Is your BACKSTORY relevant information or an Inconsequential Event? What should you include? And how much? At one point or another, most writers face that question. What is important to include in my characters' past and what should be left out? We all know too much backstory can be boring. Extremely boring, and it can cause readers to skim. Worse, they'll close the novel and never finish reading. So, as writers, how do we know? After all, we want our events to be exciting. W

A hit-and-run driver leaves Tuper’s best friend for dead. But why? And how did Squirrely, a homeless man, acquire a duffle bag stuffed with thousands in cash, a pistol, and a 25-year-old newspaper? As Squirrely lies in a coma, Tuper’s techie sidekick, Lana, uncovers fifty-year-old secrets about his connection to the death of a high school classmate. The cold case pops to the front burner when a second classmate dies in the same manner. A Senator, his barren wife, and a long-a

Short Stories About New Beginnings, Love, Pain, and Enduring Strength

Near the end of Nabokov's Lolita, Humbert makes an honest admission: "[A]nd it struck me…that I simply did not know a thing about my darling's mind." That line sums up the isolate game of memorializing a deceased loved one, which is the basic tension in Nina's Memento Mori, an elegy to Mathias Freese's lost wife. The profound responsibility of answering the question "Who was Nina?" is left to the lone memoirist: I can say or write anything I want about her…There is much write

Sometimes life can change in the blink of an eye. Newlyweds Anne and Jake Maxwell face unexpected detours as they settle in their new Southern California surroundings. Stymied by the adoption process, Anne turns to rescue an unwanted dog to fill the hole in her heart. Fate puts an abused black Lab named Sadie in their path in ways neither expected. But the road is riddled with potholes. Growing up, Jake was raised to dislike all dogs. If forced into a choice, he preferred a h

Book 10 of The Advocate series

While finishing her freshman year of high school, Amanda meets a mysterious boy named Brandon at a youth art exhibition. Intrigued by each other's artwork, they develop a friendship. Amanda soon finds herself attracted to Brandon, which complicates their relationship. Despite this struggle, Amanda continues to have faith in their friendship, and through it, she discovers a sense of purpose that directs her to a deeper understanding of herself and how others influence her life

“We’re actually here to see Kieran Griffiths,” Rick said. “We called him a few days ago and told him we wanted to meet with him.” “I’m sorry, but he’s not here,” Dwight said nervously. “He didn’t tell me anything about your meeting.” Rick looked a little miffed, but said, “Can you call him and tell him we’re here?” “Yes, I will call him right away,” Dwight said nervously, as he dialed the number. The call was answered right away, “Hello, this is Kieran.” “Kieran, this is Dwig

Book 3 of the Gaspar, The Flatulating Ghost series

Book 2 of the Gaspar, The Flatulating Ghost series

This is a collection of Rebecca's best poetry, fiction and nonfiction short pieces, including thought-provoking inspirational fiction and nonfiction featuring the history of Temecula and Southern California.

Definition of a MACHINATOR: One who machinates, or forms a scheme with evil designs; a plotter or artful schemer; a member of a conspiracy. The door opened immediately, and Dwight saw Tomislav. However, before he could reach out to him, he was quickly jerked back inside the room. In the doorway stood a person Dwight hoped he would never see again. It was Thursday, and that’s the day Hilda chose to do her grocery shopping for the house. On this day, however, somebody was waiti