Between the Lines

Asking a book lover if they have too many books is like asking if the sky has too much air. It’s a ridiculous question. An insult , even. But every once in a while, I catch a glimpse of my overflowing shelves, the stacks of unread books teetering dangerously in every available space, and I think: Maybe… just maybe… I should stop buying books for a while. And then I laugh. Because obviously, that’s nonsense. However, society ( and by society, I mean my partner, my friends, and the delivery person who keeps giving me judgmental looks ) seems to believe there is a limit to book collecting. So, let’s break this down scientifically. Signs You Might Have Too Many Books: You have multiple copies of the same book because the cover was different, and that matters . You’ve run out of bookshelf space, so you start getting “creative” (e.g., books stacked under your bed, in the kitchen, inside your coat closet). You tell yourself you’ll read your TBR pile before buying new books, but we al...

There’s a common misconception that I am the one in charge in my household. That I sit down to write books because I’m a passionate author with a love for storytelling. That I write because I believe in the power of words. All lies. The truth? I am merely a humble employee, working tirelessly to fund my cat’s pension plan . Meet My Feline Overlord Like most cats, mine has perfected the art of passive-aggressive judgment. She watches me constantly , with that unimpressed, slightly disappointed expression that says: "You call yourself a writer? Pathetic." It doesn’t matter what I’m doing—writing, editing, procrastinating on social media—she sits there, silently critiquing my every move. And if I dare to take a break? If I even think about doing something other than working to maintain her lavish lifestyle? Cue the dramatic sigh ( which is ironic, considering I apparently make my characters do that too much ). The Writing Process, According to My Cat Opening my lapto...

There’s something undeniably captivating about psychological thrillers. They draw us into a world of dark secrets, mind games, and unpredictable twists, keeping us on edge with every page. But what is it about these stories that make them so gripping? At their core, psychological thrillers explore the depths of human nature. They take us on a psychological suspense journey, where intense emotions, mental manipulation, and chilling moments blend seamlessly. Whether it’s an unreliable narrator, a sinister plot, or a domestic psychological thriller with romance and suspense, these stories keep us guessing until the very last page. One of the greatest appeals of a suspenseful thriller with mind games is the way it plays with perception. Authors craft intricate, mind-bending narratives that force us to question what’s real. A twisted plot paired with gripping psychological tension creates a reading experience that lingers long after the final chapter. Romance in thrillers adds another layer...

There I am, lying in bed, eyes closed, actively trying to sleep for once instead of doom-scrolling or convincing myself that one more chapter won’t hurt. And then—out of nowhere— boom . A book idea. Not just any idea, but a brilliant one. The kind that makes me sit up, heart racing, as if I’ve just unlocked the secret to literary greatness. My brain, which has been useless all day, suddenly decides to be a creative genius at the exact moment I need it to shut up. Why Does This Happen? Science would probably say something logical about how the brain processes information differently when we’re relaxed. But I have my own theories: My brain is petty and refuses to function when I actually have time to write. Creativity is powered by sleep deprivation and bad decisions. My subconscious is dramatic and wants to make sure I suffer for my art. The 2 AM Thought Process: Omg. This is the greatest idea I’ve ever had. I should write this down. Nah, it’s too good to forget. I’l...

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of finishing a first draft. You sit back, exhausted but proud, thinking, Yes. I have written a book. I am unstoppable. Then, you start editing. And that’s when you realize: Oh no. I have written a disaster. I am terrible at this. Welcome to editing—where confidence goes to die, and every word you once loved now haunts you. If you’re new to this emotional rollercoaster, don’t worry. I’ve outlined the five simple steps to completely hating your own writing. Step 1: The Re-Read (A.K.A. The "Who Wrote This Garbage?" Phase) You open your draft, expecting brilliance. Instead, you find: A scene you swore was amazing but now reads like a bad soap opera. The same word repeated 47 times on one page  ( Why do my characters constantly ‘sigh’? Are they asthmatic? ). A plot hole so big you could drive a truck through it. You start questioning everything. Did I really write this? Was I drunk ? Should I just delete the entire thing and move ...

Writing a book is a commitment . And much like dating, it starts with excitement, goes through some questionable phases, and ends with you wondering why you even started in the first place. Let’s break it down: Stage 1: The Honeymoon Phase This is where you fall in love . The idea is fresh, the characters are charming, and the plot practically writes itself ( lies, but let’s pretend ). You can’t stop thinking about it. You daydream about all the amazing things you’ll do together—bestseller lists, movie deals, a special edition with sprayed edges (hey, a writer can dream). Everything feels effortless . You tell your friends, “This one’s different. This book is The One.” You’re so naive . Stage 2: The First Fight Suddenly, the magic fades. You hit a rough patch ( a.k.a. Chapter 5 ). Your characters stop listening to you. Your plot holes become gaping voids . You start questioning your life choices. “This book is ruining me,” you mutter, dramatically flopping onto your couch. ...

 Ah, procrastination. The writer’s best friend and worst enemy. There I am, staring at my current work-in-progress. The book I should be writing. The one I’ve plotted, outlined, and sworn to finish. The one that, if I could just focus , might actually turn into something brilliant. And then—out of nowhere— boom. A new idea. Not just any idea, but the best idea. The kind that whispers seductively, “Forget your current book. This is the one. The one readers will love. The one that’ll practically write itself.” Lies. Because let’s be real—this isn’t about inspiration. This is about procrastination . My brain, in all its trickery, would rather dream up an entirely new book than actually do the hard work of finishing the one I’ve already started. And it’s never just one idea. No, suddenly, I’m drowning in plots, characters, and settings that have nothing to do with what I’m supposed to be working on. A fantasy novel when I’m writing contemporary. A children's book about my cat...

Once upon a time, I was that person. The one who swore they’d never, ever read an e-book. The one who proudly declared, “I need to feel the pages, smell the paper, stack my books in messy, teetering piles like a true literary gremlin.” E-books? Digital pages on a cold, lifeless screen? Absolutely not. It felt like cheating on books . Betraying the very thing I loved. I was convinced that reading on a device just wasn’t the same—that it somehow didn’t count . And then… I got an e-reader as a gift. At first, I smiled politely, thinking, Great, another device I won’t use. But then I realized something: I could now read in bed without keeping a light on. No more fumbling with book lights or sacrificing my nightstand lamp for “just one more chapter.” My partner could actually sleep while I indulged my late-night reading habit ( spoiler: I’m a terrible sleeper ). And suddenly, e-books weren’t so bad. In fact, I realized something shocking—e-books aren’t the enemy. They’re just another ...

Let’s talk about attention spans. Or rather, the lack of them. If you have kids, teenagers, or have simply observed humanity lately, you’ll notice one thing—reading isn’t what it used to be. My stepchildren, for example, are smart, creative, and full of energy… but hand them a book, and suddenly it’s too long , too slow , or competing with the infinite entertainment buffet that is YouTube, TikTok, and gaming. And honestly? I get it. Books demand time. They require focus. And in a world where everything is instant, expecting someone to sit down and commit to a full-length novel can feel like asking them to climb a mountain—without Wi-Fi. So, as an author, I started wondering: What if books could adapt? That’s how Genny was born. We created a novel that’s both short and long. A story that lets you decide how much you want to read. If you’re here for the quick version? Boom—short chapters that give you the core of the story. Want to dive deeper? Great—keep reading for the full experience....

 When I decided to self-publish, I thought the hardest part would be writing the book. Oh, sweet, naïve past me. Turns out, writing is just step one . The real challenge? Getting people to actually find and buy the book. Enter: marketing. Now, I didn’t major in marketing. I didn’t take a single class. In fact, I’m pretty sure if you’d asked me a few years ago about “brand strategy” or “conversion rates,” I would have nodded politely while internally panicking. But self-publishing doesn’t care about your lack of knowledge. Nope. It throws you headfirst into the deep end and shouts, “Good luck!” So, what do you do? You scramble. You Google. You devour every blog post, YouTube video, and TikTok rant from other authors who have somehow figured this out. You learn about keywords, email lists, ad targeting, and why the Amazon algorithm is basically a cryptid that no one truly understands. And just when you think you’re getting a handle on things—just when you’ve figured out how to mak...

So, here I am. A self-published author, diving into the wild world of blogging because sometimes, you just want to write something that isn’t your book. You know, something that doesn’t require intense plotting, character arcs, or the soul-crushing realization that you’ve written yourself into a corner… again. Don’t get me wrong—I love writing books. I love creating worlds, torturing my characters (and, let’s be honest, myself), and chasing that elusive “perfect” draft. But being a self-published author? That’s a whole different beast. Because guess what? You don’t just write the book. You are the writer, the editor, the marketer, the social media guru, the accountant, the graphic designer, and occasionally, the person questioning every life choice that led to this moment. Oh, and let’s not forget that life doesn’t pause for you to craft your literary masterpiece. No, life is there, waving its arms frantically in the background like an over-caffeinated stage mom. There are kids demandi...