Happiness is such an elusive and complicated word. And showing a character experiencing happiness can be all the more complex, especially when you need to do it through showing rather than telling the reader. Within the idea of happiness, there are…
When people typically think of fanfiction, they don’t initially think of renowned works of literature. But many popular novels started out as fanfiction, including Twilight, Fifty Shades of Grey, Mortal Instruments, etc. In addition, even more…
At this point, the character Dracula has transcended the original Bram Stoker novel. Not only has the character made appearances in movies, television, and books outside of the original novel’s context, but Stoker’s vampiric creation has served…
Name: Mark Chartrand Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri Book Title: A Dog Named Chilli: My New Home Genre: Children’s/Fiction Dorrance Publishing (DP): Describe your book in 10 words or less. Mark Chartrand (MC): Life lessons wrapped up in adventure…
There is a very big difference between a biography, autobiography, memoir, etc., and a ‘based on a true story’ book. The goal of books in the first category is to remain as factually accurate as possible in their telling. They are heavily…
For some people, Valentine’s day is a day to celebrate the love they have for their partner. It’s a day they look forward to, a day filled with candy hearts, assorted chocolates, flowers, jewelry, and mushy declarations of love. It’s a day of…
Name: Latoya Harris Hometown: Portmore, St Catherine, Jamaica. Book Title: True Reflections Genre: Spiritual Dorrance Publishing (DP): Describe your book in 10 words or less. Latoya Harris (LH): It is engaging, it’s realistic, and relatable. It is…
One of the aspects of writing that can make any character feel more well-rounded is hobbies. Virtually everyone has an interest or hobby that they’re either passionate about or that gives them comfort and happiness in their lives. Giving one or…
An idea for a novel can come from many different sources. It can come in the form of a sentence spoken by a close friend, suddenly spurring on a question, then a thought, then an idea. It can come in the form of an overheard conversation in the…
One of the biggest things that distinguishes us as individuals is our habits. They may seem small, but the little mannerisms or behaviors we exhibit unconsciously really make us more unique and human. And the same is true for our characters. Though…
