RT cover models, and you know Jimmy Thomas, you may recognize him in the embrace silhouette. He's got some fabulous photos I'd love to use on covers, and they're not all that expensive- and pretty cheap for the e-book or bookmark size- $5.
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How writing short stories can help promote your fiction

There are a few reasons I've been writing short stories. My first ebook, Ignite Me, was a great learning curve. It helped to polish my skills as a writer, it's helped me with the experience of working with an editor, and it helped get my name out there as a published author. It's not usually for the fame and fortune, but there are benefits!
I asked Seattle author, Gina Robinson,
What do you think some of the pros are for writing a short story?
"Last fall the editor of a popular series of romance short story anthologies approached me about contributing a story to an upcoming anthology. The offer came out of the blue. I write in the subgenre that she was going to feature in this particular anthology. The deadline was short—just three weeks. Was writing a story for it worth my while or not? Can a short story be an effective way to promote a novel or a novelist’s career?
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What are our duties as writers? Is it more than just the story?

I think our writing is more of a big picture thing. I don't want to write or read books where, especially the heroines, are abused or made to do things against their will.  It's not good... it's not sexy. Is this just my opinion?
I caught up with local author, Kelly Fitzpatrick, and asked her opinion
Is it our job to give women more than just a light read?
"Awhile back I went to the Rose City Reader’s Luncheon in Portland. It was my first unofficial function as a published writer, although I attended as a reader because, well, because by the time I registered that’s all that was left. I won a basket of historical books, which I don’t really read, but I like winning and there were some other cool trinkets and bobbles. Yay me!
Jane Porter was the featured speaker at the luncheon. I don’t guess I need to explain who she is. I’ve never read her work, but I saw the movie Flirting with Forty, and now I have the book and I will read it. I found her to be a great and inspirational speaker. She talked about some bad reviews she’d received as a new author, which came at an ideal time for me as my fear of reviews had grabbed me in a strangle hold. She gave me permission to not be loved by one and all. Some day I will give myself permission.
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Bronwyn Green shares how writers can decrease stress and increase productivity

We all face stress each and every day. We try to deal with it, and if not, we drink coffee because we live in Seattle the coffee capital of the world!...
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Daring to Believe: Hitting that “send” button by Dana Marie Bell

I know I speak for myself, but I have hold the fear of hitting the send button. I spend sleepless nights, reading my first three chapter and synopsis...
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Ellery Adams tells us to beware! A mystery writer may be watching you

Is there truth in the old writer's joke 'Be careful or you'll end up in my next book'? Isn't there always someone that you fantasize about getting...

Is there truth in the old writer's joke 'Be careful or you'll end up in my next book'? Isn't there always someone that you fantasize about getting...
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Lisa Harris shows us how to set the scene for your book

I think, setting the scene is everything for authors. Whether your book's a historical or contemporary, you have to take the reader there and put them...
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Everyone loves a cowboy, especially Carolyn Brown

I recently had a funny conversation about cowboys. One of my critique partners, Darlene Panzera, has Washington State cowboys in her books. A friend from Texas said, "there are no cowboys in Washington!" Well, maybe not too many in Western Washington, but as soon as you get over the mountain pass, that's all there is for 250 miles is cowboys and country music on the radio. So, even though we ain't Texas, we know about the hats and tight Levi's :)

Carolyn Brown has a new series that revolve around cowboys.

What's fun about writing cowboy

"Put on your dancin’ boots, grab a long neck bottle of beer and a handsome cowboy to do a little two steppin’ with and come on over to Mingus, Texas, to the Honky Tonk to have some fun. Get to know Daisy and Jarod a little better once the embarrassment is over and they fight against their feelings for each other. Meet Chigger, Emmett, the red haired Walker triplets and Merle. Giggle when you read about how Chigger plays matchmaker and cry at the sad parts. Did I forget to tell you to bring a tissue or two?

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Thoughts on Choosing an Agent--or The Great Agent Hunt by Sally MacKenzie

We've been told a million different opinions. Have one. Don't have one. Need one. Don't need one.

I asked multi-published author, Sally MacKenzie, when is the right time to find an agent?

"In a perfect world, I suppose I’d have had an agent when I made my first sale, but things didn’t work out that way. When I signed with Jessica Faust of Bookends, LLC, I had my second two-book contract on the table–and in some ways this was a good thing. I wasn’t focused on selling, but on finding a person to help me manage my career, and I’d spent a year working with a New York publisher and observing with keen interest–since I knew I would need an agent soon–how my newly and not so newly published pals interacted with their agents.

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To action or not to action that is the question

I have taken some great classes at the Emerald City Writers Conference. I've heard over and over, start your book with action, but is this always the only answer?

I asked Sherry Thomas

How do you open your books?

"Last summer, at the Romance Writers of America’s national conference, I participated on a panel with two agents and three other writers of historical romance. The topic was about debut historical romances that had caught publishing houses’ attention, and sold either at auction or in a pre-empt.

At one point, my agent, Kristin Nelson, read the opening paragraphs of my debut novel PRIVATE ARRANGEMENTS to the audience:

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