How to Write & Pitch the Cross-Genre Novel – Part 1

by Michelle Richmond (This article originally appeared in the July/August 2013 issue of Writer’s Digest Magazine.) The term “genre fiction” traditionally refers to any novel that fits neatly into a prescribed category: science fiction, romance, mystery, Western. But the line between genre fiction and mainstream fiction becomes blurrier by the year, in part because readers…Continue reading How to Write & Pitch the Cross-Genre Novel – Part 1

The Art of Simplicity – tips for writers from graphic designer Chip Kidd

I’ve been reading Chip Kidd’s Go: A Kidd’s Guide to Graphic Design. Although the book was written for a younger audience, it’s a gorgeous, superbly readable crash course in the history and principles of graphic design. One of the lessons that writers can take to heart is Kidd’s explanation of simplicity vs. complexity. “Simple, direct visual elements will…Continue reading The Art of Simplicity – tips for writers from graphic designer Chip Kidd

A Review of FLYING SHOES by Lisa Howorth

When Oxford, Mississippi resident Mary Byrd Thornton receives word from a Virginia detective that the thirty-year-old investigation into the assault and murder of her half-brother, Stevie, is being reopened, she must travel to her hometown to confront her family’s heartbreaking past. Her current life doesn’t stop for the investigation, however. As Mary Byrd is preparing…Continue reading A Review of FLYING SHOES by Lisa Howorth