Words and Fun

Advice from Lucy Leaf

Troubling question about words and things? Or just need a bit of advice? Ask Lucy!

Author Interviews

Read what authors have to say about writing, reading, and strange things they have on their desks.

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Guest Posts and Book Reviews

Authors are always welcome to post cool stuff about their writing journey and other book tidbits.

Scroll down the page for Book Reviews.

Spilling the Tea

As I’m sure you all know, my sister, Betsy Bean, had a wildly successful advice column for a coffee company. However, I noticed one significant problem. Her column was all about coffee (and probably way too much focus on Irish cream).

with Lucy Leaf

I’d like to share what’s been brewing in the back of my head for “oolong” time. Of course, no one can “matcha” Betsy’s way with words, but I’m going to give it a try. So sit back, grab a cup of your favorite tea, and let’s solve some problems!

Excessive Alliteration Nay or Yay?

Ask Lucy! Dear Lucy, I love excessive alliteration, okay maybe just a healthy dose of alliteration. But why is it frowned upon in my fiction fantasy? Pondering Penny Dear P squared: While some alliteration here and there...

Do Not Disturb. Seriously… Do Not Disturb.

Dear Lucy I am trying to get moving on my first novel, but I can’t seem to get past a brief outline. Either my mind is everywhere else, there are too many interruptions, or I can’t stop scrolling on social media. Do you have any advice for me? Sincerely, too much...

Missing that Holiday Madness?

Ask Lucy your question here.Here you'll find blog posts from Lucy Leaf and Mrs. Grammar PersonMissing that Holiday Madness Dear Lucy, I miss the holiday madness. After months (and months and months) of being in quarantine (and ore months), the one thing I miss...

Social media scrolls and trolls

Dear Lucy Leaf, I enjoy sitting outside in the morning with a fresh cup of coffee and scrolling through my social media feeds. Along with my favorite cozy author pages, I enjoy a local college newspaper. Lately there’s a mean guy who posts horrible comments on the...

How many tea bags does it take to fill a cup?

Dear Lucy, How many tea bags? I am quarantined with my college-age daughter, and she always uses two tea bags instead of one. I've asked her to please conserve our precious supply, but she keeps “forgetting.” My tea is running out quickly. What should I do?...

Drive-thru coffee in the time of quarantine.

Dear Lucy, I’ve been feeling very sad recently. I’ve been making myself coffee every morning, but I’m starting to really miss my morning Starbucks trip. There’s just something about someone making coffee for me that’s just so special. What should I do?...

The page vs. screen conundrum.

Dear Lucy: My partner always wants to watch television while I'm enjoying the next book on my TBR shelf. How can I share the appreciation of a good story from actual pages instead of from a flat screen? Sincerely, A chapter ahead Dear Chap: Ah, yes. The page vs....

Raining Cats and Cats

Dear Lucy: I’ve got a stack of new urban fantasy books to read, but my cat keeps climbing on my tea table, then leaping onto my lap, right on top of the open pages. How am I supposed to escape into this great story? Sincerely, Raining Cats and Cats Dear Raining, Try...

Basic Phrases These Days Are So Boujee.

Dear Lucy: I was invited to a reader's group to spill the tea. What the heck and why would I ruin their tablecloth on purpose? Sincerely, Spiller? Dear Spiller with a question mark: You dress up in your best tea-drinking finery. There'll be no actual spilling going...

Author Interviews

These brave authors stopped by the interview room to share their struggles, writing tips, and what weird things they have on their desks. And they bring me gifts: a mansion, a puppy, a shoelace, a turtle. What will I get next…?

Here are the most recent interviews. For more author stuff, stop by the Interview Room!

Interview with Elizabeth Pantley

Interview with Elizabeth PantleyElizabeth Pantley braved the drive over for a short interview, so I got out my best tea service and freshly baked cookies. She arrived with a giveaway for you! Interview with Elizabeth Pantley It’s great to meet you! I hope you...

Elizabeth Price visits with Haunted Ends

Elizabeth Price visits! We're really excited to have Elizabeth Price here with us. Tea is ready and we’ve got some goodies to munch that are hot out of the oven just as Ms. Price seated herself on a comfy chair in our interview room. Hello, Ms. Price! We always have...

Tea and Murder with Terrie Moran

Author Terrie Moran dropped by ePen for a lovely visit. I baked cookies, brewed tea, and settled in. Hello Terrie! Before we settle down to tea and conversation, I love to ask authors what odd item is on their desk. What would we spy if we were peeking in on you?...

Inside the world of a paranormal romance- and a lamp.

Victoria Larque, author of the paranormal romance, Soul Reaver, visits ePen and talks about creating a consistent world for her characters. I’m so very delighted to have you as a guest, Victoria. Your novel, Soul Reaver, was an absorbing read with great characters in...

C.A. Larmer sails by for a visit.

C.A. Larmer visits ePen and brings along some Agatha Christie spirit!

