Lunch with the #Authors of #TWRP! Cape Cod #writerslife #amwriting #NaNoWriMo

Authors and President of The Wild Rose Press in Hyannis

Another wildly busy month is over...somehow October always flies by, which is a shame since as a fan of all things spooky, it's my favorite month!  Our weekends were filled with events--all fun ones, thankfully.  We had Parents' Weekend at UNH for our college kid, a 30-year-reunion at the Coast Guard Academy for my husband's class of 1989, a long girls' weekend away to Seattle with my BFFs (we all turned 50 this year and went to visit the one friend who ended up on the West Coast, since she always comes to us), a visit to a historic lighthouse and home now owned by the Coast Guard (a property that once included a small-pox hospital--book idea?), my first time seeing Sweeney Todd at a local theater, a book signing event, and Senior Night soccer game for my high school kid.

The view from our VRBO in Seattle...overlooking the harbor and Pike Place

It now seems like a long time ago, but in the middle of the month, I also had the pleasure of having lunch with the president of one of my publishers (The Wild Rose Press) and some local authors who also write for TWRP.

Last time the president of the company was here on Cape Cod was 2015, when she spoke at the Cape Cod Writer's Conference, and we had quite a group of authors together for lunch.

It's such fun to get together and talk shop with other writers, especially since writing can be such a solitary endeavor.  This month is National Novel Writing Month, which involves trying to write 50K words--nearly an entire novel--in 30 days, so I'll be quite a bit less social in November, as I work to finish the first draft of Ghost Moon, my 7th novel.

We had a wonderful meal at The Black Cat, right on the Hyannis waterfront, and I was able to catch up with a long-time author friend and meet a new one.  This event was much smaller than the last publisher lunch, seeing as how it was fall on Cape Cod as opposed to summer (and a Nor'Easter dumped wind and rain on the Cape all weekend as well).  But we had an intimate lunch filled with both work and personal topics, and lots of laughs.

Now, back to my NaNoWriMo daily word goal...wish me luck!

Author Panel + #Book Signing #Hyannis! #YA #CapeCod #amwriting Cape Cod

A lot has been going on in my writing life this past week!  I had an Author Panel last Thursday evening at Bourne Library, as part of their Beach Buddy Book Club summer program (my Young Adult Paranormal Romance, Divine Fall, was one of their picks).  Friday, a fabulous article came out in a local newspaper, with an interview about my new Romantic Suspense release, Dangerous Currents.  Saturday, I did a book signing at Market Street Bookshop, and admittedly, the rainy weather resulted in a great day for me, as Mashpee Commons, where the book store is located, was mobbed with shoppers who couldn't visit the beach that day.  I hope that everyone who purchased one of my books took the opportunity to put their feet up, relax, and get lost in steamy romance, secrets, and page-turning suspense!

Cape Cod Teen Writers Conference is FREE!
Please help support the conference by joining
us at the Author Panel and Book Signing on 8/8

Tomorrow, I'm thrilled to be a guest instructor at the second annual Cape Cod Teen Writers Conference in Hyannis.  I was part of the conference last year, and this year, it's completely sold out!  I love sharing my passion with aspiring authors, and I'm going to discuss Goal, Motivation, and Conflict, as well as the hook and the inciting incident.


After the conference wraps up on Wednesday, I'll be back for the Author Panel.  This is open to the public with a ticket purchase, and tickets sales will go toward offsetting the conference expenses, as it is offered FREE to the teens who sign up! 

So if you're in the area and interested in chatting with a group of authors (all of us write Young Adult novels, many, like myself, also write other genres) please join us!  Bring your questions on writing, publishing, etc., and find some new reads as well.  Tickets can be purchased at this link:  Eventbrite.  The event scheduled for August 8th from 1:00 to 4:00 and will be held at the Double Tree Hotel in Hyannis, near the Cape Cod Mall.  Hope to see you there!

Revenge, Romance, and a Rogue Fallen Angel...
DIVINE FALL is the winner of The Romance Review's Best YA Romance 2015!

