The protagonist in Laurel Dewey's novel Protector has some, well, issues. But this character also exudes a deep sense of humanity, a feeling that has truly moved so many of the book's readers. So how did Laurel pull give her "damaged" character texture, dimension -- and soul? We asked the author for her insights, the latest of our series of conversations with Laurel about the novel-writing craft. Read on:  Continue reading...

This week in our Blog Du Jour blog recommendations we talked about "virtual book tours." But what if you want to actually meet your favorite author, for real and in the flesh? Check out BookTour, "where authors and audiences meet," a listing of author events around the country.

No time to stop by the local bookstore to listen to a reading by your favorite author? Why, check out a "blog book tour" -- where writers visit blogs instead of stores. Here are literary blogs that feature authors, their books and book-related conversation, all at your computer-driven fingertips:

The Elegant Variation

Major Bedhead Reviews

Book of Kells

Writing in the Mountains

A what alert? Their site explains: "A ficlet is a short story that enables you to collaborate with the world.Once you've written and shared your ficlet, any other user can pick up the narrative thread by adding a prequel or sequel. In this manner, you may know where the story begins, but you'll never guess where (or even if!) it ends." Click here to give it a try.

"That is so totally cool!" There was no one in the room but I was hearing a voice. Not deep but definitely a man's voice. With something. A timbre of breathlessness? Joy maybe? That's what it was. Joy. It's not that I commonly hear things. Well, maybe I do. I'm a writer after all. But this voice was persistent. I didn't know who he was yet or where he came from. I only knew one thing. He was probably going to be a character in my next book.  Continue reading...

One of the first questions I'm asked when people find out I've published a novel is, "How long did it take you to write it?" When I tell them it took about 17 years, I watch their jaws drop and after the look of shock dissipates, I know they're expecting me to have produced a masterpiece along the lines of War and Peace or Remembrance of Things Past. They can't imagine how it could have taken me all those years to write a semi-autobiographical, coming of age story. How could that be? Well...  Continue reading...