Cortney Pearson's Blog, page 12

How To Establish Mystery

I attended a workshop with Cheryl Klein a few years ago on plot. Cheryl Klein is one of the editors for the Harry Potter books, so when I heard she was presenting I jumped at the chance to go--even though it was 2 1/2 hours away and I was eight months pregnant at the time. Yes, I traveled against my doctor's wishes to attend this workshop, and guess what? IT WAS WORTH IT. And my baby is two years old now and everything is fine. Ha ha.

One of my favorite points Cheryl mentioned was the need to...

How To Write Suspense

Anyone who knows me well knows I'm a total wuss. I really don't like to watch scary movies or shows or read that style of book because it's too real to me. The images stick and I can't shake them off. Especially when I'm home alone late at night--and not even alone alone, but the last one up? My mind takes the wheel and drives me down Elm Street!

And yet I wrote a super creepy YA horror novel! My intent with Phobic was to have a story for readers who, like me, like a little bit of creepy but n...

12 Days of Christmas Book Blitz - Day #1

On the First Day of Christmas My True Love Read To me...

I'm so excited to be a part of this event! Loving the Book Launch has organized 12 fabulous, clean Christmas stories to read during this festive season! Don't they look delicious?


To kick off this event, I'm featuring Tamara Passey's The Christmas Tree Keeper.

Though Angela Donovan is out of work and needs money for rent, she yearns for her eight-year-old daughter to have a carefree holiday. The last thing she wants is the pressure of her...

CHRISTMAS BASH!! Giveaway for FREE BOOKS and $10 Amazon Gift Card!

Hello, all!! I'm so excited to be part of a fabulous Christmas Bash on Talina Roma's blog. Come check out my interview to find out how I overcome writer's block, and what my favorite part of the holidays are.

And you won't want to miss out on this YUMMY CHRISTMAS RECIPE that my mom makes every year. Love these. Plus--healthy AND delicious...

The interview is HERE.

And along with the Bash, PHOBIC is also part of a giveaway with so many other fabulous authors. Check them out here, and enter to win...

A Random Act of Kindness

Yesterday my heart was touched. This woman probably  had no idea I was watching her. But I was truly touched by her simple act of kindness.

Let me set the stage first.

I love the first snowfall of the year. (Here, play this song as you read. What can I say, I hardly ever make it until Thanksgiving before listening to Christmas music...)



It's been snowing. I love the way the snow hushes everything, how calm and peaceful, the muted beauty snow brings as it falls. And this was day 2 of that f...

Cover Reveal and $20 Amazon Giftcard Giveaway--Coincidence By Danette Hansen

I'm so excited--my good friend Danette Hansen is publishing her first book November 20. A historical mystery called COINCIDENCE.





Annaliese VanLuyk soon discovers there's more than a hidden doily dating to World War II in this old Dutch house. It also contains a family mystery and she’s the only one who can solve it. Unfortunately this isn’t how her time in Netherlands is supposed to be spent. She’s here to be involved in the Plant Research Program at Wageningen University. 
With...

PHOBIC Halloween SALE!!

✫ Sometimes a house...isn't just a house. ✫

PHOBIC is on sale for 0.99 until Halloween. It's a clean, creepy read, perfect for readers who like spooky stories but don't want hard-core horror! Happy Halloween!!

GET IT HERE!

Amazon Kindle | Nook | iTunes | Kobo 

Soulless By Crystal Collier

The Soulless are coming...



I'm so excited to participate in Crystal Collier's tour for her YA paranormal historical SOULLESS. Check out the book, and be sure to enter the giveaway!

Title: SOULLESSAuthor: Crystal Collier
Publisher: Raybourne PublishingSeries: Maiden of Time, #2Publication: October 13th, 2014Category: Young Adult (YA)
Genre: Paranormal Historical

Alexia manipulated time to save the man of her dreams, and lost her best friend to red-eyed wraiths. St...

Striving for Excellence

Last night I had the privilege of seeing The Piano Guys at BYU-Idaho.



What a terrific show! First off, I LOVE their music. I was constantly wowed throughout. Steve and Jon were hilarious, their banter was fun. Steve can do some impressive things with all those cellos of his, and Jon was equally amazing on the piano. At one point he even turned around and played UPSIDE DOWN.

Night. Made!



During Steve's solo set he asked how many kids in the audience were learning to play an instrument. Several cl...

HALLOWEEN GIVEAWAY!

Every year I can never decide which holiday I like better--Halloween or Christmas.

When it's October it's Halloween.

And then December comes around and whaddya know, I like Christmas better, lol.

Bur right now, I'm LOVING Halloween. My house is decked out, skull-head lights dangling across our kitchen, pumpkins and other goodies elsewhere, and the kids and I are looking forward to dressing up!

In honor of the upcoming trick-or-treat, costume, spooky creepfest holiday, (and as part of Rachel Schie...