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Hello! You’ll find posts here for readers, writers, and anyone interested in life. Check out the categories to the right for your favorite topics, or just start browsing. Sometimes I throw in a recipe or a poem, share my writer’s life, or tell you how I came up with one of your favorite characters. I’ll announce contests and share pics from events. Sometimes I delve into how to handle tough political, social or religious topics in your own books if you’re a writer, or share what I learn about the ever-evolving world of publishing. Whatever the topic, I promise to do my best not to waste your time. There’s enough clutter online without my adding to it.
I love to hear from readers, so feel free to comment on any post or write to me directly through the Contact page.
Writing Myself Out of a Corner
HOW'S YOUR BOOK COMING? When friends, family, or fans ask me this question, I usually stop and look up at the ceiling for a beat—visualizing all the characters I am creating but also all the dangling plot lines and corners I've written myself into and haven't yet...
Luscious Lemon Brownies
THESE BROWNIES ARE AWESOME ANY TIME you're craving something sweet, but don't have all day to spend in the kitchen. YUM! They can be made gluten free or not-your choice! Both are delicious. Ben's Luscious Lemon Brownies INGREDIENTS Brownies 1 15.25 oz gluten free...
Roasted Cauliflower Steaks
HEALTHY FOOD DOESN'T ALWAYS TASTE GREAT. . .I admit, but trust me, these are very tasty! I think it's the coriander, but whatever it is, this simple combination of spices and instructions really work. I've tried lots of roasted cauliflower recipes and this is the best...
Where I Get My Stories
WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR STORY IDEAS? I get asked this question often and it's an easy one to answer. When something grabs my attention, I naturally want to learn more about it. And before I know it, it works its way into one of my books. The details I learn while...
Ben’s Easy-Peasy Shepherd’s Pie
IN THE SERIES, BEN IS THE COOK, but in a pinch, this recipe is so easy, even Logan can make it. I make this simple main dish whenever I need some relatively healthy comfort food. And as a bonus, it can be prepared ahead or made gluten and/or dairy free. Since Spring...
The Inimitable Iona
HOW DO YOU CREATE YOUR CHARACTERS? This is one of the questions I get asked most often at book fairs and live events. Do you use people you know and just give them different names? Neighbors? Family? Ex-lovers? All authors are different, but for me, the short answer...
Let’s Get Crackin’!
SINCE THIS BOOK FEATURES COMMERCIAL CRAB FISHING, I thought I'd better learn to cook and clean—or clean and cook, depending on who you talk to—my very own crab. Dungeness crab is the star of the fisheries here on the Oregon coast and oh, so delicious! I usually cheat...
How Raptors Got Into My Book
November 2017 4:30 p.m. Bundled up against the cold, I’m out exploring the old-growth forest behind our house. Dusk is coming on. I enjoy the soft, cushioned silence, but suddenly, my Spidey sense makes me look up. Impossibly balanced at the top of a very tall,...
Crabbing 101
ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF WRITING THIS SERIES is digging into a topic that interests me. The world is an infinitely fascinating place and I never have trouble finding a unique setting or profession in each book for my characters to run around in. For my current...
Love in Logan Land
LOVE IS IN THE AIR! Valentine's Day got me to thinking about not just Logan’s love life, but of the many faces of love that have popped up over the years in the Logan McKenna Mystery series. I always dish up at least one murder in each book, but Logan and friends have...
About Valerie
A self-admitted book addict, Valerie was the kid with the flashlight under her pillow. A life of travel with exposure to many different cultures led to a pervasive interest in people, with degrees & teaching credentials in Cultural Anthropology & English. Logan McKenna Series
