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Latest Blog Post and Essay by Dianne C. Braley
HAPPY HOLIDAYS… NoT ALways

HAPPY HOLIDAYS… NoT ALways

Happy holidays, everyone. I hesitate to say that sometimes because, for some, the holidays aren't happy, and there is often a lot of stress put on being happy and celebrating this time of year. While I am not trying to be Scrooge, this year's holidays have been incredibly dark and depressing. I...

WRITING IS HELL

WRITING IS HELL

Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho—the publishing industry is slow… And that is an understatement. I'm unsure if you recall that I gave my book to that agent who wanted an exclusive. I talked about it a few blogs back, which means she doesn’t want me to send it to anyone else. I didn’t listen to some of you wise folks...

WRITING WITH A SIDE OF TRUE CRIME

WRITING WITH A SIDE OF TRUE CRIME

Two big things this month. The Martha’s Vineyard Times featured my collaboration on behalf of my book, The Silence in the Sound, with the RFK Community Alliance Organization and Martha’s Vineyard Ocean Academy, formerly FUEL, which is the phenomenal sailing camp I told you about in my last blog....

WHICH ONE?

WHICH ONE?

First off, I have a new book for you to check out. Actually, it isn't new, but it is great. Another Vineyard novel, and this one is fantastic. I read Split Rock by Holly Hodder Eger not long ago. This book touched me as it has all the things, Martha's Vineyard, love, loss, and survival of it all....

BEYOND THIS HARBOR

BEYOND THIS HARBOR

Hey everyone! How is your summer going? The wild weather has undoubtedly put a “damper” on things... pun intended. But hopefully, you are making the best of it. I am still shopping my second novel, The Summer Before, to agents. I have some luck with full requests and a few dreaded rejections, but...

BEST NEWS EVER!

BEST NEWS EVER!

More than any award or best-selling status, I am thrilled that I, working alongside the RFK Community Alliance organization here in Massachusetts and the FUEL program, the sailing camp on Martha’s Vineyard and soon to be newly named Martha’s Vineyard Ocean Academy, were able to pull off sending a...

SHOULD WE BE EXCLUSIVE?

SHOULD WE BE EXCLUSIVE?

If you read my last post, you'd know I, like many, am in the query trenches with my second novel, The Summer Before. I have a publisher, but I am trying to get that elusive agent deal, although my thoughts on this are evolving, like many other writers and authors. I sent out my query to a handful...

Edits, Queries & Feelings

Edits, Queries & Feelings

Hey everyone. I am in the weeds with my final round of edits for my next book, The Summer Before. Look what my editor had to say after reading the first draft… DianneI was completely enthralled while editing, which is not usual. You'll find comments and some questions/suggestions but not many. The...

LESSONS FROM ROME

LESSONS FROM ROME

I've been listening to and reading Meditations by the Great Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. My mother gave me the small book many years ago as I was, for a time, into philosophy and all things Rome after reading Julius Caesar. I go back to the book occasionally, especially if I'm struggling as we...