#ThisorThatThursday Interview with Rachael M. Colby

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I’d like to welcome Rachael M. Colby to the blog this week for #ThisorThatThursday!

Hardest thing about being a writer:

The hardest thing about being a writer is pushing past all the must-do-now’s that beckon to get to my desk. Then quieting their chatter and getting my head in the writing zone.

Easiest thing about being a writer:

I wasn’t aware there was anything easy about being a writer. Especially if the goal is to always learn and grow, and to pursue excellence. But it’s wonderful when inspiration strikes like lightning and I capture it right then.

Things you need for your writing sessions:

Chocolate and ice-cold fruit-flavored vitamin-enhanced water. Of most importance are prayer, God’s presence, and leading. Various Christian music to energize, inspire, or settle me as needed.

Things that hamper your writing:

It weighs on my heart when loved ones go through turbulent seasons or walk treacherous paths. I must remind myself again to place them in Jesus’ capable care in order to focus and write.

Words that describe you:

People call me an encourager. (It’s my joy to encourage faith and help writers.) Artist. Truth seeker. Poet. Problem solver. Strong-willed, passionate and unapologetic about my beliefs. Work-in-progress. Jesus lover.

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

I considered starting a support group called Overthinkers Anonymous, but since I’m also a procrastinator, that probably won’t happen.

Last best thing you ate:

Lavender blossom bittersweet chocolate bark by Ragged Coast Chocolates in Maine.

Last thing you regret eating:

Brussel sprouts.

Things you always put in your books:

Hope, redemption, encouragement, fun, harmony in diversity shown in nature and relationships. Truth, even when it’s wrapped in fiction.

For Mother’s Day, my daughter gave me a custom-designed embosser for my books. The words on it say, “Imagined with love.”

Things you never put in your books:

I do not include swearing, graphic sex, or violence in my writings. Neither do I write depictions or messages of evil being good, nor promote any behavior that is contrary to biblical standards.

Things to say to an author:

Tell them how their writing encouraged, inspired, or instructed you. Don’t quit.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book:

When someone says they’re a writer and you reply, “Oh. That’s a nice hobby.” Another is, “You’re just in it for recognition and the money.”

Favorite books (or genre):

I love nonfiction about inspiring lives, people who overcome obstacles, do courageous, seemingly impossible things, and change others’ lives for good. Also books that help me hone my craft and draw closer to God. I enjoy clean reads that make me laugh.

Books you wouldn’t buy:

I don’t buy books that include graphic sex or violence, crude language, or promote lifestyles contrary to biblical standards or that slander good.

Favorite things to do:

Long walks with friends on the beach. Getting lost in a book. Watching sunsets and chasing moonrises with my husband. When my grown kids are all together, I love observing their interactions, listening to their banter and laughter.

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

Running through fire would frizz my hair, and I work hard to tame it. I prefer 77 degrees and a light tropical breeze—and keep the fire over there. Bugs bug me out, so I’ll pass on those too. (Including when friends had a cicada party and made chocolate chip cicada cookies, salad, and stir-fry with them.)

Maybe to avoid math.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done:

I gave my grandmother’s eulogy, though the minister had denied me permission to do so before the service. That story titled “A Time to Disobey” originally published in the compilation book Mountains Moved: 45 Devotions on Bold Faith, is now also on my website here: https://tattooitonyourheart.com/2025/12/13/a-time-to-disobey/

Something you chickened out from doing:

I sidestepped speaking from a stage during my school years (though it was mandatory) and for my entire life until I started writing. In 2015, an older friend and mentor persuaded me, and trembling, I shared a poem at an event for the first time.

The funniest thing to happen to you:

My vacuum cleaner tried to scalp me. Originally published in the compilation book Chicken Soup for the Soul: Well, That Was Funny, my story titled “A Hairy Dilemma” is now available to read on my website here: https://tattooitonyourheart.com/2026/03/27/a-hairy-dilemma/

The most embarrassing thing to happen to you:

There’s no way I’m sharing that. But I suggest you let your husband watch your kid at church and go to the bathroom by yourself.

