Useful Money Lessons You Can Share with Your Kids

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Useful Money Lessons You Can Share with Your Kids

I’m wrapping up editing my lyrical children’s book Scruffy Muffin Loses His Money. It’s a project I’ve been working on with my kids as a way to help them learn about all the different things you can do with money. They created most of the story. I took what they told me and put it in rhyming form.

This summer, we will be writing a second Scruffy Muffin book. As a fun way to start thinking about what will happen to Scruffy Muffin and his money in this new adventure, I decided we would do a fun financial literacy project where I ask my kids various questions about money and record their answers.

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7 Popular Ways to Market Your Books for Free and How I'm Using Them

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7 Popular Ways to Market Your Books for Free and How I'm Using Them

Earlier this year, my friend K. Kris Loomis wrote a great post about the results of her book marketing experiment and whether or not you can successfully promote your book on a tight budget. She inspired me to conduct a book marketing experiment of my own.

After running several unsuccessful Amazon ads and feeling like I was wasting my money. I decided to get back to basics and try marketing my book for free. I'm only about a month into the process of marketing my book using free methods, but my sales are already increasing and I’ve found a new excitement around marketing my book.

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7 Elements to Watch for as You Edit Your Own Novel

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7 Elements to Watch for as You Edit Your Own Novel

Guest post by Rachelle Rea Cobb, Author & Editor

You lean back in your chair, fingers sore from typing so long. You just finished your novel, and you bask for a moment in the glow of accomplishment. Whether your first novel or your fifteenth, the sense of having done something few others do, tell a meaningful story, is something to celebrate.

But then what?

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5 Key Questions to Ask Your Beta Readers

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5 Key Questions to Ask Your Beta Readers

I’m getting ready to publish my first novel and it definitely wouldn’t be the story it is today without the help of my amazing beta readers! Beta readers are usually avid readers that are willing to take the time and effort to give you constructive feedback on your story. They can be fellow writers, have a special expertise, or just enjoy the genre you write.

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Your Author Business: Tax Tips for Canadian Writers and Authors

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Your Author Business: Tax Tips for Canadian Writers and Authors

There are a few basic things every author or freelance writer should consider. I know, I know, it’s not tax season and nobody wants to think about taxes right now, but the accountant in me is here to tell you it’s incredibly important to pay attention to your business at all times of the year. This goes for any business, not just writers and authors.

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What I Learned About Writing from Reading Books by Greg Iles

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What I Learned About Writing from Reading Books by Greg Iles

Greg Iles is one of my favourite authors right now. I remember the day I was first introduced to his work. I was in my office and a colleague from down the hall came and asked me if I read. I thought it was a strange question, who doesn’t read? I answered, “Yes”, and she asked me if I wanted her copy of Turning Angel by Greg Iles. I said sure and then freaked out a little.

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Gayle Roberts' Best Classic Lasagna Recipe

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Gayle Roberts' Best Classic Lasagna Recipe

I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m talking about lasagna here on my author blog. Lasagna was one of my favourite foods growing up, so I couldn’t resist making it one of the comfort foods for my protagonist, Cynthia Webber, in Murder Audit.

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Murder Audit Chapter 2: When the Snow Falls

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Murder Audit Chapter 2: When the Snow Falls

I'm super excited to share Chapter 2 from my debut novel Murder Audit. Here you get to meet my protagonist, Cynthia Webber, CPA. If you missed Chapter 1, you can read it here.

Cynthia Webber stood in her dimly lit kitchen, looking out the window into the darkness. She watched the snow gently fall in the backyard which was lit only by the light at the back door. She cradled a cup of tea with both hands. The snow looked beautiful as it danced in the light. The weather reminded her of her son’s second birthday. That day, the snow had been falling for only about an hour when, Jason, knowing how much his in-laws disliked winter driving, offered to give them a ride so they could enjoy their grandson’s birthday, despite the weather.

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