Shortly after Avalon Books published my debut novel, the sale of Avalon to Amazon’s imprints was announced and finalized. This was my short farewell to my editor, Lia Brown. For most of us, losing an editor is one trauma we don’t anticipate. In my case, I found an editor and a publisher in one year and […]
Men in Uniform – Repost
This article appeared a few weeks before Wait a Lonely Lifetime, my debut novel, hit the libraries and online booksellers. Amazon Publishing had already purchased Avalon and my career as a published author was already on shaky ground. March 23, 2012 The forthcoming publication of my debut novel, Wait a Lonely Lifetime, with Avalon Books calls […]
Expectations 101
“Have no expectations. Have no disappointments.” – Often heard advice. “Do you mind if I do?” – Right response. Expectation is a powerful tool in a writer’s career. Without expectation of finishing the book, of finding readers, of publishing, of putting words on the page even if no one reads them and a host of other […]
Writing Ambitions (reposted from Avalon Authors)
I must have been all of three when I told my first story. Those few babbled words started an addiction I’ve never been able to shake, no matter how often I told myself that writing was not going to happen. No matter how often someone else told me not to be ridiculous. No matter who […]
What I Learned from Helen Keller and My Father
My introduction to the life story of Helen Keller was through the film, The Miracle Worker. With the help of the acting brilliance of Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke, I watched the impaired little girl transform not only herself but her family and teacher by her determination to overcome the loss of sight and hearing […]
What’s So Great About Teachers?
I’ve posted my monthly blog at Avalon Authors. This month I’m writing about the teachers who inspired me. Who were your inspirations? Did one teacher change your life?
Wait a Lonely Lifetime – Paperback
Wait a Lonely Lifetime is now available in paperback from Montlake. You can take a peek inside and read the first review. If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area in October, save this date:
Pareto and the Published Writer
Why social media isn’t the magic bullet for self-epublished authors This article refers to the Pareto Principle: (Wikipedia): “The Pareto principle (also known as the 80–20 rule, the law of the vital few, and the principle of factor sparsity) states that, for many events, roughly 80% of the” whole is 20% of the profit/problem/solution/etc. The […]
USToday Interview: Update
Here is the direct link to the interview: http://books.usatoday.com/happyeverafter/post/2012-05-24/leigh-verrill-rhys-interview-wait-a-lonely-lifetime/700618/1 Thank you to everyone who has read Wait a Lonely Lifetime and commented! SO glad you have enjoyed the story of Sylviana and Eric. Don’t forget the excerpt recordings on previous blogs. All the best, Leigh
Dumbest Things I’ve Done as a Writer
You see a lot of advice around about mistakes you must avoid, rules for writing not to break or rules to follow. My personal favorite is Elmore Leonard’s 10 Rules of Writing because it is not so much a list of commandments as a declaration of independence. I read 10 Rules of Writing in the […]