I will be posting quite a few MG novel reviews for the next few weeks (each one published within the last 5 years) since it is a requirement for one of my classes: “Writing for the Middle Grade/YA Reader.” Since my own MG novel I’m working on is about a ghost mystery, I thought I’dContinue reading “Book Review: The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane by Julia Nobel”
Author Archives: W. M. Ashley
Book Review: The Portrait by Emilia Kelly
“There was a story in that painting, though I did not fully understand it. I merely knew that it was there.” — Thomas James, The Portrait, 136-137 This is one of the self-published books I’ve had on my TBR shelf since I attended Storymakers conference this year and it did not disappoint (this review doesContinue reading “Book Review: The Portrait by Emilia Kelly”
Book Review: Writing Picture Books Revised and Expanded Edition: A Hands-On Guide from Story Creation to Publication by Ann Whitford Paul
This was another required text for my grad certificate class “Writing Children’s Picture Books” and I learned a lot more than I expected from it regarding the picture book drafting process, such as the inclusion of figures of speech, format, book dummying, dialogue, and POV. Summary Paul takes her readers through the writing process pertainingContinue reading “Book Review: Writing Picture Books Revised and Expanded Edition: A Hands-On Guide from Story Creation to Publication by Ann Whitford Paul”
Book Review: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
I recently finished this book as a required text for a class I am enrolled in for my Creative writing Certificate, “The Art and Craft of Creative Writing”. I can say that while there are a lot of nuggets of wisdom for the aspiring writer, along with some entertaining anecdotes and scenes from Stephen King’sContinue reading “Book Review: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King”
Book Review: Secret of the Sonnets by Samantha Hastings
…“When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st:So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.” — William Shakespeare , excerpt from Sonnet 18 Summary This regency mystery centers around a woman named Miranda’s quest to find the lost manuscript of William Shakespeare. With theContinue reading “Book Review: Secret of the Sonnets by Samantha Hastings”
Storymakers Conference 2023: TBR’s
What a blessing it was to attend the 20th Anniversary of Storymakers Conference this month! I took advantage of opportunities to network with writers from Latter-day Saints who write in my genre, received instruction from experts in their writing field, and obtained feedback for my novel chapters. I also was pleased to learn the importanceContinue reading “Storymakers Conference 2023: TBR’s”
5 Strategies for Building Strong YA Main Character Arcs
Don’t pamper your characters. Show their pain, their fears, their humanness. Your characters are like your children; raise them as such. PLEASE don’t give them the “I’m not like other people” trope! Here are some ideas to apply to your character so you can avoid it: Hopefully this list will help you flesh out yourContinue reading “5 Strategies for Building Strong YA Main Character Arcs”
Announcement: New Short Story “The Governess and the Graveyard” Published
Greetings! Just a word that my new short story titled “The Governess and the Graveyard” was published today online at White Cat Publications. If you are a fan of suspenseful stories, historical fiction, or supernatural thrillers (especially written in an epistolary way), check it out here!
Announcement: Publication in Gladiator (2000) Anthology
I recently contributed an essay entitled “‘…But Not Yet’: Reflections on Juba, the Spirit Guide and ‘Eternal Echo’ of Gladiator” to a new anthology published by Vernon Press, which celebrates the anniversary of Ridley Scott’s seminal epic film Gladiator (2000). For those of you who are fans of this timeless film and the character JubaContinue reading “Announcement: Publication in Gladiator (2000) Anthology”
Series Review: Tales from the Haunted Mansion by Amicus Arcane, John Esposito, Kelley Jones
Being the fan of Disney’s The Haunted Mansion ride—and of ghost stories for all ages—that I am, I was ecstatic to hear from my aunt that she saw this collection at Costco. These four books each showcase short tales from the narration of the mansion librarian (who occasionally breaks the third wall and inserts hisContinue reading “Series Review: Tales from the Haunted Mansion by Amicus Arcane, John Esposito, Kelley Jones”