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done:

I’ve painted custom scenes of people’s favorite places on the one-to two-inch wooden frames of antique windows. I also scrimshaw on antique ivory piano keys (engraving artwork in ink) to make bookmarks.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it:

When my $70 batch of soap cracked and fell out of the mold in several pieces rather than a solid block. But I redeemed it. But that’s another story.

My favorite book as a child:

The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis.

A book I’ve read more than once:

The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis when I was nine years old, at 21, and in my 40s.

About Rachael:

Rachael M. Colby has a heart for reconciliation and a passion to uplift those who serve in tough places. She writes to connect cultures’ questions with Christianity’s answers, inspire faith, and motivate.

She’s a multi-genre, award-winning writer, Cecil Murphey protégé, Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild member, speaker, editor, and the author of Tropical Dreams.

Rachael’s work has appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul, on The Write Conversation, BRMCWC Blog, online publications, compilation books, and the Oak Ridger newspaper.

This Jamaican-born wife and mom resides in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, runs on chocolate and a lotta “Help me, Jesus,” and blogs at TattooItOnYourHeart.com.

#WriterWednesday Author Interview with Alice Fitzpatrick

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I’d like to welcome Alice Fitzpatrick to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Things you need for your writing sessions: I need absolute silence.

Things that hamper your writing: I can’t listen to music. As a singer, if the music has words, I want to sing along. As a dancer, if the music is orchestral, I mentally choreograph.

Last best thing you ate: It’s always vegan mac and cheese.

Last thing you regret eating: A large pizza but the regret was because of its size.

Favorite music or song: Anything by J.S. Bach, Stephen Sondheim, or George Gershwin.

Music that drives you crazy: Country and western music is tiny and whiny and grates like nails on a blackboard.

Things you’d walk a mile for: Vegan chocolate ice-cream

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Pictures or descriptions of animal abuse

Things you always put in your books: My mysteries always have at least one dead body.

Things you never put in your books: I could never hurt a child or animal, even fictional ones.

Things to say to an author: I can’t wait for your next book.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: Why haven’t I hear of you? This was actually said to me at a recent in-person sales event.

Favorite books (or genre): Traditional British mysteries, especially any book written by Elly Griffiths

Books you wouldn’t buy: Westerns and military fantasy.

The coolest person you’ve ever met: Scottish crime writer Val McDermid. The last time she was in Toronto, my Sisters in Crime chapter took her out to dinner. She sat next to me, and once she learnt I was a vegan, she told me all about her vegetarian son.

The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: Any writer who doesn’t update their social media headshots for twenty years.

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: I’m a classically trained singer and dancer.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: I began to write a literary novel with no idea where it was going. Consequently, it went nowhere.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: In the first book in my Meredith Island Mysteries series, my protagonist’s investigation into the death of her aunt fifty years previous mirrored my lifelong attempt to understand the death of my uncle who died before I was born I’ll never know the truth of how my uncle died, but at least I was able to give my protagonist some closure with her aunt.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: Because I have multiple university degrees, readers may assume that my analytic, academic protagonist is based on me. In reality, I am a combination of her and her sidekick who is an impulsive, imaginative artist.

My favorite book as a child: Alice in Wonderland

A book I’ve read more than once: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Your favorite movie as a child: The Wizard of Oz

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult): The Shining is the ultimate horror story for writers. Despite having all the time in the word with few distractions, Jack Torrance can only write nonsense.

About Alice:

Alice Fitzpatrick has contributed short stories to literary magazines and anthologies, including the Crime Writers of Canada 40th anniversary anthology, Cold Canadian Crime. She is a fearless champion of singing, cats, all things Welsh, and the Oxford comma. Her summers spent with her Welsh family in Pembrokeshire inspired the creation of the Meredith Island Mysteries which include Secrets in the Water and A Dark Death (finalist for the 2026 Crime Writers of Canada award for Best Traditional Mystery). The traditional mystery appeals to her fascination with what makes seemingly ordinary people commit murder. Alice lives in Toronto but dreams of a cottage on the Welsh coast.

