Author Archives: fairysockmother

Unknown's avatar

About fairysockmother

I am a Harper Voyager, UK author. Among Wolves, the first in an adult fantasy trilogy was released 2015. Grim Tidings followed in 2016 and Before Winter concluded the series in 2018! I have 31 traditionally published children's books including: the Abby and the Book Bunch series and a 2 Readers' Theater series both published through Magic Wagon, a division of the ABDO Group, at www.abdopublishing.com. My first picture book, "The Christmas Cats" was released by Pelican Publishing in 2011. I reviewed YA material for VOYA magazine for almost 28 years. Follow my blog at www.FairySockmother.com or visit my website: www.nancykwallace.com I can be found at nancyk.wallace on Instagram.

Critiques

Posted on September 19, 2011 by fairysockmother

We all like to feel we’ve written the perfect manuscript, but it’s always better to get a second opinion. When you are immersed in the creative process, it’s hard to spot inconsistencies in your own work. Readers will find the holes in … Continue reading →

Posted in Storytelling, Uncategorized, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Cliffhangers

Posted on September 10, 2011 by fairysockmother

Cliffhangers keep your reader interested. A micro-cliffhanger at the end of each chapter makes your book hard to put down. It yanks the reader into the story and holds him there. When a chapter ends with urgency or uncertainty, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Storytelling, Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

And the Title is…

Posted on September 3, 2011 by fairysockmother

Great titles keep leaping out at me from the oddest places this week! I’ve stockpiled eight of them since Monday! They hint at new mysteries, fantasies, fairytales, and picture books. They are like a diving board into a pool of infinite possibilities. Characters … Continue reading →

Posted in Storytelling | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Which Comes First: Plot or Characters?

Posted on August 27, 2011 by fairysockmother

It is amazing how little it takes to spark the concept for a story or a novel. Sometimes a simple conversation or a news story makes me wonder, what if, and I’m off plotting some new project.  More often, it is a casual meeting with … Continue reading →

Posted in Storytelling | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Wordsmiths

Posted on August 20, 2011 by fairysockmother

I love the term “wordsmith.” It implies a level of expertise and creativity that we, as writers, crave. It means never settling for less than the right word in every sentence. There is more to it than selecting the correct word; it … Continue reading →

Posted in Storytelling, Writing | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Technology and Writing

Posted on August 14, 2011 by fairysockmother

The first time I submitted a children’s book I had to ask my aunt to type the manuscipt for me. Thank heavens, I got a computer soon after that. I can’t even imagine writing a novel on a typewriter. I tweak my manuscripts … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Multitasking

Posted on August 13, 2011 by fairysockmother

I am working on three writing projects and reading two books at the same time. My conversational ability has begun to suffer with my mind awash in characters, plots, and settings. If you ask me a question, please excuse my … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Writers and Ivory Towers

Posted on August 5, 2011 by fairysockmother

Sometimes writers crave isolation – peace and quiet to work undisturbed – but I often find my best insights come from interaction with lots of people and places. While I may secretly long for an ivory tower, it is only … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Writing Process

Posted on July 30, 2011 by fairysockmother

My stories first emerge on junk mail, paper napkins, the margins of bulletins from church or theater programs. To begin with they are isolated bits of dialogue, plots, description, or the name of a truly awesome character. Then, like puzzle pieces they start to … Continue reading →

Posted in Storytelling, Writing | 1 Comment

Summer Morning

Posted on July 27, 2011 by fairysockmother

It’s blissfully cool and quiet this morning. There are three pale yellow water lilies in the pond and a green frog, no bigger than a quarter, blinking in the water mint. Overhead, a small red squirrel stuffs his cheeks with mulberries! It’s hard … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment