A WRITER’S LIFE HAS SEASONS, TOO

 Contributed by Gail L. Fontana

I have been writing for most of my life but didn’t get serious until my own “personal 9/11” at the end of 2019, when my older sister passed away.

Tough as that was, it jolted me to action. I heard the clock ticking, loud and clear, and said, “If not now, when?” 

Since then, I’ve “finished” three middle-grade novel manuscripts (more on the air quotes in a moment), three chapter-book manuscripts, a half a dozen or more picture books, and many short stories. I say “finished” because are we ever? There’s always something that could stand a little more elbow grease, right? I have, however, queried most of these projects and heard only crickets. I’ve also had many of them developmentally edited by professional editors who gave me glowing reviews. Whom do I believe? I guess I should believe the agents because they’re the ones who aren’t responding with cartwheels and contracts.

Anyway, that’s a subject for another day—or for a therapist.

I divulge these secrets because I want you to know I didn’t just fall off the proverbial turnip truck. 
I write. A lot. I finish projects. I keep going. 

Sometimes…I’m tired.

Which brings me to the idea of seasons. 

Just like there are four seasons in a year, there are seasons in a writer’s year. Maybe four, maybe more, maybe less.

For me, one of those seasons is represented by hurried activity. A get-it-done mentality. Don’t mess around on social media. Write, write, write. No distractions. Take no prisoners.

Another season is spent editing, tweaking, touching up existing manuscripts. This is a slower process—for me. 

Another season is spent planning my non-writing life.  Trips, visits to and from family, hosting neighbors, always at the grocery store, always in the kitchen. It seems to last forever but is often a short season that returns every few months.

Sometimes, I just want to sit and watch Gilmore Girls reruns.

Take a look at your life. Are there times when you’re not writing and feeling guilty about it? Give yourself permission to relax and enjoy that time. We can’t be our best at anything if we don’t take a break. Not a good parent, not a good partner, student, employee or writer. 

You don’t need to force these breaks upon yourself. You’ll feel one coming on. Lean into it. For a week or two. 

This is not a get-out-of-jail-free card, though. Make a promise to yourself not to let this season become all-consuming. And we have to keep our promises to ourselves, right? Otherwise, we let the Dark in, and it’s just not pretty.

We have to let our fields lay fallow. But we don’t neglect them forever after.

When you feel refreshed, it’s time to get off the couch and lean into another season, a more productive one. 

As English street artist and activist Banksy said, “If you get tired, learn to rest, not quit.” 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR  

Gail L. Fontana is a children’s writer, living in Rio del Mar, California. She blogs at www.gaillfontana.com

Carolyn Howard-Johnson Shares Newest Book with #NorthStreetBookPrize Entries for 2025

How To “Borrow” a Mantra

Badge Courtesy W. Terry Whalin, Fellow #WritersontheMove Columnist

The More Writers Know

By Carolyn Howard-Johnson

Writers Advocate, Educator, Writer of Fiction and Poetry and 

Author of Modern History Press’s HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers

“The more you know…the better advocate you make for your book, no matter how it’s published: 

You’re a partner for your publisher and its supporting staff if you’re a self-publisher 

you’re the 100% decider from do-it-yourself moments to knowing when it’s better to hire a worker bee.” 

“The more you know…” has become a favorite motto of mine.  I’m positive it’s been said before because I was once on a cruise with lots of sea days that allowed plenty of time for binge-watching TV which I had neglected for many decades before that including the news and the only ads this cruise ship aired were the ones that promoted their activities and their ports. Their chosen syndicated broadcasts filled ad time promoting their own efforts. That’s when I became a regular MSNBC watcher. “The more you know…” tended to lead to lots of new programming, new ideas, new anchors, and it was repeated so frequently eventually I realized it had been by own mantra for years without my realizing it. 

It also lead to the realization that it is an essential mantra one for writers, even if they are just aware of it subliminally. Everything we write we’ve learned from something we’ve experienced and none of that has never been experienced before. In other words, nothing is new. So no matter the kind of writing we do, we are always borrowers.

So, I borrowed “The more you know…” for the introductory lectures for the new classes I was teaching at UCLA, to included on the promotional material I was writing for the books I intended to use as my texts, for my clients…and for my kids. Both of my kids were diagnosed dyslexia before most of the medical community and given it a name; one turned out to be a tax attorney and the other a Ph.D. with a love of spreading my mantra to her own students.

