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Troubleshooting Your Novel: Essential Techniques for Identifying and Solving Manuscript Problems
368 pages, Paperback
Published April 21, 2026
About the author
Steven James
141 books1,771 followersSteven James is the award-winning, critically acclaimed author of twenty novels and numerous books on the craft of novel writing, including the new release, DELVE, PIVOT, PROPEL, which explores revolutionary new approaches to fiction writing. With a master's degree in storytelling, James teaches writing worldwide and has appeared on five continents telling stories and teaching storytelling at over 2000 appearances.
His latest Young Adult horror novel, RIFT, is the first in a new trilogy that takes place in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. James lives in Eastern Tennessee and loves watching sci-fi movies, playing basketball, and eating chicken fajitas—although not all at the same time.
James has been penning smart, taut thrillers that actually thrill, since 2007, when his acclaimed psychological suspense novel, THE PAWN, released.
If you love stories and storytelling, check out his podcast, The Story Blender, on which he has interviewed nearly 200 of the world's top writers and storytellers.
His latest Young Adult horror novel, RIFT, is the first in a new trilogy that takes place in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. James lives in Eastern Tennessee and loves watching sci-fi movies, playing basketball, and eating chicken fajitas—although not all at the same time.
James has been penning smart, taut thrillers that actually thrill, since 2007, when his acclaimed psychological suspense novel, THE PAWN, released.
If you love stories and storytelling, check out his podcast, The Story Blender, on which he has interviewed nearly 200 of the world's top writers and storytellers.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 27, 2025
This is one of those books where you tell yourself you’ll stop after one chapter…and then you don’t.
I picked up Haunted by a Broken Oath expecting a solid mystery and ended up completely sucked in. The story moves fast, the tension keeps building, and I never felt like I could relax while reading it.
JD Wolfe is the kind of character who feels real right away—tough, stubborn, and clearly carrying a lot of baggage. I liked her, but more than that, I cared about what happened to her, which made the danger feel personal.
Every clue seemed to raise the stakes instead of answering questions, and more than once I had to say, “Okay…that’s not what I expected.”
I was on the fence about the paranormal angle, but it honestly ended up being one of my favorite parts. The ghost isn’t there just to be spooky—she actually matters, and she adds an emotional layer that made the story hit harder.
By the time I finished, I felt that mix of satisfaction and frustration that only comes from a really good read—satisfied because the story delivers, frustrated because now I want more.
If you like thrillers that keep you hooked, have a strong lead, and don’t play it safe, this one is absolutely worth reading.
I picked up Haunted by a Broken Oath expecting a solid mystery and ended up completely sucked in. The story moves fast, the tension keeps building, and I never felt like I could relax while reading it.
JD Wolfe is the kind of character who feels real right away—tough, stubborn, and clearly carrying a lot of baggage. I liked her, but more than that, I cared about what happened to her, which made the danger feel personal.
Every clue seemed to raise the stakes instead of answering questions, and more than once I had to say, “Okay…that’s not what I expected.”
I was on the fence about the paranormal angle, but it honestly ended up being one of my favorite parts. The ghost isn’t there just to be spooky—she actually matters, and she adds an emotional layer that made the story hit harder.
By the time I finished, I felt that mix of satisfaction and frustration that only comes from a really good read—satisfied because the story delivers, frustrated because now I want more.
If you like thrillers that keep you hooked, have a strong lead, and don’t play it safe, this one is absolutely worth reading.
March 8, 2026
It’s exciting to try a new author. I’d not read anything by Dee Armstrong before. I do like private investigator stories. Sleuthing is fun to do while I’m reading. A female protagonist also interests me. I got both in PI JD Wolfe.
JD had a lot of baggage. She wore some of it like armor. Aggressive and impulsive. She grew on me. I enjoyed how she tagged people. Godzilla Kong and Creepy Diner Guy. The names fit. She even had one for the ghost who’d been haunting her ever since her mother’s death. She called her the Woman.
JD had to finally accept the Woman wasn’t going away and actually started to prove useful. It’s intriguing to think of a ghost as being kind of a friend. Not sure I’d want that for myself though.
As JD got deeper into the investigation, it almost felt like the Wild West. There were some very quirky characters. Some were quite dangerous. It had an air of lawlessness. That sure added to the action and suspense.
I’ve become a fan of JD and the Woman and want to read more about them. I had a lot of fun and sure hope this is part of a series.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
JD had a lot of baggage. She wore some of it like armor. Aggressive and impulsive. She grew on me. I enjoyed how she tagged people. Godzilla Kong and Creepy Diner Guy. The names fit. She even had one for the ghost who’d been haunting her ever since her mother’s death. She called her the Woman.
JD had to finally accept the Woman wasn’t going away and actually started to prove useful. It’s intriguing to think of a ghost as being kind of a friend. Not sure I’d want that for myself though.
As JD got deeper into the investigation, it almost felt like the Wild West. There were some very quirky characters. Some were quite dangerous. It had an air of lawlessness. That sure added to the action and suspense.
I’ve become a fan of JD and the Woman and want to read more about them. I had a lot of fun and sure hope this is part of a series.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
February 16, 2026
This is is a fast-paced paranormal thriller that follows PI JD Wolfe as she investigates a suspicious death and the disappearance of two boys. With secrets from her past still haunting her, JD must deal with dark secrets while battling her own. If you like PI thrillers you’ll enjoy this one
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews