I love writing page-turners--both fiction and nonfiction. And I love helping others to do the same, living into their dreams of writing books. I believe my success comes down to a respect for my readers and clients. I know I'm easily bored, so I work hard to engage and inspire my readers. After all, we're all busy these days, and I want to deliver value--whether that's a gripping mystery filled with memorable characters or books on writing that give you the tools to write your own fiction and nonfiction. Both make me happy. I got my start as a writer in the most unlikely place--a town of 200 people in the mountains of North Carolina. But living there changed my life in so many positive ways. Decades later, I realized that everything I value today, I was introduced to there. My Appalachian Mountain Mysteries--A Life for a Life, The Roads to Damascus, Welcome the Little Children, and Murder Ballad Blues--pay homage to the people of Appalachia who taught me so much. Over the years, I've written more than 1,200 articles for major magazines, hundreds of newsletters and blogs. I'm proudest of the 18 books I've written. My nonfiction books include Words at Work, How Not to Sound Stupid When You Write, and How to Write Stories that Sell--all part of my Write Faster Series. Since I moved to California 10 years ago, I've also enjoyed coaching clients who want to write their own books.
