I recently blogged about short and long reads and why both are challenging to write as well as terrific to read. The discussion reminded me of another, related issue I blogged about a few years ago: The End. Although I enjoy reading a good romance, I admit that the “happily ever after” ending is not […]
Archive | Behind The Book RSS feed for this section
What About Sundays?
Humans are creatures of habit. We like our routines, don’t we? An accepted rule of law is that evidence of habit and routine practice is so reliable that it even overcomes objections in court. How about you? What’s your Sunday routine? You can tell a lot about a person by the way they spend their […]
Why We Need Cursive
Should we require kids to learn cursive writing in schools? It’s a hot button issue for sure. Many schools have removed cursive writing from their curriculums. In the U.S., it’s not included in State Standards anymore in 45 states. There is a lot of debate about this, but I’m on the side of keeping this […]
The Longer the Book, The Better the Story?
The longer the book, the better the story, right? Not always. All books must have a final page somewhere. (That’s why I’m a fan of the series! There’s always the promise of another book coming soon.) But for those times when shorter is better, here’s what master fiction writer Stephen King says about short stories: “There’s almost […]
Lee Child’s MAKE ME Tour: What We’ve Learned So Far
I love when Lee Child releases a book because, not only do we get to read a new Jack Reacher thriller — which is of course a treat in itself — but we also get to watch Lee’s media blitz. Even if from afar. There’s one conversation I had a front row seat for as […]
Why Coffee Helps You Get Stuff Done
In the Hunt for Jack Reacher Series, FBI Special Agents Kim Otto and Carlos Gaspar drink a lot of coffee. I mean a LOT. So much that in Get Back Jack, we find Otto measuring intake not by the cup, but by the pot. “Kim took one last mental tour through her plan and […]
A Photographic Tour of Bayshore Boulevard
Do you know one landmark that’s referenced in almost every one of my books set in Florida? Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa. That’s because it’s one of the true gems of the city. So I wanted to introduce Bayshore Boulevard to those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of meeting it. Arguably Bayshore Boulevard’s heartiest claim to […]
Survey Results! (Your biggest reading pet peeves)
Thanks to all of you who responded to my survey question: What’s your biggest reading pet peeve? The Fussy Librarian conducted a similar survey of his subscribers and I wondered how you felt about the same questions. I’ve tallied up your results — each and every one of them, whether you commented here on my blog, […]
Thanks to you, paperbacks! (And More!)
THANK YOU for your wonderful response to False Truth: A Jordan Fox Mystery. (Be sure to keep reading for more exciting news!) Because you’ve given the serial such a warm reception, the books are now available in paperback!!! Don’t they look great? Right now, books 1-8 are available in paperback. The final three books, […]
Follow Diane
