A Video Interview

Last May, while I attended the LDStorymaker's Conference, Tristi Pinkston interviewed me about my novel,Trapped, and about my latest WIP. I've included it in my sidebar, but since this is the first time I've seen it, I'm also posting it here. The producers/editors did a great job, don't you agree?

The Hidden Kingdom Coming in October!

Cover art by Deirdra Eden Coppel.

Yes, I love writing romantic suspense novels, so don't worry; I will continue to write them. In fact, stay tuned for more information on my third novel. :)

BUT. . .

I also love writing for children. Much of my earlier career was dedicated to that genre, and during that time, I had an idea for a chapter book series for ages 5 to 8. It fascinated me. Not only that, young people are amazing and have the power to become Heroes of the Highest Order, so I combined those two ideas and voilà! My series was born. 

And what's a children's book without a bit of fantasy lined with educational elements? You know the saying: "A spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down?" Hey, it works for me. :)

So with the growing interest in ebooks, I decided to introduce "The Hidden Kingdom" to the world. Book 2 will soon follow. They will be published under the name R.K. Hinrichsen so I won't confuse suspense fans.

Here's my current draft for the back-of-the-book blurb:

A Magical Playground. 

Powerful treasures.

 Training from historical heroes.

The dark enemy never rests. But neither do the Heroes of the Highest Order!

 Is that enough of a tease?

Suspense Secrets

Since I write a lot of suspense, and since I've been studying up on the subject, I thought I'd start a blog where I not only share some of my own tips in relation to how to build suspense, but I also collect and post other articles on the subject. My blog is just getting started, and my first post is a link to information on how Hitchcock created suspense in The Birds. Here is the link: SuspenseSecrets.blogspot.com.

How To Improve Your "Showing": Delete Thought Words

Here is a great post by a fellow writer with ideas that can help us improve our "showing." :)

Delete Thought Words--From Melissa J. Cunningham

"Our readers aren't stupid. We don't need to tell them what the mc is always thinking. If you describe the scene well, they'll get it. I write mostly YA and teens especially don't like to be told what is already obvious. It takes practice folks, and learning what to look for, but is vital to your writing. . . That means: DELETE thesewords from your story as much as possible. Thinks, knows, understands, realizes,believes, wants, remembers, imagines, desires, loves, hates, Is and Has. (and a hundred others in all their tenses and forms). . ." Read the entire article