Be original, but tell us what books your story will remind us of. I know it seems confusing, but here's why agents and publishers ask for them, how to find them, and what it might mean for your book. 

You've got to know your genres to get your book into the right  hands—whether reader, agent, or publisher. If you don't nail this part,  there is a good chance things aren't going to go so smoothly.

You've got your manuscript, you bled for your synopsis... now you must query the publishers and/or agent if you're aiming for more traditional publishing.

The dreaded synopsis is something that nearly every author out there  moans and groans about. I can't promise you'll ever like writing them,  but here's some advice on how to get the right.

Twitter pitch events can be an exciting whirlwind. Here's what they are,  how they work, and how to not waste your time if you decide to  participate.

You've been working on that manuscript forever—or it seems that way—but how do you know it's ready to be submitted to a publisher? Well, that is the hard question and, hopefully, I can help you find some answers.

Who are these people? How do you find them? And why you should use them?

On a totally unrelated note, happy 42nd Anniversary to my parents. I love you and thank you for believing in me. xoxoxo

You're probably not going to be an international best-selling author—and you need to be okay with that.

From the final draft to the bookstore shelves, it's time we lay out what to expect from the publishing process. There's a whole lot of hurry up and wait going on.

There are good reasons to use a pen name. There are even good reasons to write under an assumed gender.