Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line

Kisses Still Melt Hearts – Family

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My granddaughter L was collecting red maple leaves on our walk through the neighborhood Sunday morning after she'd spent the night with us. I loved watching her run ahead, searching for a fallen leaf more perfect and redder than the last one. I can’t believe it’s already fall. September 29th will be my eldest son’s 36th birthday. It’s been almost four years since he's been gone. When L and … [Read more...]

Book Launch Party Photos

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This was the night I'd dreamed of for so long - my book launch party. In the Context of Love is published and released into the world! It's a time to celebrate, but also an opportunity to gather my friends, neighbors, and family together to say thank you. Writing is a solitary act, but I couldn't have done it without their  support and encouragement. The metro Detroit area has an incredible … [Read more...]

Authors: the Truth About Reader Reviews

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My book is officially published, and readers are posting reviews. As a new author, I was excited and nervous, and hopefully prepared for reader reviews. All reader reviews--good and bad. The Good, The Bad, and the So-so When you are finally published, be ready. Because if someone loves a book, it's almost certain that someone else hates it. It's the nature of art, from literature to paintings to … [Read more...]

Book Promotion for Anxious Authors

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Writers are introverts. We have to be dragged out of the house to socialize. Promotion of our books and ourselves as writers is something we find really difficult. So what is an author supposed to do? Finding the answer was my goal at AWP 2015, before the debut of my novel, In the Context of Love.  I found several great tips on book promotion that are timeless, and not that difficult, even for an … [Read more...]

How to Contrast Setting with Emotion

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Contrast emotion with setting in fiction This is a simple trick that can maximize any scene's emotional impact. A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton offers a great contrast between setting and emotion. The opening scene is in a bedroom in a Wisconsin farmhouse on a brilliant Monday morning in June. Alice lies in bed and contemplates her perfect life … [Read more...]