Fiction Writing + Publication Course #Hyannis! #CapeCod #amwriting

I'm thrilled to be teaching a new "Fiction Writing and Publication" course this June, back at Hyannis Center on Main Street in Hyannis.  For the last five years, I've taught this popular class for both Cape Cod Community College's Center for Corporate and Professional Education and for the Town of Falmouth's Community School in a number of locations, and I've met so many aspiring authors and hopefully helped them on their writing journey.  I've even read some of their finished manuscripts and visited their writing groups, which has been so rewarding.  If you're interested in writing a novel, or exploring publishing options, and you're in the Cape Cod area, consider joining us!  The press release is below:

Ready to Write That Novel?

A course offered this summer in Hyannis provides instruction on writing fiction and guidance on publishing options.

For many writers, a quote by Nobel Prize-Winning Author Toni Morrison summarizes the beginning of the journey: “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”  Many people dream of writing a novel, but aren’t sure how to begin.  Even once a manuscript is finished, the choices within the publishing industry seem to grow every day.  Literary agents continue to seek clients for the big publishing houses, smaller electronic presses have become a force in the new digital world, and more options than ever exist for those looking to publish independently.  Unfortunately, this type of growth has also resulted in many sites looking to take advantage of authors eager to publish and promote their work.  The entire process can become overwhelming quickly.

A four-week afternoon class offered by Cape Cod Community College’s Center for Corporate and Professional Education aims to offer guidance to aspiring authors.  “Fiction Writing and Publication” will be held at the Hyannis Center on Thursday afternoons, June 7—June 28, from 2:30 – 5:00 p.m.  Bestselling author and Mashpee resident Kathryn Knight will teach the elements of successful fiction writing and outline the various options in the rapidly changing publishing industry.  Key concepts such as voice, POV, the hook, Goal-motivation-conflict, and character development will be discussed. Idea inspiration, common pitfalls, and query letters will also be covered.  Finally, avenues to publication - from self-publishing to small and digital presses to seeking agent representation - will be explored.

Hyannis Center is located at 540 Main Street.  Pre-registration is required; please visit Cape Cod Community College online here (there's a "Register Now" button on the description page) or call 508.375.5010 to register.  Cost is $119, no materials or experience needed.

#Hyannis Harbor, #Books, Bingo, + Bulls ~ Busy #amwriting Month!

Connecting with Mrs. Cape Cod
and signing books for her at
Shopping & Bingo Night

My life is always a bit crazy, but things have been so unusually hectic since mid-April that I haven't had much time to post here.  But I did want to share some of the pictures from the events I've participated in, now that I have a little more time.  In May and June, I signed books at a monthly Shopping & Bingo Night which helps raise money for different charities.  I met a lot of people, including Mrs. Cape Cod (now Mrs. Massachusetts!), and I was thrilled when she purchased all 4 of my books.  I was even more excited to hear how much she loved GULL HARBOR, the first one she decided to read, the next day on social media--that's the type of thing that makes an author's day!

Woo hoo!  This is why I write, to pull people into exciting stories that keep
the pages turning and provide entertainment ...hearing things like this makes my day!

Saw this big boy as I walked across
campus at orientation - the campus at
UNH is absolutely beautiful

In June, my oldest son graduated from high school, which was a joyous occasion but also bittersweet--how can he be leaving home in the fall?  But we're proud to be sending him to the University of New Hampshire, home of the Wildcats and apparently this snapping turtle, which I came across as I was walking through campus during the 2-day orientation.

Katie, Kate, and myself at our Shanty at Hyannis Harbor

Before our trip to NH for orientation, I joined two other author friends for a 3-day book signing at the Artist Shanties at Hyannis Harbor.  We did this last year, and had such fun we decided to do it again.  We camped out at our Shanty from 11 am to 8 or 9 pm all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, chatting with locals and visitors enjoying the Harbor or returning from ferry trips to Martha's Vineyard and Hyannis. It was three long days, but we had a lot of laughs, and also connected with other local artists and crafters.

