Why I’m Writing My Way Around the Genre

TBT# I thought I’d reprint some of my more thoughtful blogposts from years past. There’s a brand new audience of writers and authors who’ve never seen them. And, by George or Georgia, they should! Hope you like this one.   Some readers read mainly one genre. Romance, for example. Or historicals. Or Sci-fi. The genres … Read more

Invite to the Virtual Signing for A Bend In The River

A Bend in the River

Hope you’ll join me. Don’t forget to register! Virtual Signing: Authors Libby Hellmann & Kent Krueger in Conversation Author Libby Hellmann is interviewed by NY Times Bestselling Author Kent Krueger about her new historical novel set during the Vietnam War. Where: Crowdcast Online When: Oct. 6, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CDT Sponsor: The Book … Read more

A Bend In The River — A Departure For Me

Hi, all, and Happy Monday. Some of you might know that in addition to Virtually Undetectable, I’ve been working on a longer historical novel set during the Vietnam War.  A Bend In The River follows the lives of two sisters whose village on the Mekong River is destroyed by American forces. They are the only … Read more

Fire Road

You can’t be an American without having strong feelings about the Vietnam War. One of the most extraordinary images from it, and one of the world’s most shocking depictions of the impact of violent conflict, is an image that, once seen, is never forgotten. It’s the famous heart-breaking photo of the eight year old “Napalm … Read more

What I’m Writing

Hi, all. I know it’s been forever since I’ve blogged– I guess I didn’t have much to say. But I’d like to fill you in on my current WIP (Work in Progress), otherwise known as the “blankety-blank manuscript.” When I started writing over twenty years ago, I challenged myself to actually finish a novel. I … Read more

Library Journal Interview & HIGH CRIMES

Hi, everyone. In addition to that lovely review from Library Journal over the weekend, I also did an interview with them that I’m just seeing now. Thought you might like to see an excerpt — with a link to the full article. Crime Fiction Master Libby Fischer Hellmann gives readers an insider’s view of American … Read more

Your Favorite First Line

You crack open a new book or click on the first page of an ebook. You’re greeted by that all-important first line. Does it make your heart sink or soar? As every author knows, that first sentence gives you the opportunity to hook your readers. Provided you’ve crafted the sentence the reader knows something is … Read more

Biographies, Autobiographies and Ghostwriters

Bruce Springsteen’s autobiography is due out in September 2016. Fans of The Boss can’t wait for the release of Born to Run on September 27th. It’s fully expected to be an international bestseller, and the rights have already been sold all over the planet. Simon and Schuster should score a massive hit. But what makes … Read more

Girl Heroes Shatter The Literary Glass Ceiling

World Book Day is an annual event organized by UNESCO during March or April, depending where you live. It’s designed to be a global celebration of everything to do with books and reading. Prior to this year’s celebrations, a poll of memorable children’s novel characters, created to mark the big day, saw female heroines and … Read more

Print Books: Paying It Forward

Print books are enjoying a revival, some say. So what’s up with that? Print has been the poor cousin as the digital revolution looked set to change the way we consume literature. But ebooks didn’t kill print after all, just as video didn’t kill the movies, and TV didn’t kill radio. Some people have always valued the … Read more