As AI rapidly evolves, so does its use by students, CEOs, sales managers, entrepreneurs—and, well, just about everyone. So how do authors use AI? For research, plotting, or even writing parts—or all—of the book for them, in their own voice? I’m glad you asked. The...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
THE THING ABOUT RESEARCH is the unexpected tidbit you learn along the way. Take my recent trip to the Cascade Raptor Center in Eugene, OR while researching a storyline for Book 8. The Executive Director, Louise Shimmel, arranged for me to spend time with several...
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.