What To Do While You're Waiting...

I never realized how much I would be waiting in my writing life. I am not a patient person. I like websites that respond in three seconds, check-out lines that are short, and quick responses. And I’ve learned, not everyone is on my schedule. There is a lot of waiting when you decide to write or publish a book.

If you want to be traditionally published, there are things you will have wait for. You will wait months (if not years) to hear back about queries, for edits, and for cover designs.

Here are some things you can do while waiting:

• Write your next book, especially if you are querying your first book. If you get a multiple book offer, you’ll need to have that second book ready for submission in year (or less).

• Work on your newsletter and social media followings. If you are querying an agent or publisher, they do look at your web presence. After I sold my first book, I spent a lot of the waiting time between edits building up social media followings. It took a lot of time, but it was worth it to build up a base and a small street team.

• Create or spiff up your website. Make sure it looks like you and your style of writing. Make sure that all of the buttons and links work. The colors, graphics, design, and fonts should be unified.

• Join a writing group. They are wonderful for networking, finding opportunities, and learning about your craft and genre.

• Find a critique partner or group to help you polish your manuscript.

#WriterWednesday Interview with Kristine Jensen

I’d like to welcome Kristine Jensen to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Hardest thing about being a writer: As someone with a full-time writing job, making time to sit down and write my personal work

Easiest thing about being a writer: Letting the words flow once I sit down to write

Things you need for your writing sessions: My iPad with attached keyboard that has no access to email or social media

Things that hamper your writing: Getting sucked into my emails or social media

Words that describe you: Loyal, disciplined, trustworthy, hardworking, imaginative

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Empath, stubborn, overthinker

Something you’re really good at: Coming up with creative solutions to problems

Something you’re really bad at: Sleeping

Last best thing you ate: Gingerbread cake

Last thing you regret eating: Stale tortilla chips at 2am

Favorite music or song: Female vocalists

Music that drives you crazy: Hard rock, some repetitive techno music

The last thing you ordered online: A 2026 calendar

The last thing you regret buying: A book about clearing clutter (it just makes me feel worse about all my stuff)

Things you’d walk a mile for: Almost anything, I love to walk

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: A certain politician’s voice who shall go unnamed

Things you always put in your books: My heart and soul

Things you never put in your books: Murders

Favorite places you’ve been: Croatia, Southern France, Santa Barbara

Places you never want to go to again: Las Vegas

Favorite books (or genre): Fiction and historical fiction

Books you wouldn’t buy: Dystopian sci-fi

Favorite things to do: Reading, gardening, baking, hiking

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Removing a dead “gift” that our cat has brought into the house

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Climbed to the top of a fire lookout tree in a Montana forest

Something you chickened out from doing: Learning rock climbing from my son

The funniest thing to happen to you: I was talking about an ex-boyfriend to my mom and we ran into him and his new girlfriend in a mall — he must have heard me because we both turned red.

The most embarrassing thing to happen to you: I misspelled the last name of our CEO in a printed program for the company’s annual event with 10,000 attendees.

The coolest person you’ve ever met: My husband

The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: Hmm…the celebrities I’ve met looked like their pictures.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: You’re a great writer, please keep writing.

The craziest thing a reader said to you: “It must be easy to write a memoir” — my book is fiction, not a memoir, and is set in 1963.

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: Designed and planted beautiful flower gardens in our front and back yards

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: Most recently, a fancy cake I baked got stuck in the pan and came out in pieces

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: An incident with sheep who get caught in flood waters

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: One reader thought the protagonist in Wednesday Club: A Novel was me, but Ivy is actually very different from me

The first 8-track, record, cassette, or CD you ever bought: Fleetwood Mac

A type of music that’s not your cup of tea: Hard rock

My favorite book as a child: Little House on the Prairie

A book I’ve read more than once: Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

Your favorite movie as a child: Wizard of Oz

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult): The movie Willard — a horror film about rats

About Kristine:

Kristine Jensen is a lifelong writer whose work spans scripts and storytelling for brands and organizations. Raised in South Dakota, Kristine drew inspiration for Wednesday Club: A Novel from the minutes of her grandmother’s women’s club. She lives in Oregon, where she writes fiction that celebrates unlikely friendships and the quiet power of small towns.

Let’s Be Social:

Website/social media: www.wednesday-club.com

Facebook: Wednesday Club Novel

Instagram: Wednesday_club_novel

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jensenkristine/

Keeping Track of Your Book Details

I write four series, and I am often asked to provide details about the different books. I have to have a way to keep this all organized. Here’s what I do:

• I keep (and backup) a Word file for each series that includes each book’s ISBN and buy links from a variety of different booksellers.