The view of Hyannis Harbor from the Shanties

While doing all this, I was also teaching my fitness classes every morning, as well as my current writing class which meets once a week.  I kept telling myself my vacation was on the horizon, if I could just make it!  Finally, it was here...my annual trip to Bethany Beach, Delaware, for a long weekend with my best friends from high school. We've been doing Girls Weekend there each summer since 2011, and it's become a wonderful tradition.  In the past, I've also signed books at the local book store while there, but this year, I decided I needed to just relax.  I'm so glad, too, because the Saturday I usually do the book signing turned out to be the new date for the 21st Dewey Beach Running of the Bulls.  A friend of one of the girls in our group actually started this event, twenty-one years ago, after a trip to Spain.  This Running of the Bulls does not involve any real animals, but rather two guys in a bull costume, escorted by a matador and lifeguards, chasing people down the beach.  Almost everyone wears a red bandanna and either a red or white shirt, although some people dress in more elaborate costumes.  A popular bar, the Starboard, sponsors the event, and it's become so popular crowds now rival any Spring Break beach bash.  The entire parking lot is shut down to make room for a stage, the bands, and of course all the partiers.  It was a crazy, fun-filled day, complete with even a fly-over by the National Guard.

Gearing up at The Starboard before chasing the bull

Now I'm home again, struggling to settle back into my routine, but glad the next few weeks are going to be much slower-paced.  I'm hoping to dive back into my unfinished manuscript for Novel #5, catch up on my reading, get some work done in the garden...and make time in between for a few naps!  

I miss my BFFs already...it was especially poignant to get together after
a few of our firstborn kids just graduated high school, and know that our
friendship is still going strong after our own high school years, 30 years ago!

Signing #Books in #Falmouth! #CapeCod Events

Signing books with my author friends at our
Shanty along Hyannis Harbor...a 3 day event!

I have one more event coming up to finish off a crazy haze of busy days! For 9 hours a day on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I signed books and chatted with visitors to Hyannis, as one of the local authors, artists, & crafters showcasing their work in the Hyannis Harbor Artist Shanties.  It was a lot of fun, but very tiring after three long days in the sun.  Then, instead of settling back into my usual routine on Monday morning, I was off to New Hampshire, for a two-day orientation for my son's college.  So many information sessions have my mind reeling.  But as I sit in a dorm room writing this, I feel like I have a good handle on all the things we have to do to get ready for freshman year.  When I return home tomorrow night, it will be a quick turnaround to get back to Hyannis for Week 2 of my Fiction Writing and Publication Class.  

Then, this Wednesday, June 14th, I'll be participating in a Bingo Night Fundraiser in Falmouth.  This is a monthly event, and I participated last month for the first time and had a blast!  The suggested donation is $20 (proceeds to the March of Dimes ~ March for Babies [Team Noah and Chase] and Boston Children's Hospital Give a Smile campaign this month), and that gets you 20 games (wear purple for a bonus card!). Complimentary light appetizers, dinner and desserts available for order, and a cash bar too!

Where do I fit in?  There are a whole bunch of local artists and vendors setting up for shopping before and in between the games, and we've all donated to the cause as well as offered prizes for raffles.  The complete list of vendors is below, so if you're in the area, please consider stopping by!  

Wednesday, June 14th

5:30 to 9:30 at the Holiday Inn Cape Cod
291 Jones Road Falmouth

Shop with local artists and vendors:

PartyLite, LuLaRoe by Brooke, Thirty One, The Pampered Chef, Arbonne, Athena’s, Younique, Paparazzi Jewelry, Ruby Ribbon, Reine’s Creations, Nanny’s Knits, Pruvit, Tupperware, Dragonfly Dreams, Tastefully Simple, Cape and Island Candle Co., Kathryn Knight Books, Scentsy, It Works, Touchstone Crystal by Swarovski, Limelight by Alcone, Sophia’s Crafts, Washashore Whimsy, Cape Cod Kettle Corn, LuLaRoe by Stacy, Chloe’s Coastal Creations, Carole’s Jewelry Design & MORE!

Each Bingo Game winner scores a prize donated from one
of the vendors...what will my basket be this month?

