You Have an Opinion and It Matters

Advice from a Chocolate Addict when you're buying her chocolates

Why Lesbian Romance?

Two Hats Mess Up My Hair
Since joining Bella Books as Editorial Director nearly two years ago I've received and reviewed -- and mostly rejected -- hundreds of manuscripts. I've done internal reviews of manuscripts from established authors in preparation for their editing. I've also continued to blog about issues around craft and the business, taking care to separate my two roles to the extent that I can.Not unexpectedly, there's a marked divergence between the thoughts and advice of a 25+ book novelist versus an acquisitions decision-maker.In addition, when I reject a manuscript it's very rare that I can concisely explain the issues, let alone have the time to do so.  Yet I feel for the

A Fowl Mood (That Turkey Brine Thing)
Update: Since I've received several email requests this week for "that turkey brine thing" I thought I'd repost this April 2008 entry with the recipe. No doubt others before me have used this fowl pun, and why you may ask am I writing about turkey in April when Thanksgiving is six months away? There's a turkey sitting on my back fence, that's why.The flock of turkeys that li

First Chapter Excerpt, Stepping Stone
Today's the day! Stepping Stone is releasing from Bella Books and is on its way to readers everywhere. I know some of you are on pins and needles, so here's the first sixteen pages or so, opening with an online entry from BUZZTASTIC...a secondary "character" readers will know very well before it's all over.Stepping Stone is available at

20 Years and 20 More
My very first book was published in 1989. That's right -- twenty years ago. In the last century. It could make a person feel old. But I feel grateful. So before I forget, anyone who places an order at BellaBooks.com between now and December 25 will automatically get an email explaining how to download a pdf with two short stories in it. Both stories were previously released, bu

Senseless Acts of Singing
It was a San Francisco moment. On Pride Sunday this past summer, I went up the stairs from MUNI to the street. I was on my way to the premiere of Hannah Free. As I reached the bottom of the short escalator to the street level a group of men burst into song. Ahead, another cluster turned and joined in. For about thirty seconds, there was musical theater in the subway station, and why not?That spirit of music is something my daughter understands. She's the only person I know who can read and sing at the same time. Sometimes, as she lays on her back on her bed, she reads, sings and dances her feet on underside of the bunk above her. I wouldn't be surprised to discover she si