Writing Mixtape - Writers Need Feedback

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Research, writing, and revising are solitary tasks. Writers need feedback to ensure that their work is ready for publication, and it’s one of the hardest things for writers to do.

You have put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into your work, and it takes a lot of courage to hand it over to someone who is going to make comments, positive and negative.

Writers need a critique partner, critique group, or beta readers to help them find plotholes, text that doesn’t make sense, and narrative that takes you out of the story and down a rabbit hole. They can help you find inconsistencies and overused words.

When I joined my first critique group, I thought my beautiful manuscript was ready for the world. (It wasn’t.) After critique group, it would take me a couple of days get the nerve to delve into the feedback. It was hard to read through that sea of red ink.

One key to feedback is that you as a writer need to review the comment with a clear eye and decide if it will improve your book. If two or three people mentioned the issue, then I would usually change it. If the comment changed my character drastically or my voice, then I may not make the alteration.

Good critique groups and partners and beta readers are worth their weight in gold. They can help you see what is in plain sight that you missed.

You are about to release your baby into a world full of readers and reviewers who can often be sharp-tongued with their opinions. Writers need to learn to not take feedback personally. It is hard. Negative points never make you feel good, but your goal is to make your work the best it can be.

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Patti Lee

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I’d like to welcome Patti Lee to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Hardest thing about being a writer: The hardest thing about being a writer is writing. Or more specifically, getting into that magical headspace where the ideas actually come. Sitting down to write is easy. Getting your brain to cooperate? That's the hard part.

Easiest thing about being a writer: The easiest thing about being a writer is writing. Hear me out – it can be both. Once you're in the zone, you've got the ideas, you've got the time, it's quiet, and the distractions have faded away, writing becomes the easy part. Then it's just a matter of getting the story out of your head and onto the page.

Things you need for your writing sessions: I need quiet and uninterrupted time to think, process, and write. My dream would be a little writing retreat where I could be alone when I need to focus, but also have the chance to sit somewhere and people-watch without looking like a creeper.

Things that hamper your writing: Any noise or distraction can derail me. Television, music, people, even my cats – anything can pull me out of the story. Once I’m in that writing headspace, even a small interruption can make it hard to find my way back.

Words that describe you: Some words that describe would be curious, loyal, compassionate and on a good day, witty.

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: There’s too many, so I’ll just go with overthinker. It's a useful trait when I'm editing a manuscript or solving a problem at work. It's much less useful at 2:00 a.m. when I'm replaying a conversation from three days ago.

Last best thing you ate: My grandsons came to visit last week, and we had fluffernutter sandwiches – haven’t had one in years, and it was delicious!
Last thing you regret eating: Other than that fluffernutter sandwich, I think I regret the whole last week of food – hot dogs, chicken nuggets, French fries, candy, cookies, ice cream – I ate like an unsupervised 10-year-old, and my body has officially filed a complaint.

Favorite music or song: I love the soundtrack to Hamilton. I listen to it anytime I’m going to be in the car for more than 10 minutes. I love the way it tells a story through music – the lyrics, the energy, the emotion, and the way the characters come alive. I often wonder how much of the story is based in truth and how much is creative storytelling. I can listen to it over and over, still catch something new, and yet somehow still manage to trip over my tongue trying to keep up with the lyrics.

Music that drives you crazy: Opera would be the music choice that drives me crazy. It’s too hard to understand and the piercing vocals are just too much.

Things you always put in your books: Kids and animals. I think children and animals have a way of grounding a story. They bring out sides of people you might not otherwise see, and they often remind us what really matters. Whether they're making us laugh, breaking our hearts, or quietly stealing the scene, they add a layer of authenticity that I love.