Thursday...REST!

Multi-Author #Book Signing! #Hyannis Harbor #CapeCod

Me, Katie, & Kate (K.R.) ~ 3 Ks get confusing!

We're gearing up for another weekend-long book signing! I’ll be signing books all weekend at the Hyannis Artist Shanties at Hyannis Harbor with two other Cape Cod authors, Katie O’Sullivan and K.R. Conway.  Between the three of us, we have a dozen titles for adults and teens, in genres including romance, paranormal suspense, urban fantasy, and young adult.  So if you’re in the Cape Cod area, stop by to grab some new summer reads!  We’ll be there in our shanty on Ocean Street (across from The Black Cat Restaurant) from 11 am – 8 pm on Friday, June 9, Saturday June 10, and Sunday, June 11.

The Artist Shanties are a group of cute little stand-alone “studios” right along the water.  Offerings vary by weekend, and all items available are handmade or handcrafted by the artist.  The site has a link to all the artists and their work, along with the dates they’ll be there.

We had a blast last year and we're looking forward to another fun weekend! Many of our books are set on Cape Cod, including my latest release, Haunted Souls, a steamy romance mixed with a ghost mystery, set in historic Barnstable Village.  In fact, the Old Jail House on Rt. 6A, considered actively haunted, served as the initial inspiration for the story.

My other romance/ghost story set on Cape Cod is Gull Harbor, which has been a #1 Kindle Bestseller on several occasions.  While Gull Harbor is a fictional town, I based it on Wellfleet, a beautiful area with kettle ponds and a coast line that's part of the Cape Cod National Seashore.  

If you're in the area, come by and visit us, and check out all the literary and artistic creations offered by Cape Cod locals!

Fiction Writing Course in #Hyannis! #CapeCod #amwriting

I'm thrilled to be teaching a new "Fiction Writing and Publication" course this June, back at Hyannis Center on Main Street in Hyannis.  For the last few years, I've taught this popular class for both Cape Cod Community College's Center for Corporate and Professional Education and for the Town of Falmouth's Community School in a number of locations, and I've met so many aspiring authors and hopefully helped them on their writing journey.  I've even read some of their finished manuscripts and visited their writing groups, which has been so rewarding.  If you're interested in writing a novel, or exploring publishing options, and you're in the Cape Cod area, consider joining us!  The press release is below:

Ready to Write That Novel?

A course offered this summer in Hyannis provides instruction on writing fiction and guidance on publishing options.

For many writers, a quote by Nobel Prize-Winning Author Toni Morrison summarizes the beginning of the journey: “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”  Many people dream of writing a novel, but aren’t sure how to begin.  Even once a manuscript is finished, the choices within the publishing industry seem to grow every day.  Literary agents continue to seek clients for the big publishing houses, smaller electronic presses have become a force in the new digital world, and more options than ever exist for those looking to publish independently.  Unfortunately, this type of growth has also resulted in many sites looking to take advantage of authors eager to publish and promote their work.  The entire process can become overwhelming quickly.

A four-week evening class offered by Cape Cod Community College’s Center for Corporate and Professional Education aims to offer guidance to aspiring authors.  “Fiction Writing and Publication” will be held at the Hyannis Center on Tuesday evenings, June 6—June 27, from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.  Bestselling author and Mashpee resident Kathryn Knight will teach the elements of successful fiction writing and outline the various options in the rapidly changing publishing industry.  Key concepts such as voice, POV, the hook, Goal-motivation-conflict, and character development will be discussed. Idea inspiration, common pitfalls, and query letters will also be covered.  Finally, avenues to publication - from self-publishing to small and digital presses to seeking agent representation - will be explored.

Hyannis Center is located at 540 Main Street.  Pre-registration is required; please visit Cape Cod Community College online or call 508.375.5010 to register.  Cost is $99, no materials or experience needed.

One of the reviews left by a class member!

