Zan Marie Steadham's Blog: In the Shade of the Cherry Tree, page 17

August Mini Book Review Week--Emily Giffin, Barbara O'Neal, Lind Yezak

I have only three new books for you this month, but because I'm slowly rereading Diana Gabaldon's WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART'S BLOOD and devouring the details I missed in my first headlong read. That's a testimony to a great book, don't you think? ;-)
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WHERE WE BELONG Emily Giffin--Women's Fiction

Giffin has written a poignant tale of the unintended consequences that a couple of teens set in motion with their explorations of each other. Every choice Marian ma...

August Tips Week: Structuring A Story

All stories must have structure. At least that's what all the craft books say. ;-)

And this is a time when what everyone says is true. Think about trying to figure out a "story" that just meanders from one event to another without any purpose in the telling. It's annoying. So, in the interest of story structure, I thought I'd share three new sources of info I've found in the last few weeks.


Story Spine Check out the full post HERE. This one excited me so much that I turned right around and did a...

A Poem and an Update on FRIENDLY FIRE

SourceI'm enjoying sharing my poetry on the snips and poetry weeks here In the Shade. Since my focus is on fiction at the moment, poetry is an occasional occupation for me. The poem has to jump out of my brain and demand to be written to get my attention. Here's one that will probably find itself in the fourth Cherry Hill book...if I ever get to it. ;-) It came to me in bits and pieces in a dream. I could hear it said by a particular character from my Cherry Hill stories. Talk about being eer...

Character Traits: Why Does Laura Grace Bake?

The characters who stick in our minds the most are the ones who have identifiable actions and traits that are unique to them in the story. Some characters run their hands through their hair when upset or worried. Others fiddle with their glasses. Finding the right trait for a character is as important as their name and more important than hair and eye color.

A writer has to ask themselves: what makes my main character stand out? I got lucky with FRIENDLY FIRE'S main character--Laura Grace Chan...

Author Interview--Normandie Fischer

 I heard about Normandie Fischer’s debut book through the Women’s Fiction Writers Association Loop in 2013 and I love both of her books. She has a fresh voice and her characters are real people full of realistic life that springs off the page. Check out her website HERE and you’ll find a multifaceted person in her own right. Besides writing, Normandie is a talented sculptor. 
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With her days chock full - designing jewelry for the shop she co-own...

Mini Book Reviews: D. Benton Frank, P. Callahan Henry, L. Penny, K. White

Writers are told that the first thing they should do to prepare to write is to read. No one can accuse me of skimping on that step. ;-)



SULLIVAN'S ISLAND Dorothy Benton Frank--Women's Fiction
I haven't read any of Benton Frank's books before and I will definitely seek out her other titles after reading Sullivan's Island. This book is a pitch-perfect rendering of the Lowcountry of South Carolina and the author's deft weaving of Susan Hamilton Hayes' live in 1963 and 1999 is a story to remember f...

Setting--World Building Shouldn't be a Stumbling Block...

...but for many writers it is. I'll admit to having to learn how to physically plant my stories. I'm a dialogue first sort of writer. Setting has been one of those craft items that I've had to seek information about and make myself practice. ;-)

Instead of summarizing another blogger's post, I reblogged a great one. Here's Charlotte Rains Dixion's "Build Your Fictional World" from June 28. Charlotte is a writing teacher and coach, free-lance journalist, ghost writer and author. Her debut novel...

Poems and Snips Week

July comes in the Tuesday the first and I had to find a bit of my own words for you.

Here's a favorite poem to go with the season of gardening and in honor of my very own gardening guru, my hubby. ;-)

 Hidden Timber

Hidden timber,
Bones of a flowerbed,
Limiting untamed growth;
Producing Flowers and Beauty;
Roots directed, and
Guided deep.

Hidden man,
Bones of the soul within,
Limiting untamed whim;
Producing Honor and Courage;
Strength directed, and
Guided deep.

--Zan Marie Steadham
April 5, 2009

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Author Interview: Elle Druskin

I met Elle Druskin at my favorite online writing hangout—the Books and Writers Forum. She’s a great friend and a wonderful writer. Check out her website for “a little mystery, a touch of humor, and dash of romance.”

Elle writes humorous romance and I promise you’ve never met a more intriguing and fun cast of characters then those who populate her Liberty Heights (NJ) series.



Here’s the blurb from the latest Liberty Heights installment that published June 20--Wait Watchers.

Straight laced litera...

Mini Book Reveiws!

I love letting y'all know about some great reads. Enjoy the mini book review.

BLACK AND BLUE Anna Quindlen--Women's Fiction

Quindlen shows her talent for getting deep into her characters with BLACK AND BLUE. It's a harrowing story of an abused wife who finally finds a measure of peace. This is a serious read, but its unvarnished look at a great social ill of our day deserves to be read and shared.





 THE PIRATE'S SECRET BABY Darlene Marshall--historical romance

Darlene Marshall has another sma...