Laurie Stevens on The Grief at “The End”

Laurie Stevens in the author of the Gabriel McRay thriller series. You can find out more about her at her website www.lauriestevensbooks.com, or by clicking here, read her last post here, and buy her books here. Recently, I completed a sci-fi/ fantasy titled “The Return.” After spending a year researching the world’s developing technology and artificial intelligence and then another year writing the novel, I thought I’d be elated, ready to pop the cork off a bottle of champagne. Instead, I felt bummed. Lost. I’ve been in this place before, and it happens every time I complete a book. Without…

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Laurie Stevens on Holiday Baking

Laurie Stevens is the author of the Gabrial McRay series of thrillers. You can find out more about her on her website, www.lauriestevensbooks.com, or by clicking here, read her last post here, and buy her books here. “There are only four great arts: music, painting, sculpture, and ornamental pastry- architecture being perhaps the least banal derivative of the latter.” — Julia Child Sherry Cake (recipe below) While the inimitable Ms. Child doesn’t mention the art of literature, I’ll mention it, (because we all know it should be included, right?). This being the holiday season, I decided to post something about…

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Laurie Stevens Asks Contra-What??

Laurie Stevens is the author of the Gabriel McRay thriller series. You can find out more about her on her website, www.lauriestevensbooks.com, or by clicking here, read her last post here, and buy her books here. As if writing isn’t taxing enough, words exist that turn us on our heads. They’re called “contronyms,” and once you start looking for them, it’s hard not to keep looking -- and laughing. Take the word “sanction,” for example. It can mean to penalize something or approve of it.  It gets confusing. Especially when used in politics. What about “dust?” You can dust something…

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Laurie Stevens Lets Her Villain Speak

Laurie Stevens is the author of the Gabriel McRay series of psychological thrillers. You can find out more about her here and on her website, see her books here, and read her last post here. From the laptop of Victor Archwood. Victor Archwood I hope you don’t mind I’ve taken the literary mic away from Laurie Stevens (she talks too much anyhow, don’t you think?). I’m Victor Archwood, someone Laurie has labeled a “villain” in her books. You may think that offends me, but I’ve learned to rise above the petty judgments of people. That’s a good thing, isn’t it?…

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Laurie Stevens asks Do You Write Weather?

Laurie Stevens is the author of the Gabriel McRae series. You can find out more about her here, buy her books here, and read her last post here. As I write this, thunder rolls through a warm night. For some of you, this is no big deal. For a Southern California native like me, it’s unusual. It brings to mind the wet thickness of a summer night in Louisiana (I’m a fan of New Orleans). The sky usually doesn’t talk like this where I live, and I like it, so I have to pay homage in this blog to the…

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Laurie Stevens Asks Do You Outline?

Laurie Stevens is the author of the award-winning Gabriel McRay series of thrillers. You can find out more about her here, see her books here and read her last post here. As a writer, I’m often asked, “How do you write? What’s your process?” Before I joined writer’s groups, I didn’t even think about it. I only wanted to tell a good story. Because not all authors are born with a super sense of confidence, I thought, Gosh, how do I write? What if it’s the wrong way? So, I embarked on a journey to learn about how different writers…

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Laurie Stevens asks Do Your Pets Inspire?

Please welcome Laurie Stevens, author of the Gabriel McRay thriller series. You can find out more about her here, and see her books here. You’re stuck in front of a blank page, fingers on keyboard, waiting for the muse to guide and inspire. As writers, we’re a solitary bunch from the get-go; comfortable with being alone. Still, a bout of writer’s block exacerbates a feeling of solitary confinement. Just when you think all hope is lost, a furry friend comes along and nuzzles against your leg or your arm, takes a seat, and looks at you. “Give me some attention,”…

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