• I have an electronic folder with the artwork for each book’s cover. I keep subfolders with copies of the marketing graphics that I use.

• For details about me, I have a Word document with a standard small, medium, and large biography. I also have a list in this document of the links to my social media sites.

• For the details of each series, I keep an Excel spreadsheet that has a column for each book. I list details for each character and what books they appear in.

• And finally, I keep a Word document for each series that lists blurbs and reviews by book. If I ever need a pull quote, I have my choice.

What helps you stay organized with your writing materials?

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Pat Daily

I’d like to welcome Pat Daily to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Favorite snacks: Peanut butter pretzels

Things that make you want to gag:  Fish and the smell of cooking fish. I made a pact with fish early in life – I won’t eat them if they won’t eat me.

Something you’re really good at: Public Speaking

Something you’re really bad at: Understanding that not everyone thinks I am as funny as I do.

Something you wanted to be when you were a kid: Astronaut

Something you do that you never dreamed you’d do: Work on a team creating a hydrogen-powered aircraft

Last best thing you ate: Chicken Vindaloo from Tandoori Twist in Houston

Last thing you regret eating: Brussel sprouts

Things to say to an author: I love your work. Your Spark Chronicles series is fantastic!

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: Have you ever written anything I might have read?

Favorite places you’ve been: Yosemite, Tokyo  

Places you never want to go to again: Beijing

People you’d like to invite to dinner (living): J.K. Rowling, Senator John Kennedy, Bill Maher

People you’d cancel dinner on: Anyone who chews with their mouth open

Favorite things to do: Stare into a campfire while chatting with family and friends

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Watch televised golf or NASCAR

Best thing you’ve ever done: Marry my wife and have two phenomenal daughters

Biggest mistake: Speaking to a colleague out of anger rather than taking my time and responding more professionally.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Jumped out of an airplane the second time. The first time, I was too naïve to understand how scary it was going to be.

Something you chickened out from doing: Scuba diving at night

The nicest thing a reader said to you:  “When Spark gets turned into a movie, I want to do the soundtrack.”

The craziest thing a reader said to you: “My God, do you even speak English?”

The most exciting thing about your writing life: Solitude. I know it sounds odd, but I love the time alone with my characters as we try to figure out what words will go on the page.

The one thing you wish you could do over in your writing life: Start much earlier in life.

 About Pat:

Pat Daily is a polymath, serial entrepreneur, gamer, and the author of the Spark Chronicles, a near-future science fiction series. Pat began his professional career as an engineer and Air Force test pilot. After leaving the military, Pat worked at NASA’s Johnson Space Center on both the Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs before launching his first company. He has worked globally as a human performance and safety consultant.

When not writing or bringing new airplane designs to life, Pat can be found gaming. He is a fan of role-playing games – particularly open worlds with engaging storylines where actions have consequences. Pat and his wife live in Houston.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: https://thepatdaily.com

Blog: https://feraldaughters.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patdailyauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patdailypics/

X: @patdailyauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21521042.Pat_Daily

#WriterWednesday Interview with Carol Pouliot

I’d like to welcome the amazing Carol Pouliot back to the blog and congratulate her on her 2026 Agatha nomination!

Hardest thing about being a writer: Deleting a paragraph/page/chapter that I worked on for days, when I realized that it had to go.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Getting lost in the book I'm currently writing. 

Things you need for your writing sessions: My comfortable chair with special cushions for my back.

Things that hamper your writing: Stress. 

The last thing you ordered online: All the books in Jennifer Ashley's Below Stairs Mysteries. I love them!!

The last thing you regret buying: A living room chair that has the perfect color combination. Sadly, I got sick of the pattern too quickly. I've been looking for a chair to replace it for the past two years.

Things you always put in your books: I always put some kind of reference to art in the books.

Things you never put in your books: I never put graphic sex or vulgar language in my novels.

Favorite places you’ve been: My current favorite place to go is England. I really love the villages and towns in Cornwall, Devon, and the Cotswolds. I've been about a dozen times and can't wait to go back.

Places you never want to go to again: I didn't care for Mexico and won't go back there. 

Favorite books (or genre): I’m hooked on British mysteries. They're always my first choice, whether they take place in a contemporary setting or a Victorian one. I love getting lost in London as well as in the enchanting small town.

