Jennifer Niven's Blog, page 559

Behind the Book — Taking Notes

"Don't burn over criticism. Stand up to it like a man." – Carole Lombard One of the most important things you can learn as a writer is to take notes. I don't mean dictation– I mean the editorial notes you will get, at some point in your career, from your editor, your agent, your publisher, [...]

Behind the Book — Day One

So I'm going to try something new. It's called: Take the Reader Along with Me on the Writing Journey, or I Refuse to Sit Here and Do it Alone. As I start work on my next book, I'm going to attempt to post something every weekday, even if it's only a paragraph, or maybe even [...]

The Next Book — Day One

So I'm going to try something new. It's called: Take the Reader Along with Me on the Writing Journey, or I Refuse to Sit Here and Do it Alone. As I start work on my next book, I'm going to attempt to post something every day, even if it's only a paragraph, or maybe even [...]

Velva Jean giveaway week two winners!

Congratulations to the winners of the Velva Jean Learns to Drive book, movie, and CD! The following two people won a personally inscribed copy of the book, CD, and a DVD copy of the Emmy Award-winning short film that started me on the Velva Jean journey all those years ago : Terri McJunkin Tiffany Drew [...]

Velva Jean giveaway week three winners!

Congratulations to the winners of the complete Velva Jean package, which includes the Velva Jean Learns to Drive book, movie, and CD, and a copy of the brand new sequel, Velva Jean Learns to Fly! The following two people won personally inscribed copies of both books, the CD, and a DVD copy of the Emmy [...]

Velva Jean grand prize giveaway winner!

Congratulations to the winner of the 8GB iPod Nano and complete Velva Jean package, which includes the Velva Jean Learns to Drive book, movie, and CD, and a copy of the brand new sequel, Velva Jean Learns to Fly! Corey Mesler won the iPod, personally inscribed copies of both books, the CD, and a DVD [...]

The Boys of My Dreams (or: I Was Almost a Rock Star Detective)

I got the scrapbook for my tenth birthday—a large spiral-bound book with a groovy green cover.  On the front, there was a cartoon drawing of a girl with daisies in her hair, wearing a daisy ye

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A Veterans Day Letter from 1944

I was the only grandchild on my dad's side.  These were the things I knew about my grandparents (two of my very favorite people ever):  Cleo, my grandmama, loved to take me shopping for c

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Combining Finances, Combining Lives

Last September, I met Louis. From our first date, I felt at home with him. Within a few months, we were living together. My cats are now "our" cats. His friends are my friends and vice-versa.

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Why Writing a Book is Like Buying a House

Recently, I received an e-mail from one of my best friends, who has just purchased his first house.  It occurred to me, while reading it, that there are some striking similarities between what

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