As for my clients, I want them to know enough to avoid the pitfalls I fell into when I first started writing with the hope of publishing. Somehow I managed to make some major boo-boos because I assumed I had already done pretty well as a journalist, a marketer (yes, writers better learn a lot about that even if they hate the idea of pairing the art of writing and the lowly business of selling!) and teaching which gave me speaking skills I would need to promote my own books and to help my children through the tangle of educational opportunities.

“The more you know…” give writers to take advantage of myriad of opportunities available when we choose that joyful path as an occupation.

“The more you know…” gives writers the confidence to work with their agent as an equal and to be partners with their publishers even with things we are told we should avoid interfering with like editing and book covers. And the assurance to know when to rely more fully on them for their help.

“The more you know…” means they’ll know how to go about ascertaining that partner-publishing and/or honest-to-goodness self-publishing is right for their personality and their title. 

“The more you know…” lets you apply what you’ve learned in the past to what you want to take on in the future, get the help you need, and get it from the best places to accommodate your goals, with assurance.

The best, most frugal way to use a mantra  is to be open to new things and read a lot. As your budget allows,  choose the the best possible mentors and hang out with associates in as many aspects of the writing world as you can. When we’re new writers we can learn a lot from other newbies, but that should be carefully balanced with reliable, trusted, and vetted resources. Think accredited universities for both classes and activities like writers’ conferences. Think experience. Think, “The more they know… .”

“The more you know… the better equipped you’ll 
be to realize your biggest dreams, and the happier, too!” 

“The more you know…” the easier it will be to know when to “borrow,” when to give credit where credit is due and when to move on to something else you 
know…”

More About Today’s #WritersontheMove Columnist

Full disclosure here: This article may appear in the my new book to be introduced as one of the personal “Extras” I like to include in my nonfiction books.  Winning Writers will give the book  as a gift to all those who enter their work in their highly acclaimed #NorthStreetBookPrize for 2025 before it is released to the general public by Modern History Press in early 2026. The title is as yet undecided. I am considering, “ A Writer’s Vocabulary: Inspiring Better Writing and Empowering Writing Careers.”  Let me know if you have a better idea by leaving a comment.  And credit anyone who comes up with a title my publisher, Modern History Press, likes better. Frankly, I think that might be easy to do! (-:  Learn more about this contest with many value-added benefits at SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com and more about her series for writers at https:///www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTXQL27T.

 

Thinking of Writing an Early Reader?

 

 

 

Contributed by Karen Cioffi, Children's Writer

 

 Early readers are short books designed for children just beginning to read independently. 

These books should have 32 pages and usually 300-500 words. They can go up to 1200 words and 48 pages, depending on the child’s reading level. And as they build a bridge between picture books and chapter books, early readers should be divided into chapters. The book size should also be more in line with chapter books, usually 6X9.

Early readers play a vital role in bridging the gap between picture books and chapter books, typically catering to readers aged 4–8. 

While creating early readers can be rewarding, it presents unique challenges for authors. This article delves into the pros and cons of writing early readers, highlighting examples to illustrate their impact on young audiences.

BENEFITS OF WRITING EARLY READERS

-Fostering a Love for Reading
Early readers are an important tool in fostering a love for reading in young children. By crafting engaging, age-appropriate stories with simple vocabulary and repetitive sentence structures, authors provide children with a sense of accomplishment. Completing a book builds confidence and  encourages an exploration of literature.

Example: Dr. Seuss’s "Green Eggs and Ham" is a mere 50 words yet captivates readers with its rhythmic text and humorous plot. Its simplicity makes it approachable for beginners, while its whimsy ensures lasting appeal.

-Contributing to Literacy Development
Early readers help children develop fundamental literacy skills, including decoding, fluency, and comprehension. By balancing familiar words with new vocabulary, authors can gently challenge young readers without overwhelming them.

Example: The Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems features short sentences and relatable scenarios, making it an excellent tool for practicing expressive reading and understanding story structure.

-Lifelong Learning
Books for early readers often introduce themes of problem-solving, friendship, and resilience, laying a foundation for character development. Authors have the opportunity to influence young minds.

