“He is a gentleman. I am a gentleman’s daughter. So far, we are equal.” – Elizabeth Bennet to Lady Catherine DeBourgh, in Pride and Prejudice Well… kinda. But the fact is, though Mr. Darcy himself …
Sir What’s-His-Name
Nothing says "lack of research" faster than getting the titles wrong in a historical novel set in England. When a hero is referred to as Lord John Smythe one minute and as Lord Smythe the next, or …
If you can’t spell it…
Just make it up! At least, that's what a few authors seem to think is appropriate. Here are some examples from recently-published books: When his dad died from sorosis of the liver and Bobby went …
Look it up!
Years ago when I was writing a romance about a television reporter, I tried and tried to remember the name of the award in television that’s the equivalent of a Pulitzer. It was the Dark Ages B.G. …
Creating Suspense in Fiction
Suspense is what keeps the reader turning pages, anxious to find out why and what and when and how. Suspense is what makes the reader worry about the characters -- whether they’ll be all right, if …
So close, and yet so far
When almost the right word just isn’t good enough... A few head-scratching examples, found in published books, of how the author almost got it right. “I can practically feel the vitamin D soaking …