Books you wouldn’t buy: I always read the first few pages of a book before I buy it. If it's badly edited, I won't read or buy it. 

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: I moved to France by myself when I was 22. I had the name of the school where I supposedly had a job, but I didn't have an address, a place to live, or a plan. I didn’t care because I just wanted to go to France!! This was in 1973, so no cellphones or computers to help. I called my mother from the airport in New York right before I left. Thank goodness a letter had arrived with the address of my school. That was all I had when I took off. 

Something you chickened out from doing: I was a gymnast from eighth grade until my junior year of college. At that time, the even parallel bars were available for girls and that was my equipment. I was practicing for a meet and chickened out of a very tricky, scary dismount. 

The nicest thing a reader said to you: I was invited to speak at a book club shortly after Doorway to Murder, book one in my series, came out. After my talk, a woman raised her hand and said, "I've read a lot of time-travel books but this is the first one I ever read where I thought it could really happen. 

The craziest thing a reader said to you: I was at a book festival, standing behind my table which was filled with copies of all of my books. Someone came up to the table and asked where my books were available for purchase. My answer was: “Right here, right now.” 

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: Chapter one of book one, Doorway to Murder, actually happened to me and was the inspiration for the time travel part of my mystery series. I wrote the chapter exactly as it happened. 

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: Although I did give Olivia some of my interests and a couple things in my background, she's not me. 

The first 8-track, record, cassette, or CD you ever bought: The first record I remember buying was an EP by Sam Cooke with the song "You Send Me" on it. We're talking vinyl here!  

A type of music that’s not your cup of tea: I've never cared for folk music or the James Taylor style of music. 

My favorite book as a child: I adored The Boxcar Children, by Gertrude Chandler Warner. I loved the way the kids furnished the railway car, and how brave and resilient they were.

A book I’ve read more than once: I always reread favorite books. I’ve reread all of Martha Grimes’s Richard Jury series, Ann Cleeves’s Vera and Jimmy Perez books, Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks novels, as well as all the Agatha Christie mysteries. I’m sure I will read them all again at some point.

About Carol:

Agatha-nominated author Carol Pouliot writes the acclaimed Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mysteries, traditional police procedurals with a time-travel twist and a seemingly impossible relationship between Depression-era cop Steven Blackwell and 21st-century journalist Olivia Watson. With their fast pace and unexpected twists and turns, the books are known for their attention to historical details, rich atmosphere, and multi-layered plots. Carol is the former President and Program Chair of her Sisters in Crime chapter, Co-Chair of Murderous March, and a founding member of Sleuths and Sidekicks. Carol teaches a workshop for beginning mystery writers titled What’s So Great About Agatha? She enjoys speaking to groups interested in reading and writing, and loves talking with book clubs. You can find her email address on the Contact page of her website. When not writing, Carol can be found packing her suitcase and reaching for her passport for her next travel adventure.

Let’s Be Social:

Website

Facebook Author Page

Instagram

Pinterest

BookBub

Goodreads

Amazon Author Page

Find Your Crew

Lots of studies have been done recently that show the importance of connecting with others. Just Google the topic. There is an overwhelming number that show how we’ve become disconnected in the post-Covid, social media world. Writers need to pay attention to this. You need a team to help you with ideas, celebrations, and support through the bumpy times.

My advice to writers at any stage of their career is to find those people. It may be writing partners, a critique group, a writing organization, or a group chat with other writers. Regardless of whether you are online or in-person, you need to interact regularly with others.

Joining a writing group at the beginning of my journey was the best investment I made. I joined my national and local chapter of Sisters in Crime and James River Writers. I was fortunate that both had in-person as well as online programs.

Writing organizations offer wonderful programs, training, and meet and greet activities. When I had questions about agents, querying, publishers, there was always someone there who was willing to share their time and expertise. I have found critique groups, writing partners, and many many valuable contacts.

I also had my first publishing credit for a short story that was accepted into an anthology. I learned about editing, revising, following guidelines, and submitting work for publication.

The publishing business is like no other, and it is beneficial to be able to talk to people who understand the experience.

No matter what stage of your writing career you’re in, my recommendation is to find a group of writers to share the joy and provide support when there are road bumps.

#WriterWednesday Author Interview wth Holly B. Gutwillinger

I’d like to welcome author Holly B. Gutwillnger to the blog today for #WriterWednesday!

A few of your favorite traditions: I love to wake up early, before anyone else, to write by the fire with a cup of chai latte.

Something that you’ll never do again: I’ll never visit a corn maze on the farm and get lost again.