Example: In Arnold Lobel’s Frog and Toad series, the protagonists navigate everyday challenges, teaching lessons about patience, kindness, and teamwork.

-Creative Challenges for Writers Lead to Creativity
The constraints of early reader writing—limited vocabulary, short sentence structures, and concise storytelling—force authors to think creatively. These restrictions often result in clever, tightly woven stories that are fun to read and write.

Example: Laura Numeroff’s "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" uses a cause-and-effect structure to create an engaging and memorable story, demonstrating the power of simplicity.

DISADVANTAGES OF WRITING EARLY READERS

-Strict Structural Constraints
The rigid rules of early readers can be daunting for authors. Limited word counts, simplified language, monosyllable words, short sentences (averaging 5-10 words), use of sight-words, and an emphasis on phonics and repetition leave little room for elaborate storytelling or linguistic flair.

For instance, an author who thrives on complex narratives or poetic prose might struggle to adapt their style to the requirements of this format. Striking a balance between simplicity and storytelling depth can be a significant challenge.

For a list of Dolch sight-words, visit: https://dolchword.net/by-grade-alphabetical/

You might also get a copy of "The Children’s Writer’s Word Book" by Alijandra Mogilner. It gives the grade level for a large number of words. I use this book often.

-Limited Target Audience
Early readers have a short shelf life for individual readers, as children quickly outgrow them. This makes it harder for authors to build lasting relationship compared to writing for broader age groups.

Example: While books like Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie are beloved by young readers, their audience typically moves on to chapter books within a year or two.

-Risk of Oversimplification
In striving for simplicity, authors may inadvertently create books that feel monotonous or uninspiring. Stories that are too repetitive or lack emotional depth may fail to engage readers fully, undermining their potential impact.

For example, while phonics-driven books can improve decoding skills, some titles sacrifice storytelling in favor of adhering to word patterns, leading to less engaging stories.

-Market Saturation and Competition
The market for early readers is highly competitive, with many established authors and publishers vying for attention. Breaking into this space can be challenging for new writers, particularly when competing against known brands and franchises.

Example: Renowned series like The Berenstain Bears and Clifford the Big Red Dog dominate bookshelves, making it difficult for new titles to stand out.

-Illustration Dependency
Early readers rely heavily on illustrations to support the text and provide visual context. While this enhances the reading experience, it also means authors must collaborate with illustrators or publishers to effectively convey their message.

-Striking a Balance
Despite the challenges, writing early readers is a fulfilling endeavor for authors committed to nurturing young readers. By focusing on storytelling elements that resonate universally—humor, relatable characters, and engaging plots—authors can create memorable books that meet the developmental needs of their audience.

CONCLUSION

Writing early readers shapes the foundational experiences of young readers, influencing their relationship with literature and learning. 

While there are challenges writing in this genre, the benefits far outweigh them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Karen Cioffi is an award-winning children’s author, working ghostwriter, rewriter, and coach (picture and chapter books). If you need help with your story, visit Writing for Children with Karen Cioffi. 

You can check out Karen’s books HERE.

You can connect with Karen at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karencioffiventrice 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kcioffiventrice/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karencioffikidlitghostwriter/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarenCV

Tips on writing Kid’s Mysteries

Abi foresees new ghosts who might appear to
her in the third and final book of the
Abi Wunder series: Secrets of the Heart.
Illustration by Danika Corrall

By Linda Wilson   @LinWilsonauthor

If you want to write a children’s mystery story, you can find the basic how-to’s by doing a simple Google search: How to write a children’s mystery. AI offers an amazingly thorough and accurate description. I posted a copy at my desk to remind me to stay on track in my own mystery writing. Also helpful is to take a course on writing children’s mysteries and keeping a “Mystery” file to collect articles, blog posts, etc. on the subject all in one place.

When it actually came to writing mysteries, I found that I couldn’t follow a cookie-cutter description. I had to find my own way. In this post, I describe the highlights of my journey.

Holding Back

Holding back details of the mystery became the most important consideration for me. In the first few drafts, I gave away answers to questions my plot and characters brought up too soon. Keeping my readers guessing took careful sweeps (more than one) through the story to find information that I needed to hold back. Then later, to find the right place to reveal the answers.

