At work on my second novel, a paranormal thriller based in Chicago’s suburb Naperville, I’ve employed the following techniques and recommend these craft books. To my readers, thank you for all the kindness you’ve bestowed upon my first-born book baby. To my writing tribe, Write on!
Read MoreOnce the majority of the population is vaccinated, and we can return to a semblance of the life we had, the world will owe collective gratitude to many female scientists. We will learn more of these two heroes, specifically: Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, a research fellow and scientific lead at the National Institute of Health, as well as Dr. Katalin Karikó, a biochemist with decades of research into mRNA's therapeutic possibilities. (mRNA is the basis of the two FDA approved Covid-19 vaccines.)
But we will need to get past this bleak winter as the daily American death toll surpasses 3000. The rollout of the vaccine will take months, and in the meantime, we must all continue to prevent the spread of the virus with social distancing, masks, and hand washing. Our hospitals are at capacity. Listen to us: there are no beds, and many in your healthcare team are also sick with the disease. Please do your part. This pandemic will not end until you do.
I hope you can each get the vaccine soon, and when it's safe to so, don’t forget to thank a brilliant woman.
Read MoreOur national numbers are peaking, we are currently in a worse position than we were at the beginning of this pandemic. Hospitals are filling, ICU beds dwindling, and your healthcare team is EXHAUSTED. Physically and emotionally
Read MoreMy current friendly devil, Google, allows me to browse historical websites, news clippings from Dupage county, modern retirement communities, and historical maps. The three-dimensional views of google maps helped me describe Brazil in my last novel; this time, they will shape a suburb in Illinois.
Read MoreAnother real consequence of getting this virus includes inflicting death upon others. Yes, you can absolutely be the reason someone else dies. Do you want to have that on your conscience? Can you live with that collateral damage?
Read MoreAnd this is how the Pandemic has profoundly changed me: I feel sorry for the health care hero who risks not only their life, but the lives of their loved ones, to treat a known reckless person– and no longer for that person. I feel sorry for the masked waiter who brought them food, for the co-workers who could not avoid them, and for the clerk who scanned their groceries.
Read MoreHaving written in the male perspective for my debut's villain, I've experienced how fun writing as a man can be. It is quite freeing, ladies! So I made him handsome, dashing, and Persian. Yes, he's Persian. My husband figured out immediately I'd fashioned the character from a college crush. I was busted.
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