Haunted by the violent deaths of his Marine brothers in Afghanistan, twenty-eight-year-old Sully returns home to Oregon wanting to piece his fragmented life back together. His homecoming is tainted, however, by the long-buried secrets of his invalid father, which have torn the family apart. Their horse ranch has been neglected and is sliding into bankruptcy.…
Articles by Linda J. Berry
Cruising with the Beach Boys
By Dana Gioia from 99 Poems. So strange to hear that song again tonight Traveling on business in a rented car Miles from anywhere I’ve been before. And now a tune I haven’t heard for years Probably not since it last left the charts Back in L.A. in 1969. I can’t believe I know the…
Tree Poem
It wasn’t that he wanted to take his life. He wanted to take his death into his own hands. There was a difference, he knew, though he couldn’t articulate it. More speculative than suicidal, more curious than depressed, more interested than not, he didn’t want to talk to a therapist. He wanted to talk to…
9 Story Openings to Avoid, Part 3
By Literary Agent Kristin Nelson & Angie Hodapp For the Part 1 of this article series, click here. For the Part 2 of this article series, click here. Angie Hodapp and I recently teamed up to bring wit and wisdom to writers who want to work on craft. During our workshop, we identified several story openings that…
Ashes
My father was a volcano spewing lava that night, tables became timber — curtains fell, walls crumbled. My mother was a hummingbird darting between him and us wings humming false promises that evaporated in the heat. In the next room, my sister and I shared a double bed like we had shared our mother’s womb,…
Almanac
My grandparents owned the land, worked the land, bound to the earth by seasons of planting and harvest. They watched the sky, the habits of birds, hues of sunset, the moods of moon and clouds, the disposition of air. They inhaled the coming season, let it brighten their blood for the work ahead. Soil sifted…
Rick Steber: Best-selling Author and Master Storyteller
“Rick Steber has given us a fine example of how fiction can tell the grim facts of history in a highly readable novel. His books should be added to the reading lists of students of American history.” – Tony Hillerman “Rick Steber’s specialty is stories of the West, tales woven from the fabric of the…
10 Tips If You Want To Be Be A Fiction Writer
Many of us feel we have got a great story inside us just waiting to be told. But when it comes to putting pen to paper it can be difficult to find the right words. Being a good fiction writer is not just about having a fantastic idea for a story. It takes practice and…
“Bad Cop: New York’s Least Likely Police Officer Tells All.”
Interview with Paul Bacon “The book is a comedy of errors based on my tendency to empathize with everyone, including criminals. If anything, I wasn’t mean enough.” -Paul Bacon In 2001, Paul Bacon was a typical young guy in New York: overeducated, liberal, hip, a little aimless. But when 9/11 came, he was galvanized into action.…
The Only Character Questionnaire You Need to Complete
Creating Characters – From The Cradle To The Grave. 94 Questions About The Characters We create Complete this questionnaire for your character even if you never use the information in your book. It will help you to see them as three-dimensional, nuanced beings who leave marks on many people’s lives. If you are writing speculative fiction,…