The Main Plot

Secret in the Mist: An Abi Wunder Mystery is a ghost/mystery story. The ghost appears three times to Abi and Jess, the main characters. Significant clues are left each time.

• When the ghost first appears, she leads Abi and Jess to an old farmhouse. Why?
• A: Through some searching and trial and error, Abi and Jess discover that the ghost lived in the old farmhouse. An internet search reveals nothing about the ghost, so for a while this is the only piece of information they can find.
• Next time they see her, she waves a handkerchief that has her initials embroidered on it. Is the ghost simply saying good-bye or trying to confirm her identity?
• A: The ghost confirms Abi and Jess's guess of the ghost’s name by showing them her initials. Her initials match other hints of the ghost's name. The ghost’s identity is confirmed.
• The last time, the ghost leads them to a friend’s farm. Why?
• A: Abi and Jess learn that the ghost was engaged to be married to a past relative of the farm’s current owners. This information leads them to piece together why the ghost has returned, and finally, how they can help her.

In my last post, I discuss how this book, Secret in the Mist, began with a detailed outline, which immediately became obsolete as I wrote. The points I made in that post were discoveries made during the writing that were not included in the outline. Does that make me a pantser? A writer who writes as their stories come to them (off the seat of their pants, some might say)? In the end, Mist became a mixture of both, outlining and pantsering. Please refer to my post for a more detailed description: Writers On The Move: Writers: Will Outlining Your Story Save Time?

There is one more book to go in the Abi Wunder trilogy: Secrets of the Heart. My deepest desire is to write the book from an outline. I do believe outlining can cut time. But this will need much thinking and planning ahead of time. That includes as much foresight as possible in holding back fun and enticing details to keep readers guessing, and revealing these details in the right place later on. For children's mystery writers, this effort will go a long way in offering our readers the greatest impact and enjoyment.

Reading and writing with my
personal fan club, always there
to offer their support!

Linda's two new releases are Botas Altas, the Spanish version of Tall Boots, translated by Graciela Moreno and Adriana Botero, and Cuna en la Naturaleza, the Spanish version of Cradle in the Wild, translated by Adriana Botero. Visit Linda at https://bit.ly/3AOM98L.

Feel It to Manifest It: How to Step Into Your Success as a Writer Now

by Suzanne Lieurance

Feeling the success you wish to have as a writer is key to manifesting it.

The Law of Assumption, Law of Attraction, and even neuroscience back this up —when you feel successful, you act like a successful writer, and your reality shifts to match that.

Here’s how to embody that success now: 

#1. Start Your Day Like a Successful Writer. 

What would a successful writer do first thing in the morning?

Maybe they wake up excited about their project, journal ideas, or sip coffee while reviewing their goals.

Design a morning routine that aligns with the writer you aspire to be. 

 

#2. Immerse Yourself in the Feeling of Having "Made It." 

 

Close your eyes and imagine: You’ve just hit a bestseller list, landed a dream publishing deal, or built a thriving author business.  

 

How do you feel?  

 

Confident?  

 

Excited?  

 

Relieved?  

 

Hold onto that feeling as you write today. 

 

#3. Surround Yourself with Success Cues. 

 

Change your environment to reflect the success you’re calling in: 

 

Create a “future you” email inbox folder where you save messages from readers (real or imagined). 

 

Design a fake book cover and set it as your desktop wallpaper. 

 

Keep a success journal, recording as if your biggest wins have already happened. 

 

#4. Talk and Think Like a Successful Writer. 

 

Instead of saying, "I hope to be published one day," say, "I'm building a successful writing career." 

 

Shift from "I'm struggling with writing today" to "I'm in the process of creating something amazing." 

 

#5. Take Action with the Energy of Success. 

 

Write as if your work already matters to thousands of readers. 

 

Show up consistently, whether that’s posting online, engaging with your audience, or improving your craft. 

 

Take bold steps—pitch that agent, self-publish with confidence, start that blog. 

 

#6. Feel Gratitude for the Success That’s on Its Way. 

 

Every time you write, say, "Thank you for the opportunity to create."  

 

Celebrate every milestone, no matter how small.  

 

Did you write 500 words?  

 

That’s proof you’re a real writer.  

 

#7. Use a Success Meditation or Affirmation Practice. 

