TODAY WAS ANOTHER JOYFUL DAY in my life as a writer! I spent the day with a violinist who shared her love of music, her instrument and many of the ins and outs of being a musician and how individual and unique each musician is. Some compose, some play, some struggle,...
MEMORIES FORMED AT PIVOTAL TIMES IN MY LIFE often pop up as I’m imagining Logan’s next adventure. FOREST PARK is a good example. When I returned to school as an adult, part of my Anthropology coursework involved collecting the life histories of Vietnamese refugees,...
ALMOST AS MUCH AS I LOVE WRITING, I love research. Every time I sit down to write a new Logan McKenna novel—actually, long before that, when the story first starts stirring—obscure bits of knowledge or experiences pop into my head that spark story elements, plot...
RESEARCH IS THE GARDEN from which our stories grow. How much do you appreciate good research? I love learning new things, so the authors I enjoy generally bring something to the table for me to gnaw on – spiritually, intellectually, personally. If you’re a...
MID-MORNING WRITING BREAKS are always fun this time of year. Whales are out in force this week! Every day I see at least 8 to 10 cruising past the rocks, hanging out and snacking in the kelp beds. Beautiful creatures. Just knowing they’re there makes me happy. I...
WHILE DOING RESEARCH FOR LOGAN BOOK 5, I managed to snag a spot in the last Shop at the Dock event of the summer in Newport, OR. The 90-minute walking tour teaches locals and tourists alike about the fisheries, boats, and what to look for when selecting fresh fish....
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.
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.