Linda K. Sienkiewicz's Blog

Contemporary romance and contemporary women's fiction Colleen Nye dishes on the inspiration for her numerous award-winning books.

The post What, Why, How with Detroit based romance author Author Colleen Nye appeared first on Linda K Sienkiewicz.

Many once-common phrases—like “Truth be told” or “Little did they know”—can make your fiction sound dated and lifeless. Learn which antiquated lines to cut and how to replace them with fresh, character-driven writing that feels real and modern.

The post At the end of the day, ditch the dated language appeared first on Linda K Sienkiewicz.

I accidentally shut down an entire car wash because I couldn’t figure out the neutral on my new Buick’s Electronic Precision Shift (EPS) shifter. Here’s my tale of confusion, panic, and foam.

The post How I Shut Down a Car Wash Thanks to Buick’s Electronic Precision Shift (EPS) appeared first on Linda K Sienkiewicz.

When you buy books from Bookshop.org, your local bookstore also gets paid, instead of the giant online seller that's funding a ballroom for the White House

The post Because Bookstores, and you, Deserve Better Than Ballrooms appeared first on Linda K Sienkiewicz.

A marketer sent an effusive email praising my book only to pitch a paid service to “connect me with readers who matter.” The experience left me reflecting on how easily a writer’s longing for validation can be exploited under the guise of flattery.

The post Book Marketing Scams: When Praise Comes with a Price appeared first on Linda K Sienkiewicz.

Did you know 97% of books started are never finished? Here are tips from best-selling author Jacquelyn Mitchard on what might be bogging you down and how to actually finish what you started.

The post How to finish the damn book: Advice from Jacquelyn Mitchard appeared first on Linda K Sienkiewicz.

Leigh Stein wrote a mystery without a murder. My subconscious added one anyway. A writer’s reflection on books, TV, and the stories we dream.

The post How Leigh Stein’s Murderless Mystery Sparked My Murder Dream appeared first on Linda K Sienkiewicz.

I learned that I'm five marriages and a brother way from Vincent van Gogh. We are actually related, in a distant, cousin-y kind of way, plus we're both artists.

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Step inside the glittering world of To Chase the Glowing Hours, Katherine Kirkpatrick’s historical novel set in 1920s England and Egypt. Inspired by the discovery of King Tut’s tomb at Highclere Castle and Howard Carter’s excavation, the story explores love, loss, privilege, and self-discovery.

The post From Highclere to King Tut: The Story Behind Katherine Kirkpatrick’s historical novel appeared first on Linda K Sienkiewicz.

My sewing story began with my grandmother, carried through my mother, and now continues with my granddaughter. This 1976 Kenmore—gifted to me when I married—has stitched its way through four generations. Even as JoAnn Fabrics closes its doors, the tradition of sewing lives on in families, communities, and a new generation of makers.

The post From Treadle to Kenmore: A Family Sewing Legacy That Outlasts JoAnn Fabrics appeared first on Linda K Sienkiewicz.