Can You Name a Kitten?

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, One Writer's Journal 35 Comments

They say the test of literary power is whether a man can write an inscription. I say, ‘Can he name a kitten?’  ~Samuel Butler Have you had the pleasure of naming some kittens? Maybe a dog? Or best of all, a sweet new baby in your arms? With those babies, you have months to debate the perfect name and get …

A New Book Means a New First Line

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, One Writer's Journal 22 Comments

A first line of a story is the baited hook an author hopes will catch a reader’s interest so they will want to read the second line and on and on until the last line on the last page. Some readers will check out that first line before they decide if the book is one they want to read. I’ve …

Titles, Titles, and More Titles

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, One Writer's Journal

Inspiration can appear in many places when you’re brainstorming ideas for titles. The beautiful, fragrant lilac was my inspiration for the title of my first Hollyhill book. The Scent of Lilacs. Almost until it was ready to go into print production, I had the title The Smell of Lilacs. Then I was standing behind the old bus my husband’s quartet …

The Best Gift

Ann H GabhartAnn's Posts, One Writer's Journal

My daughter and her dog, Sumo “Time is free, but it’s priceless.  You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it, you can never get it back.” (Harvey MacKay) Time – sometimes it seems there’s never enough time to get everything we need to do done. That’s …