2012 - Miranda Liasson Romance Author

Creating Unforgettable Characters: James Scott Bell

By Miranda Liasson on Sunday, Dec 9, 2012 | 7 comments

Writers' Digest hosted a free webinar this past week given by suspense author and writing teacher James Scott Bell. Bell has written several books on writing (see his website). The one I have on my shelf (and maybe you do, too) is Plot and Structure.He has a new book soon to be released called Revision and Self [...]

Creativity: Getting Out of Your Own Way

By Miranda Liasson on Tuesday, Nov 27, 2012 | 2 comments

As a writer, don't you think about creativity a lot? What is it, what enhances it? And, most importantly, HOW DO I TURN THIS @#!*$% INTERNAL EDITOR OFF INSIDE MY OWN HEAD??This weekend I heard a really interesting piece on NPR on creativity from the show Studio 360. You can listen to all the segments at http://www.studio360.org/2012/nov/23/In the [...]

Top 3 Harlequin STYYCW Finalists Announced

By Miranda Liasson on Thursday, Nov 8, 2012 | 0 comments

Despite lots of mischief from Sandy, the Harlequin editors have named the top three finalists in the Harlequin So You Think You Can Write competition. Congrats to:Jennifer Drogell The Divorce PartyMel Sterling Grand Theft, AutoAmber Whitford In Defense of the Past You can read their fabulous first chapters herePublic voting begins again from November 16-27 to [...]

Bride for the Bachelor: I finaled in Harlequin’s SYTYCW Contest!

By Miranda Liasson on Monday, Oct 22, 2012 | 2 comments

I have a huge confession: I am a closet contemporary writer! And a few days ago, I learned I was one of 28 finalists in Harlequin's So You Think You Can Write Competition. There were around 700 entries! 25 were chosen based on popular vote and 3 were chosen by editors as "wild card" entries. What is my [...]

Learn to Pitch Better by Watching Lisa Kleypas Chat About Rainshadow Road

By Miranda Liasson on Tuesday, Oct 16, 2012 | 0 comments

Is pitching your worst nightmare? Do you quake in your shoes just thinking about it? Are you a fearful public speaker who would rather have all your teeth pulled (at once) than have to sit across from an agent or editor and pitch? If you are, read on!I adore Lisa Kleypas. Not only is she a hugely [...]

Love’s Secret Fire: Debut by Rena Koontz

By Miranda Liasson on Tuesday, Oct 9, 2012 | 0 comments

Check out the debut romantic suspense by Crimson Romance author (and my fellow chaptermate) Rena Koontz!Undercover agent Adam Michaels (a.k.a. Mitchell) has been sent to a fire station to out a firebug. Who is targeting news reporter and radio personality Valerie Daniels with frightening emails. And Valerie’s beloved twin brother is a rookie fireman who just happens [...]

Why They Call It “Revision Hell”

By Miranda Liasson on Sunday, Oct 7, 2012 | 2 comments

I've recently had the great pleasure of coming back into the real world after a month of revisions. How you know you might need to detox if you've had a similar experience:--An entire wardrobe of sweats is critical to survival (including my favorite sweats I call my writing pants). But the one time you wear them out (because [...]

Fort George, Ontario, in the Eyes of a Regency-Era Writer

By Miranda Liasson on Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 | 4 comments

To celebrate that I am now a dot-com, I thought would share some pics from my recent trip to Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada.Of course Mr. Liasson wanted to see the fort. "It's Regency period," he said in a tempting voice. Well, I succumbed, and it was great! Okay, it's not London, but look at [...]

The Reluctant Debutante by Becky Lower

By Miranda Liasson on Wednesday, Sep 5, 2012 | 2 comments

Love historical romance but are yearning for something unique and different? Give Becky Lower's debut a try! It's fantastic!It's also on the top of the list of Surprising Good Books on Goodreads (see here for details).See my Goodreads review below...Oh, and Becky will be featured on the USA Today blog on their Happy Ever After page [...]

The Good Read (or, What Makes a Book Good)

By Miranda Liasson on Thursday, Jul 12, 2012 | 0 comments

I came across the beginning of this spectacular book review by Susanna Sonnenberg of the San Francisco Chronicle. In it she defines what makes a book a good read. Before you read it, I want you to substitute your name for the author, Karen Thompson Walker, and the title of your book instead of hers, which is [...]