#Haunting Author Events~ Cape Cod #Book Signings #Haunted #Paranormal

October is always a busy month for me, since the majority of my novels include mysterious hauntings, and ghost stories gain an even wider appeal as Halloween approaches.  In fact, the history of Halloween, or All Hallow’s Eve, links back to the Celtic festival of Samhain, a time when the barrier between the physical and paranormal worlds grows thin.  In the Christian religion, November 1st marks All Saints' Day, the day waiting souls would be released from earth.  All Hallow's Eve, then, was considered the last night for restless spirits to take their revenge.  While there are plenty of desperate--and sometimes dangerous--spirits in my novels, they're not going anywhere until the mystery behind their haunting is unraveled...no matter what the time of the year it is.   

The Hyannis Library is on the MA
Registry of Haunted Locations kept
by the MA Paranormal Institute

But this is the month to celebrate all things spooky, and I'm excited to have three presentations coming up in the next two weeks, each one a bit different, and each one at a different library on Cape Cod.  On Wednesday, October 19^th, I’ll be with Katie O’Sullivan, a fellow Cape author, at the Hyannis Public Library on Main Street in Hyannis.  This is a wonderful place to have a discussion about history and hauntings, as during one of my prior events there, I learned the building has been deemed haunted by the Massachusetts Paranormal Institute.  Parts of the building date back to the original house which became the library's permanent residence in 1908.  Katie and I will be there from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., chatting about the inspiration behind our books, the local Cape settings, and the various paranormal elements we’ve included in our novels: ghosts, mermaids, and a half-angel, half-human Nephilim, to name a few.  In addition, my latest novel, HAUNTED SOULS, is set in Barnstable Village, which is right around the corner. 

On Tuesday, October 25^th, Katie and I will be joined by another local author who writes for our publisher, Kevin Symmons, at the Osterville Library at 43 Wianno Ave. in Osterville.  We’ll do an author panel on spooky fiction, discussing not only supernatural and paranormal themes but also the dangerous human bad guys in some of our stories.  We’ll be there from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, with time for Q&A and book signings.

A photo I took of the Old Jail one evening.
Seriously, what's in that top right window?  It
was closed.  And there's something red in the
bottom left window as well.

Right before Halloween weekend, I’ll be at the Mashpee Public Library, 64 Steeple St. right near the Commons, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm on Friday, October 28^th.  I’ll talk more in depth about the inspiration behind Haunted Souls: the Old Jailhouse, a structure built in 1690 and reputedly haunted.  A visit with my sister sparked the initial idea for my fourth novel, and I’ll share the story as well as the story of my overall writing journey.

Finally, I have some events for those who aren’t on the Cape…not one, but two, Halloween Bog Hops.  If you’ve never done a blog hop before, it’s a great way to discover new authors, win prizes, and enjoy posts about the season…all online.  You start at one stop on the hop, which will be a blog with a seasonal post and a giveaway contest.  My giveaways will be signed print book (either SILVER LAKE or GULL HARBOR) to my individual winner.  A group link at the bottom of the post will take you to the next page on the hop, and you can make your way all the way around, entering the individual contests along the way.  Each one also has an overall hop-wide giveaway with a Rafflecopter widget recording entries.  I believe both Rafflecopters will have a grand prize of a large gift card.  So be sure to stop back here between Oct. 24^th and the 31^st, and if you’re in the Cape Cod area, I hope to meet you at one of the events!

The Snarkology Halloween Hop is an annual tradition
organized by author Melissa Snark - 10/26 - 10/31

The ABA Halloween Hop is hosted by author Casi McLean
and begins on Oct. 24th.

Fiction Writing + Publication Course #Falmouth Cape Cod #amwriting

I can’t believe it’s September already, but the school year has arrived and I’m gearing up to teach two new sessions of Fiction Writing and Publication.  This is a 5-week, non-credit course held in the evenings, and I’ll be in two locations this fall.  

The September class begins on Tuesday, Sept. 20^th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Lawrence School in Falmouth.  More details and sign-up information can be found at this link: Falmouth Community School.

Another class will begin on Thursday, October 20^th, also from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, in Hyannis.  This is held right on Main Street in the Hyannis Center building (540 Main Street).  The link for details and sign-up information can be found here: Center for Corporate and Professional Education at Cape Cod Community College.