Things you never put in your books: I'm not one to include gratuitous sex in my books. I think a story should speak for itself, and while sex is a natural part of life and relationships, it has to serve a purpose in the story. I'm never going to add it just for shock value or because it's expected. I started writing in 2019, and I’ve learned so much along the way. One lesson that has really stuck with me is that if a scene doesn't move the characters or the story forward, it probably doesn't belong on the page.

Favorite books (or genre): I love women’s fiction books. I don’t need a happily ever after or a burning romance – I want to read about things that others have or could experience, and I want to see how they navigated those situations.

Books you wouldn’t buy: I am not a horror reader anymore. I used to read all the genres, but I figure life as an adult is terrifying enough.

The coolest person you’ve ever met: Well, aside from some amazingly cool friends and writerly types, I have to say Bernie Sanders. Through my 9-to-5 job, I had the opportunity to go to D.C. and meet with some of his staffers, and he graciously took a few minutes to meet with us as well. What struck me most was how down-to-earth he seemed. He was funny and personable, and when one of my colleagues accidentally knocked over a chair, he joked that she was "throwing chairs around." It was such a small moment, but it captured his sense of humor and made him feel less like a politician and more like a regular person. It was a pretty memorable experience.

The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: I went to a Melissa Etheridge concert years ago, and at one point she walked through the crowd – literally right past me. She was so close I could have reached out and touched her, although I was way too shocked to actually do it. The thing that surprised me most was how much shorter she was than I imagined. You see someone perform on a stage for years and your brain somehow makes them larger than life. Turns out, she’s actually pretty tiny.

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: I took up acrylic painting. We moved into a home years ago and I wanted a large piece of art to hang over my sofa. I couldn’t find anything I liked that I was willing to spend that much money on, so I watched some videos and painted one for myself.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: Well, the painting referenced above is a good example. I thought I’d paint a couple of small practice pieces – inexpensive canvas boards – to get a feel for what I wanted, and then just paint the larger canvas. I spent a ton on brushes, paints, canvas and even bought an easel to help with my practice pieces. I ended up not actually ‘painting’ anything since I used a fluid pour process.

The first 8-track, record, cassette, or CD you ever bought: I honestly don't remember the exact first album I bought, but I’m pretty sure it was either the Grease soundtrack or Shaun Cassidy’s first album. I was obsessed with Grease – John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, singing, dancing...what wasn’t to love? But I also loved Shaun Cassidy from The Hardy Boys, and the minute I found out he had an album, I knew I needed it. I probably used babysitting money to buy whichever one came first.

A type of music that’s not your cup of tea: I appreciate almost all music, but classical is probably at the bottom of my list. I admire the talent it takes to create it, but I’m much more likely to sing along to a good 80s song than sit quietly and contemplate a symphony.

About Patti:

Patti Lee is a Vermont author of women’s fiction. In 2021, she signed with RockHill Publishing, and her debut novel, Between February and November, was released the following year. Her second novel, Tanya, We Have a Problem, was released in 2026.

Patti has been married since 1988 and writes about the kind of situations that can happen to anyone - the unexpected twists, challenges, relationships, and moments of humor that make up everyday life. When she’s not writing or playing with her grandkids, she works as the director of a small nonprofit, where she gets to indulge her love of spreadsheets and lists while keeping her four cats and two dogs well supplied with treats and catnip.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: pattileewriter.com

Facebook: @PattiLeeAuthorPage

#ThisorThatFriday with Paula Charles

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I’d like to welcome the amazing Paula Charles to the blog today for #ThisorThatFriday.

Favorite thing to do when you have free time: Read, walk on the beach, and spend time with our kids and grandkids.

The thing you’ll always move to the bottom of your to do list: It’s got to be dusting, or some other form of housework. I mean, I do them, but I don’t necessarily want to!

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave:  I need water, quiet, and a few decent ideas!