 

Before writing, close your eyes and affirm:   

 

I am a successful writer.   

 

My words impact and inspire readers.

 

Opportunities flow to me effortlessly.   

 

Let yourself feel the truth in those statements. 

 

#8. Reframe Rejection as Proof of Your Success. 

 

Every great writer has rejections.  

 

Instead of seeing them as setbacks, view them as signs you’re in the game.  

 

Say, "This means I'm on the path successful writers walk." 

 

#9. Visualize the Life You’re Creating Daily. 

 

Take a few minutes each day to live in the reality of your future success.  

 

Picture yourself signing books, seeing glowing reviews, getting paid well for your words.

 

Feel it now and watch how reality starts to shift in your favor. 

 

Success starts with how you feel about yourself as a writer.  

 

When you embody success in your mindset, emotions, and daily habits, the results will follow.

And now, for more writing tips delivered to your e-mailbox every weekday morning, get your free subscription to The Morning Nudge.

And don't forget to listen to our new Law of Attraction for Writers podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Suzanne Lieurance is the author of over 40 published books and a Law of Attraction coach for writers. Visit her website for writers at writebythesea.com.

  

Why Self-Publishing Books Aren't in Bookstores

By Terry Whalin (@terrywhalin)

I’m involved in a couple of online writing groups and no matter how many times you say it, there seems to be a broad misconception about self-published books. These books simply don’t appear inside the brick-and-mortar bookstores.

Please don’t misunderstand me. These self-published books have their place in the market—particularly if you have a means to sell the books to individuals or companies. For example, if you speak often and would like to have a book to sell in the back of the room, you can easily get a self-published book to use in these situations. Just don’t expect to sell your book to bookstores.

Recently a well-meaning author celebrated his first printed book, which was self-published. He was holding it in his hand—always exciting. He was plotting a strategy to get his book in as many bookstores as possible and asking for help from other authors in the group. If you are going down this path, it shows a clear disconnect with the realities of the market.

Here’s a bit of what I told him. “Congratulations on your book release and I celebrate with you—but after more than thirty years in this business and over 60 books in print—and working as an acquisitions editor over the last thirteen years—I am going to have to give you a bit of a reality check. You will struggle and find it almost impossible for brick-and-mortar bookstores to stock your self-published book. It’s one of those messages that the self-publishing places don’t tell you (they want to get your cash and get your book in their system). Yes, your book is listed on Amazon.com (easy for anyone to do) but getting it into the bookstores is a completely different story. 

I’ve been telling writers for years about the ease of getting a book printed—now getting it into the bookstores and ultimately into the hands of consumers, that’s another story.

“Retailers dislike self-published books. Every retailer that I’ve talked with about this issue (and I’ve invested the time to talk with them) has countless stories about the difficulties of these books. They have re-stocking problems and problems with the quality of the products (typos, editing, etc.).

“Here’s the real test for you: go to your local bookstores and ask them if they are carrying any self-published title on their shelves. Go to the big box stores like Barnes & Noble or Books A Million as well as your mom and pop smaller independent bookstores. The answer will surprise you. I will be surprised if you find a single self-published among any of the thousands of books.”

We can’t say it often enough—the bookstore market is a closed system—that deals with distributors and large and small publishers. It’s why we work hard to get our books into the traditional publishing marketplace. It’s why you go through the effort and hard work to create an excellent book proposal or book manuscript or novel, then sell that idea to a publisher. Then your book is available in any bookstore—and can have the possibility of sitting on those bookshelves. It’s a free country and you can feel free to expend the effort and energy to market to bookstores and try and place your book. From my experience and others, it will be frustrating and likely not sell many books. I believe your marketing efforts are better served in other markets (outside the bookstore).”

No matter what I write, several of you are going to take the leap into self-publishing. Here’s several action steps if you go this route:

1. Work with an experienced editor to create an excellent book.

2. Use a professional cover designer and people to format and produce a book where every detail looks like something from one of the big five traditional publishers. This means including elements like endorsements and words on the spine of the book (including a publishing logo on the bottom of that spine). Many self-published books are missing key elements which become striking signals they are self-published such as leaving off the barcode or doing this code improperly (without the price). 