Favorite treat: Homemade pumpkin pie with vanilla ice cream.

A treat that makes you gag: I gag at the idea of eating mincemeat pie.

Something you only do in the fall: I chop wood and stockpile for the winter months.

Something you’d never do in the fall season: I would never swim in the local lake.

Favorite beverage: Iced Chai Latte with extra cinnamon and two inches of foam.
A drink that gives you a sour face: Over-steeped green tea turned bitter.

Favorite smell: Cedar trees in the forest.
Something that makes you hold your nose: rotting leaves on the forest’s bed or in my yard.

Best memory: I have fond memories of packing a lunch and joining my father for a full day of harvesting wood for the winter.

Something you’d rather forget: My dog jumping into the icy lake to chase ducks.

Best thing you ever cooked/baked: Butter tarts with maple syrup in the recipe.

Your worst kitchen disaster: Sourdough bread from a failed starter.

Favorite place you to spend a day: In the hardwood forest in the Muskokas, which is located in Central Ontario.

The worst place to spend a day: In Florida because then I’d miss the autumn leaves in Ontario.

Funniest story: My boys, who were young at the time, carved a large hole in a pumpkin, placed them over their heads, and walked into the house to scare me.

Your worst story: It had to be the time I spent hours intricately carving an image on the pumpkin, but I pushed too hard and ruined the hours of work. It could not be repaired.

Favorite pumpkin spice item: I love Pumpkin cheesecake squares straight out of the freezer.

Something that should never be pumpkin-spiced flavored: Cinnamon buns should never ever has anything different because the original recipe is what makes them unique.

About Holly:

Holly B. Gutwillinger is an author and podcaster who calls a small northern Ontario town home. Her anticipated debut novel, North of Broken & Furever Home, launches February 14, 2026, offering readers an intimate and heartfelt exploration of a woman's complex, evolving relationship with her rescue dogs—a story that weaves together themes of healing, companionship, and the unexpected ways animals transform our lives.

Holly's writing voice is profoundly shaped by her deep love of family. As the proud mother of two adult sons, she brings an authentic understanding of parental devotion and the complexities of watching children grow into their own lives. This same fierce commitment extends to the animals who share her world, and her work reflects the belief that our relationships with both human and animal family members reveal fundamental truths about who we are and who we aspire to become.

Holly combines formal training with natural storytelling. She is currently deepening her craft through her MFA in fiction at the University of King's College, where she continues to explore the intersections of character, voice, and emotional truth. Beyond her individual pursuits, Holly is deeply embedded in the literary community, serving on the board of her local writers' guild and volunteering her expertise with the Women's Fiction Writers Association, where she helps support and champion other voices in the genre.

Through both her written work and her podcast, Holly creates spaces for authentic conversation about the stories that matter—those that examine our connections, our vulnerabilities, and the quiet courage it takes to open our hearts to love in all its forms.

Let’s Be Social:

Substack: https://substack.com/@hollybgutwillinger?utm_source=user-menu

Instagram: @rambling_from_the_little_shed 

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ramblings-from-the-little-shed/id1852258364

Website: www.ramblingsfromthelittleshed.com

It's Gonna Be Okay - Playlist

The news and world events have been too much for a lot of us lately. I learned a long time ago (from Mr. Rogers) that you’re always supposed to look for the helpers (the good people) in horrible situations. They are out there. People care, and things are going to get better.

I’m sharing my It’s Gonna Be Okay playlist to remind us not to lose hope and not to give up fighting the good fight. Music always helps us to transcend the situation.

Here’s my list of songs on Spotify.

• “I Am Not Okay” Jelly Roll

• “I Won’t Back Down” Tom Petty

• “About Damn Time” Lizzo

• “I’m Still Standing” Elton John

• “Don’t Stop Believin’” Journey

• “Fight Song” Rachel Platten

• “Livin’ on a Prayer” Bon Jovi

• “I Gotta Feeling” Black Eyed Peas

• “Holy Water” Marshmaello and Jelly Roll

• “All Star” Smash Mouth

• “Stronger” Kelly Clarkson

• “I Will Survive” Gloria Gaynor

• “Dancing in the Dark” Bruce Springsteen

• “Running on Empty” Jackson Browne

• “Good News” Shaboozey

• “Things Can Only Get Better” Howard Jones

• “Amen” Shaboozey and Jelly Roll

• “Here Comes the Sun” the Beatles

• “Walking on Sunshine” Katrina and the Waves

• “On Top of the World” Imagine Dragons