What Romance Novels Teach
Derek Davidson shared this very interesting article with me this morning: What Romance Novels Taught Me About Writing Literary Fiction Here’s the […]
Author: finerwords@msn.com
Two Reputable Publishers That Don’t Require an Agent
Hey friends, I wanted to put a couple of solid options on your radar today—especially for those of you who are querying […]
Sitting Where the Inklings Met: Oxford, The Eagle and Child, and Two Strange Supernatural Photos
Hey friends, I’ve been carrying this moment in my heart for years and finally wanted to share it with you. While in […]
The Deeper Magic of Writing Every Day: Award-Winning Author Peter Leavell Shares What He’d Tell His Beginner Self
Peter Leavell was the Operation First Novel winner the year before me. The prize was $20,000 and a publishing contract. For both […]
Hachette CEO on How Publishers Pick Writers
This is definitely worth the listen. I particular enjoyed the conversation about art vs. commercial fiction. I truly believe that books are […]
July 2026 Fireside Chat
To view this content, you must be a member of Brandy’s Patreon at $1 or more Unlock with PatreonAlready a qualifying Patreon […]
The Tapestry of Writing
I’ve been following Rainer Wylde for a while and these quotes hit. Starting out, I just wanted what we all want — […]
You’re Not Alone in This: Famous Authors on Imposter Syndrome & A Gentle Way Forward
Thinking back on my journey, I’ve been hit with imposter syndrome many times. It’s painful. It’s lonely. It’s excruciating sometimes. In some […]
📚 Big News from Hachette: What the Largest Union Vote in Trade Publishing Means for All of Us
Hey friends, Yesterday brought some significant news in our industry: Employees at Hachette Book Group voted overwhelmingly (388 to 130) to unionize […]
The Pleasure of Preparation
Umberto Eco (January 5, 1932 – February 19, 2016) was a towering Italian intellectual: a medievalist, philosopher, semiotician (expert in signs and […]