The 3 Biggest Mistakes I Made With My First Novel

Okay, I’ll be the first to admit I made a lot of mistakes when I published my first novel, but three really stand out especially because, if I hadn’t made them, it would have prevented me from making a long list of other mistakes. 

The three big mistakes I made:

  1. Not reaching out to and interacting with other authors before I was published
  2. Not using beta readers
  3. Not getting my name out there early in the game (I’m primarily talking about on social media)

Of course, all three of these mistakes are invariably linked. If I’d developed relationships with other authors before I was an author myself, it would have helped to get my name out there, etc.Continue reading “The 3 Biggest Mistakes I Made With My First Novel”

What Flying Might Look Like in a Post-Coronavirus World

A380

Since coronavirus arrived on the scene, hundreds of millions of people have lost their jobs and an innumerable number of small and large business have been crushed financially.

For nearly twenty years, I worked in the airline industry, and it’s devasting to talk to my friends who still do. My old co-workers and I are a tight bunch, and most of us are aviation nerds. A few of them sent me pics of items they have on their desks or bookshelves.

Like many other sectors, demand for the service airlines provide evaporated virtually overnight. According to the TSA, the number of people traveling by plane has dropped by about 96% amid the coronavirus pandemic.

When we do return to the skies after all of this, I’m guessing flying will look and feel different than it did pre-coronavirus. Some of my predictions:Continue reading “What Flying Might Look Like in a Post-Coronavirus World”

Haddock Strong Heist Almanac, Volume 1

The romance of the heist is undeniable. No mere burglary, a heist implies… that there is a treasure, a protagonist with the patience, planning, coordination… and ideally, a daring escape. – The Quartz, December 2019. 

Tiffany

I’m obsessed with heists. Jewelry heists. Art heists. Cold hard cash heists. It doesn’t matter. The intrigue of the mastermind thief. The daring escape. It’s no coincidence two of my books are about female art thieves.Continue reading “Haddock Strong Heist Almanac, Volume 1”