I’ve had really great reviews from past participants in both classes, so if you’re interested in writing a novel, this is a valuable resource to help you achieve your goals.  Writers at any stage are welcome, and no matter where you are in the process, you’ll find useful information to help you on your journey.

The class descriptions can be found on the sites--hope to see you there!

Busy #amwriting Summer - #Book Signings, #BFest, #NewRelease Promo, + A Shanty

Me, Katie O'Sullivan, and K.R. Conway in our Shanty!

I don’t think I can remember a time in the recent past when my life wasn’t fairly busy, but this spring and summer have been an absolute whirlwind of activities, many revolving around my new release – HAUNTED SOULS.  Any writers reading this can understand how difficult it can be to launch a new novel in the current publishing market…so to gain visibility for my new title, I tried to explore every promotional opportunity I could think of—some very much “outside the box”—and take part in every event I could fit into my schedule.  So this week’s post serves as a recap, while also hopefully serving as inspiration for others in terms of creative marketing ideas.

After brainstorming with some other local authors, three of us decided to apply to rent one of the Artist Shanties along Hyannis Harbor for a weekend in the spring.  These adorable little shanties are made available for artists, writers, photographers, and crafters to use as a little storefront for a few days.  The rent was incredibly low for such great exposure—the difficult part is making sure your shanty is open and attended each day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.  With three of us for just three days, this wasn’t too difficult…but when the rentals move to full weeks in the height of summer, I imagine a renter on their own might experience a bit of exhaustion by the end of their time!  Then again, everyone is so excited to share what they’ve created, chatting with visitors, shoppers, and other crafters provides its own energy.

We hung pages of our books from the ceiling and matted quotes on the walls.

The original post about our preparations can be found here, and I’ve included pictures of the final product—our decorated shanty, which came out great and attracted lots of readers and visitors to Cape Cod.  We had so much fun just sitting around and chatting all day as well, and as three authors, we often discussed writing amongst ourselves.  This led to more networking ideas, and one of my fellow authors who was participating in the Barnes and Noble B-Fest Weekend recommended me to a B&N looking for an author to run the Sunday Teen Writing Workshop event during the B-Fest book festival.

Teaching a teen workshop
at Barnes & Noble B-fest.

Since most of my novels are meant for an over-18 reader base, I don’t get a lot of opportunities to highlight my one Young Adult novel, DIVINE FALL.  It was great fun to teach some elements from my writing classes to teen writers, and many of them took home signed copies of my YA Paranormal Romance.

On June 1^st, my fourth novel HAUNTED SOULS came out, and I did a lot of the usual online promotion.  I had a fantastic Release Party on Facebook with many author friends posting as guest hosts.  Social media promotion led to another fantastic opportunity—the manager of a local bank offered to display and sell all my novels in their lobby for a week, plus host me for a signing on Friday, as part of their emphasis on community and reading over the summer.  It was another out-of-the-box promo event that worked really well, and I received a message from a teen who purchased DIVINE FALL that made my week…it included the sentence “It was one of the best books I’ve ever read”!

My books on display at a local bank!

I spoke about the
haunting and historical
inspiration for my new book
at the library event.

I spoke at a local library as well in June, as their Author of the Month, and the Assistant Librarian who introduced me told the group she’d read my first three books and had literally not been able to put them down, which was thrilling—reading is my favorite pastime, and if I can give others exciting stories to get lost in, I’ve done my job as an author.  That is the reason I write: to create engaging reads that offer entertainment and escape from life’s hectic pace.

Speaking of hectic paces, I’m gearing up for my August schedule of events, which include an interview with the local paper, a signing at our local bookstore, speaking at the Cape Cod Writer’s Conference, and signing books at the Cape Cod Museum of Art for the Art, Wine, and Words Fundraiser to benefit a children’s charity.  