Things that distract you from writing: Noise! I get so distracted when there are things going on inside my house or on the street outside my window. Sometimes they do provide good story fodder, though!

Hardest thing about being a writer: It’s so exciting to launch a new book out into the world, but super nerve-wracking at the same time. You worry about readers not liking it and not connecting with the characters.  

Easiest thing about being a writer: Getting new ideas for future books. The ideas come easy, though getting them down on paper proves to be tricky at times!

Things you will run to the store for at midnight:  Ice cream, M&Ms, and tater tots

Things you never put on your shopping list: Cinnamon. (I’m highly allergic to it!)

The coolest thing you’ve bought online: A Thermacell rechargeable mosquito repeller. The mosquitos have been next level this year, but brining this little guy with us allows us to sit outside without getting eaten alive!

The thing you wished you’d never bought: I bought a pair of shoes online a couple of years ago that were supposed to be made by Earth shoes. It took them MONTHS to arrive, they definitely weren’t real Earth brand shoes, and smelled so terribly of chemicals that I dumped them in the trash about five minutes after I opened the package.

Favorite snacks: There’s a food truck that makes the best Spring Rolls with lemongrass chicken. So delicious!

Things that make you want to gag: Blue Cheese salad dressing. Just eww.

Something you wish you could do: Sing. I love music but am a terrible singer, to the point where my high school choir teacher strongly suggested I find a different elective class to take.

Something you wish you’d never learned to do: I honestly can’t think of anything. Even skills you don’t like to necessarily use are better to have than no skills at all!

Things to say to an author: I just started reading your book and can’t put it down!

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: I have a way better idea for a book than anything you’ve written so far. (Usually said by a non-reader.)

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Years ago, packing up my three kids-7, 4, and 2 – and relocating as a single mom from California to Wyoming.

Something you chickened out from doing: Jumping off a cliff into the river during our white-water rafting days.

The most exciting thing about your writing life: There’s so much to love about this life, but one of the most exciting things is meeting readers and talking books!

Best piece of advice you received from another writer:  Writing is a long game. Keep going and keep showing up for in-person events. (Said by Ellen Byron.)

Something you would tell a younger you about your writing: You can do this. You’re doing a better job than you think you are. Keep going.

About Paula:

When Paula Charles isn’t writing, you can find her reading and baking in her 125-year-old house by the sea. She is the author of the Hometown Hardware Mysteries, as well as the Zen Goat Mysteries written as Janna Rollins, both cozy mysteries. She’s a member of Sisters in Crime, and a founding member of the Murder, They Write group on Facebook. She has six grown children, and a gaggle of grandkids. Paula lives on the Washington coast with her extremely patient husband, and maybe a ghost or two.

 Let’s Be Social:

Website: Cozy Mystery Writer | Paula Charles Cozy Mystery Author

Facebook: Paula Charles Books

Murder, They Write FB Group:  Murder, They Write

Instagram:  Paula Charles Books

Writing Mixtape - Writing is Rewriting...

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Writing is More Than Putting Words on a Page. When I was young, I thought writers spent all of their days at their desks creating wonderful books, occasionally going on book tours, and celebrating their royalties.

It wasn’t until much later that I learned all that goes into writing and publishing a book. Publishing is a business.

Round One - Finish Your First Draft - Whether you’re a plotter (a planner) or a pantser (one who writes by the seat of his/her pants), you need to finish your rough draft. Do not spend hours (days, weeks, or years) editing and rewriting. Finish the draft and type “The End.” (My first book took five years to finish, and I probably rewrote each chapter at least twice.)

Round Two - “The End” is Just the Beginning - Now the real work begins.

I always print out a copy of my manuscript. It’s easier to find errors on the printed page than the screen.

Read your manuscript as a reader. Look for parts where the logic is fuzzy or for plotholes in the story. If you write mysteries, remember if you mention something several times, it needs to have a purpose. You need to tie up the loose ends (clues and red herrings) by the end.