3. Keep working consistently to grow your audience. As I’ve mentioned in the past, work daily on increasing your platform and reaching your audience. You need to try new avenues to market and sell your book. For example, in recent months, I have been using PodMatch which is connected to over 90,000 podcasts. I’ve booked or been on over 60 podcasts. I continue to pitch podcast hosts and appear on their shows.

4. Continue to learn all you can about publishing. Get a free copy of my Book Proposals That Sell and study the publishing insights in this book. 

5. Never give up on your book. As the author, you have the greatest interest and passion for your book. This statement is true no matter whether you are traditionally published or self-published. Always be looking for new opportunities to write or speak about your book.

This last point is something I try and model with my own books. For example, I continue to promote and use the radio interviews I recorded for my Billy Graham biography which has been in print for over ten years. Each author needs to be actively telling new readers about their books—whether they are carried in the bookstores or not. 

Tweetable:

Why are self-published books rarely inside bookstores? This publishing insider gives you the details. (ClickToTweet)

W. Terry Whalin, a writer and acquisitions editor lives in California. Get Terry’s newsletter and a 87-page FREE ebook packed with writing insights. Just follow this link to subscribe. A former magazine editor and former literary agent, Terry is an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing. He has written more than 60 nonfiction books including  Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams and Billy Graham. Get Terry’s recent book, 10 Publishing Myths for only $10, free shipping and bonuses worth over $200. To help writers catch the attention of editors and agents, Terry wrote his bestselling Book Proposals That $ell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success. His website is located at: www.terrywhalin.com. Connect with Terry on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Writing: Mixing It Up with Tropes

 

Contributed by Margot Conor

I have lately been experimenting. I mostly write Science Fiction and Fantasy. But I do tend to mix tropes most of the time. Recently I have been trying a few new subgenres.

An author in a critique group told me she liked my Magical Realism style. And I had to admit I didn’t know what that was. When I searched for authors that are known for it and discovered they are some of my favorites. Jorge Luis Borges, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Isabel Allende. I suppose we are inspired by the authors we love.

After reading about what characterizes Magical Realism, I wrote a few short stories with that trope in mind. Consciously leaning into that style, I was pleased with the results.

Magical Realism combines realistic settings with fantastical or magical elements, treating the supernatural as commonplace within the narrative. Key characteristics include a realistic setting, the matter-of-fact inclusion of magical elements, a blurring of the lines between reality and fantasy, and often, a focus on everyday characters in dream-like, or unbelievable situations which are treated as normal.

While researching tropes I saw a few others I decided to experiment with.

One is something called slipstream. Which I also had never heard of. This has the distinctive quality of defying traditional genre boundaries, by mixing sci-Fi, and Fantasy with psychological or philosophical fiction. It explores deeper themes of societal or technological change, and the breakdown of paradigms. It employs strange and uncanny situations. Encourages the bending of reality with surreal settings or circumstances. It is otherwise described as “the familiar strange, or the strange familiar.

I had never written in the Steam Punk subgenre until recently either, I wrote a short story titled Magic Wants to Be Used. I love the characters and the world I created enough to possibly serialize it. This story’s main character is a teenager named Xandra who has a forbidden form of mechanical magic.

I also recently compiled a small set of nine fantasy stories featuring dragons. I’ve been writing fantasy for a while but oddly never touched the dragon lore sub-genre. I am not sure it is still as popular as it once was, but it was fun to write.

There are a few writers in one of my writers’ groups who write romantic fantasy. I know that any sort of romance genre is extremely popular now, and an easy genre to build a loyal following with. But other than inserting a few flirtations into the speculative genres I write, romance seems to be near impossible for me to write.

I seem to have found my favorites, and I’ll stick with them. I encourage writers to explore as I have been doing, just to see what might inspire you. Every now and then it is good to step outside what we usually do and explore a slightly different direction.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Margot Conor has been writing for as long as she can remember, but it wasn't until the COVID lock-down that she had enough time to dedicate to the craft and bring something to completion. Having finished her first novel, she went through the grueling two-year process of editing. Now she has jumped into the author's world with both feet. Margot's debut multiverse adventure novel, Inverse, is available on Amazon.

She's spent the last year attending many writing retreats, seminars, and writers' events. She also listened to presentations specifically on the topic of publishing and book marketing. She will be sharing what she learns with the reader. Learn more about Margot at https://margotconor.com/