Of course, all the promotion I do does cut into writing time, but for me, connecting with readers and the community is just as important.  Hopefully, readers visiting my blog today will consider reaching out to authors when they love a book—it means SO much to us!  And for fellow authors visiting, I hope I’ve sparked some ideas for promotion and networking--and with the exception of the very low Shanty rent (my part was $25)--all of these events cost nothing!  For more ideas, here's an older post I did on the same topic.  Happy reading and writing!

Book Signing Weekend at #Hyannis Harbor! #CapeCod #Barnstable #amwriting

Two of the Artist Shanties, a group of
studios along Hyannis Harbor
featuring hand-crafted work of
Cape Cod artists and authors -
the blue one will be ours!

I have a busy weekend lined up!  I’ll be signing books all weekend at the Hyannis Artist Shanties at Hyannis Harbor with two other Cape Cod authors, Katie O’Sullivan and K.R. Conway.  Between the three of us, we have a dozen titles for adults and teens, in genres including romance, paranormal suspense, urban fantasy, and young adult.  So if you’re in the Cape Cod area, stop by to grab some new summer reads!  We’ll be there in the Barnstable Shanty from 11 am – 7 pm on Friday, May 20, Saturday May 21, and Sunday, May 22.

Unfortunately, my upcoming release HAUNTED SOULS, a military romance/ghost mystery set in Barnstable Village, will not be available yet, but you can pre-order on Kindle or Nook to have it automatically download on June 1, the official release date.  GULL HARBOR, a #1 Amazon Bestseller, will be available in print copies, and this is also a steamy romance + spooky ghost story set on Cape.  Between the three authors, we’ll have a number of novels with local settings, so if you’re just visiting, you can take a piece of Cape Cod home with you.

Love that my new earrings
look like both leaves and
hearts...it echoes the multiple
meanings of "Fall" in Divine
Fall's title: falling in love, the
season fall, & fallen angels.

The Artist Shanties are a group of cute little stand-alone “studios” right along the water, and offerings vary by weekend, and all items available are handmade or handcrafted by the artist.  The site has a link to all the artists and their work, along with the dates they’ll be there.  I visited last weekend and ended up buying some beautiful earrings from the jewelry artists in the Shanty we’ll be in this weekend.  They go perfectly with my DIVINE FALL book cover pendant, which is one of my favorite necklaces.

So we’re keeping our fingers crossed for gorgeous weather and lots of visitors, as spring seems to have finally arrived here.  Find us in the light blue Barnstable Shanty on Ocean Street, across from The Black Cat restaurant, and pick out your next great read!

Ready to Write? Fiction + Publishing Class on #CapeCod #amwriting #Hyannis

New dates being added!

Update: new dates and locations for this class are in the works! Next class begins Jan. 26 in Falmouth, and another Hyannis class will be scheduled for spring 2016. Follow my FB page for details:
https://www.facebook.com/KathrynKnightbooks

My "Fiction Writing and Publication" course is coming to Main Street, Hyannis for the summer!  In this condensed version, we'll meet for three Thursdays in July, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and we'll cover a multitude of topics related to writing fiction and getting it published.

There's something for writers at every stage in this class.  We'll go over some of the basics, such as identifying genres in commercial fiction (necessary for meeting reader expectations, writing query letters, submitting to small or digital presses, and/or listing your book in Amazon categories), idea inspiration, staying on track and word count goals.  Once we've covered the basics, we'll move on to showing vs. telling, Goal-Motivation-Conflict charts, character development, and the hook. Common pitfalls will be covered, such as info dumps, cliches, Mary Sues, and POV (Point of View) issues/head hopping.

Finally, we'll get to querying agents or presses and writing the dreaded blurbs and synopsis. We'll go over all the different publishing options available as well as promotion and marketing. How will I fit it all into 9 hours?

If you're anywhere near the Cape, check out this link at Cape Cod Community College's WERC site for more info: Fiction Writing and Publication.  Even if you're not exactly local, a little trip to Cape Cod a few times this summer for a class gives you the perfect chance to enjoy some of our lovely beaches and attractions!  Happy summer and happy writing :)

Cape Cod National Seashore - setting for my ghost story +
romance GULL HARBOR