Starting out as an independent author publishing her own books, I quickly came to realize how important reviews are to attracting more readers.
One learns fast. MUST. GET. REVIEWS.
If a potential reader happens upon your book and sees it has no ratings […]
The monsters in my urban fantasy novella, The Monsters of Chavez Ravine, are many and come in different shapes and sizes, but the one that first popped into my head was Dog Face Bride.
I’ve been thinking about it since I was […]
As can only happen during a pandemic, the release of my new urban fantasy novella The Monsters of Chavez Ravine collided with Covid reality.
I planned to spend the day continuing the marketing push for this book that is so close […]
One day, I was scrolling on Twitter and came across a tweet I found fascinating.
A young traditionally published author announced in very bold terms she does not italicize Korean words in her novels. In fact, she said she REFUSED.
Another author chimed […]
There is a character in my urban fantasy novella, The Monsters of Chavez Ravine, nicknamed Ripper.
The residents of the old neighborhoods of Palo Verde, Bishop, and La Loma were big on nicknames. In photographer Don Normark’s stunning book, Chavez Ravine […]
In my urban fantasy novella set in the hills above Los Angeles, a doctor from Chinatown makes several house calls to the injured residents living in Chavez Ravine.
Chinatown is a little over one mile away, and less than five minutes […]
When I started writing this novella, I did not consciously set out to bust Latina stereotypes.
You know the ones I’m talking about because they’re popular in movies and TV shows: the maid, the fiery-tempered Latina, the Latina who wears tight clothes and shows lots of cleavage. […]
My daughter asked if I planned to include a map for my urban fantasy novella, The Monsters of Chavez Ravine.
The answer was no. But as soon as she said it, I thought it would be a good idea. While the characters and […]
I almost feel guilty for using the amazing Pando quaking aspen forest in central Utah as a setting for a horror story.
All those pictures of your massive single root system not only stuck with me for years […]
While monstrous things happened to bring about the end of the neighborhoods of Palo Verde, La Loma and Bishop, “The Monsters of Chavez Ravine,” is a work of fiction.
The characters and creatures are the products of my imagination and while the backstory of […]
