When I meet other aspiring authors, I often get asked questions about improving one’s writing. I can share a little bit, but like anything in life, we’re always learning and growing. So, I’m always reading or listening to resources on writing. Perhaps one of the best resources, especially for new authors, is Brandon Sanderson’s lectureContinue reading “Writing Resources -Brandon Sanderson”
Category Archives: K. M. Wray
A Sneak Peek: Excerpt from Chapter Two
Here’s a second peek into my latest Work-in-Progress. This scene takes place in chapter two, which introduces you to Keira’s workplace (a bakery), her colleague, Michelle, and boss, Steve. The reader and Keira get a glimpse of a beast? a shifter? or something else that’s been attacking the city. He has his eyes on KeiraContinue reading “A Sneak Peek: Excerpt from Chapter Two”
Book Review: Blood and Buttercups -A Vampire’s Guide to Gardening by Shari Tapscott
I’m not sure how I stumbled across this book, but I’m so thankful I did. It is urban fantasy, the romance is clean, and the story line is interesting. I do confess there is a slight cliff hanger at the end that has nothing to do with the main story, but left me with myContinue reading “Book Review: Blood and Buttercups -A Vampire’s Guide to Gardening by Shari Tapscott”
A Sneak Peek: Excerpt from Chapter 1
Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time working on a new series. If you read my newsletter, then you’ve heard hints. I don’t want to give too much away just yet, but thought I’d share an excerpt from the first chapter. It’s a moment between the main character, Keira, and her grandma. Keira hasContinue reading “A Sneak Peek: Excerpt from Chapter 1”
This Meet That: Genre Blending in Modern Fiction
Consider a recent book you’ve read. Did it feel like a mix of genres? Perhaps there was a romance story mixed in with an adventure. Or maybe a sci-fi with a touch of western (think Firefly). Genre blending or genre mixing is a term used a lot with fiction. It’s pretty common to see blurbsContinue reading “This Meet That: Genre Blending in Modern Fiction”
Naming Characters: Building Worlds with Meaningful Names
It seems like an obvious enough title. And it’s true, each character in a book does have a name that connects them to something. In a previous post, I spoke about how I like to choose names for characters. One of biggest things I do is pick a name that has a meaning that matchesContinue reading “Naming Characters: Building Worlds with Meaningful Names”
Twilight Realm Series Finale: A Satisfying Conclusion
The last book in The Twilight Realm series was released earlier this year. It brings the series to a satisfying conclusion and brings all the characters together. While it is an easy conclusion to assume that the story was about everyone being strong. The theme was a bit more complex. A big part of theContinue reading “Twilight Realm Series Finale: A Satisfying Conclusion”
The Human Approach: Connecting the Reader with the Main Character
About two decades ago I attended a writing class where the teacher said the main character needs to be larger than life but also relatable. Since then, I’ve read numerous books on writing and they all say something similar. Main characters are the center of the narrative because essentially, the story wouldn’t happen without them.Continue reading “The Human Approach: Connecting the Reader with the Main Character”
Creating Believable Character Trouble and Redemption
It is said that the author’s job is to make trouble for their characters. And then the character must find their way out of the mess to become the hero. It is also said that the reader must care about the character. So now the author has a delicate balance. The author wants to makeContinue reading “Creating Believable Character Trouble and Redemption”
Twilight’s Princess: A Compelling Love Story in the Night Realm
SPOILER ALERT: If you haven’t read Twilight’s Princess and you don’t like spoilers, wait to read. In a previous blog, I mentioned that the whole inspiration for Twilight’s Princess actually came from her daughter, Nazira. I imagined King Phoenix’s niece coming to the Twilight Realm confused and upset because she just learned that her father,Continue reading “Twilight’s Princess: A Compelling Love Story in the Night Realm”