April 2020 Around the Web

It’s been an interesting month, hasn’t it? If you’re like me, you’re getting a little tired of hearing about the virus, however, that was the big news this month, so many of the blog posts reflected it – even those about writing.

INSPIRATION:

If you’re like us and struggling to figure out how to connect with your Sunday School/Bible Study members during this stay-at-home period, “How to Set Up a Remote Bible Study” on the Tyndale site has some ideas.

It’s okay to feel down and just plain yucky during this time. But… “Choosing Honesty and Hope for the Difficult Days” on author Beth Vogt’s blog, provides…well, honesty and hope.

“Meeting God in the Garden: Planting” on Sarah Geringer’s blog is an excerpt from her book Newness of Life, but as a gardener, I enjoyed its gardening tips and analogies to life.

READING:

Earlier this month, I reviewed the newest release from Lisa Harris, The Traitor’s Pawn, so I thought you might enjoy this interview with the author, “The Traitor’s Pawn by Lisa Harris” on The Big Thrill blog.

In case you agree with C. S. Lewis when he said “You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me”, you might want to take a look at “Not One to Read in Bed!” on Annika Perry’s blog.

I love book covers. How about you? “Indie Cover Art & Book News” on Relz Reviewz shows off some wonderful upcoming books from indie and small press authors.

Dig deeper to learn who your character is and why he does what he does. That’s the point of “What I Learned About Writing By Traveling the World” on The Strand Magazine’s site.

We aren’t the best judges of our stories, so critique partners are that first line of defense in putting out our best work. If you’re looking for someone to work with, check out “A Critique Partner Checklist” from Bob Hostetler on the Steve Laube Agency blog.

“The Pandemic Invades Fiction – Is it a Game Changer?” on the Kill Zone blog is a different take on current events as it pertains to our stories. Would you write or buy one of these books?

Have you noticed a change in your book sales since the lockdown orders? I found “How Reader Behavior Is Changing During the COVID-19 Crisis” on the BookBub blog to provide some interesting insight.

In researching my books, I often use the Library of Congress site for original articles, maps, and photographs. It’s a tremendous asset for historical writers. On April 24, the LOC celebrated the 220th anniversary of its original establishment. I’ve never been to the library, but as you’ll see in this video, oh my, what beauty in this building built in 1897! It reminds me of Elizabeth Camden’s novel, Beyond All Dreams.