Jeanne Blasberg, Campuses and Secret Societies: The Nine

Author Jeanne Blasberg visits to talk about her newest novel, The Nine.

Marlene Bell, Sheep, and a Yacht.

Annalisse and Alec race across two oceans to save his mother, feared dead or kidnapped.

Dialogue Techniques, One Dead, Two to Go

Elena Hartwell VisitsI love meeting fellow playwrights and chatting about stage vs. books. Today Elena Hartwell, author of One Dead, Two to Go is my guest, and I brewed a new selection of black tea. I also had some fresh coffee on hand just in case. Come on in and...

Charles Soto author of Heartache and Sin

Charles Soto on genre, imagery, and Las Vegas

Author and artist Charles Soto is here to talk about his book Heartache and Sin and share his writing tips and the unusual item on his desk right now. The coffee was ready, various creamers on the table, and a fresh batch of pumpkin bars warming in the oven. Charles,...

Tricia Sanders image for blog tour on The Editing Pen

Murder Is a Dirty Business with Tricia Sanders

Tricia Sanders convinces us that Murder Is a Dirty Business! Thank you for stopping by. Make yourself comfy. I have four tea flavors and two coffee flavors. Which is your favorite? Tricia: I’m a chamomile girl. Unless you have peach-mango. No mango in...

Murder Mysteries, Interviewing Witnesses, and a Turtle

I recently met this sweet author in a Facebook group and just had to have her visit and talk about her writing. The coffee and tea is brewed, and the pumpkin muffins are fresh from the oven. Settle in for a nice chat... SHARON: Coffee, please. Heavy on the milk, but...

R. J. Koreto, Death at the Emerald, and Edwardian Characters

R. J. Koreto is the author of the Lady Frances Ffolkes mystery series, set in Edwardian England. I had to have him stop by the second I found out this story takes place in a theatre. Enjoy! Great to see you here! I brewed coffee and tea. Choose your favorite. Cream...

Musicality, Crows of Beara, Scones, and Muddy Laces

The Crows of Beara Enjoy this delightful visit with author Julie Christine Johnson as we chat about Ireland, The Crows of Beara, musicality, and - um - muddy boots. Great to see you here, Julie! I brewed coffee and tea. I wasn’t sure which you...

Highland Peril, Scottish Toys, and Amy Reade

Welcome! Today I am pleased to host Amy M. Reade at ePen. Ms. Reade is the author of Highland Peril. This mystery features a young photographer named Sylvie Carmichael, whose quiet life in the Highlands is disturbed when a murder hits too close to home. There’s...

Notes, Plotting a Story, a Mansion, and No Turning Back

The lovely and talented Tracy Buchanan, author of No Turning Back, stopped by to tell us about her newest release and plotting the plot. She also brought me an amazing gift. Read on! So pleased you could stop by for a visit! Come into the parlor and get comfy. I have...

Jeanne Blasberg talks about setting, Eden, and puppies!

Jeanne Blasberg strolled on over just in time for tea. What a sweet author! Settle in and take a look at the gift she brought for me! Love having you over to visit. I brewed coffee and several flavors of tea. Which do you prefer? I would love some mint tea – my...

Southern Fried with Sheriff Kenni Lowry and Tonya Kappas

I feel so loved when authors drop by with a special gift. Tonya Kappas, author of Southern Fried, brought me a jar of moonshine. I'm okay with that. It's been a long week. We settled in with coffee and a drop of the special "shine," and the chatting began. Great to...

Red Herrings and Pekoe Most Poison by Laura Childs

Enjoy my visit with Laura Childs, tea, and red herrings! Then click HERE for a review of Pekoe Most Poison. I’m so thrilled you stopped by. I know how you love tea, so I prepared these seventeen flavors for you to choose from and brought out my best teapots. Which one...

Setting and Atmosphere in The Art of Vanishing

Setting and Atmosphere in The Art of Vanishing by Cynthia Kuhn I’m so delighted to have Cynthia Kuhn visit again. She is here to share crafty tidbits about setting and atmosphere. Enjoy! Great to see you here! I brewed coffee and tea. I wasn’t sure which you...

Suzanne Trauth Chats About Murder and Maintaining Order

From Theater to Fiction - Suzanne Trauth Chats About Murder and Maintaining Order I invited Suzanne Trauth, playwright and author, to visit for a chat about her new book. I've brewed four flavors of tea (can you guess the flavors?), so join us as we talk about...

Guest Posts

So many authors, so little time. Enjoy what they have to say about all things books. For an entire room full of authors, CLICK HERE.

Writing a relatable memoir – by Linda Strader

Guest PostsAuthor Linda Strader is here to talk with us about writing memoirs and Summers of Fire. Check out her bio below. Oh, the stories Linda must have in her notebooks. WRITING A RELATABLE MEMOIR When I initially wrote my memoir, it never occurred to me to...