Is your story plausible? Are there glaring mistakes like she ate lunch twice in the same day or your character’s name changed midway through the book?

When you’ve made those corrections, go back for another round as a line editor. Are there parts that need more description? Less description? Is it clear who is speaking? Did you get the facts right? Are there grammar, spelling, or punctuation problems? Are there places where the dialog or your description takes the reader out of the story? Are there overused words? Use your search feature to look for your culprits.

Read your text aloud or use your word processor’s “read aloud” feature to listen to the text. You’ll hear misused words like then/than.

Run spellchecker each time you do a round of major edits.

My “round 2” is usually eight to ten different read-throughs.

Round 3 - Get Feedback - You need to have another reader or writer read your manuscript. Find a critique partner, critique group, or beta readers. I have had all over the years, I prefer that mine like or write mysteries. They understand the conventions of the genres and subgenres. When you get the feedback back, you need to decide what you’re going to change and keep.

After all of the changes, I usually do another round of proofreading and spell checking.

After your multiple rounds of reads and edits, you’re ready to submit your manuscript to an agent or a publisher (if you are going the traditional route). Once your book is accepted, the editing and proofreading processes start again.

#WriterWednesday with Joel McKay

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I’d like to welcome Joel McKay to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Hardest thing about being a writer: Building and maintaining the discipline to write even when it’s painful.

Easiest thing about being a writer: It doesn’t require any special tools – a pencil and paper will do.

Something you’re really good at: Running public sector organizations

Something you’re really bad at: Keeping my mouth shut

The last thing you ordered online: Metal Gear Solid V The Phantom Pain

The last thing you regret buying: These hippie shorts that looked ridiculous and wound up just being cheap and too small.

Things to say to an author: I read your book.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: I don’t have time to read fiction.

Favorite places you’ve been: Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominican Republic, Yucatan Peninsula … so the Caribbean

Places you never want to go to again: Surrey. If you know, you know.

Favorite books (or genre): Stephen King books, Raymond E Feist books, Anne Rice vampire books, Stephen Graham Jones books, Susanna Clarke books

Books you wouldn’t buy: Non-English books – I don’t speak or read fluently in any other language (for now).

Favorite things to do: Hangout with my partner, hike, bike, golf, fish, swim, watch TV, read, play vids

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Sitting through long, pointless meetings

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: I paint D&D miniatures for fun … I rarely even play! I enjoy the meditative challenge of it.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: A time travel novel I got 30k words into and lost the plot. I’ll go back to it eventually.

The first 8-track, record, cassette, or CD you ever bought: The Batman Forever soundtrack on cassette.

A type of music that’s not your cup of tea: Top 40

My favorite book as a child: The Castle in the Attic by Elizabeth Winthrop

A book I’ve read more than once: Magician by Raymond E Feist

Your favorite movie as a child: Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (still is)

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult): The X-Files or The Outer Limits or Fire in the Sky

About Joel:

Joel McKay is an award-winning former journalist and author. His books include the horror comedy novella Wolf at the Door, young adult fantasy adventure The Dungeoneers and the Treasure of Roan, and the short anthology It Came From the Trees and Other Violent Aberrations. He lives in Northern British Columbia.

Let’s Be Social:

X - @joelcmckay  

LinkedIn - @joelcmckay  

Instagram - author_joel_mckay

Threads - author_joel_mckay

Website - www.joelmckay.ca

Writing Mixtape - Bullets Versus Numbered Lists

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Do you know when to use bullets versus numbered lists?

  • Use numbers when your items need to appear in sequential order. Instructions and recipes need numbers. If there is no order, then use bullets.

  • Use numbers if you are ranking items (like the Top 5 of something).

  • Use number if they mean something (like you’re listing the tracks of songs).

  • For either type of list, use a period at the end if the item is a complete sentence. If it is a sentence fragment, capitalize the first word, but do not end it with a period. Also, don’t mix sentences and fragments. Be consistent.