I’m at that point in my writing where I focus on making the villain as strong a character as possible. To help me with that, I’m brushing up on my writing craft. Which includes reading 13 Steps to Evil: How to Craft Superbad Villains by Sacha Black.Because how can there be strong conflict without a powerful …
With the warmer temps, the birds have been out in full flock. Some of the most vocal are the house sparrows. I have no clue what they’re saying to each other, but they sure are loud and enthusiastic. Often I can’t see them, as they’re inside the tall hedge that edges my deck. But man, I …
This is what spring looks like in New England today.Photo copyright 2026 by Vanessa KierFortunately, the snow melted pretty quickly. Crazy weather. Annoying to live with. Great source of story conflict for writers!
...The April 2026 edition of my KierDevils newsletter went out on Thursday, April 2nd. Find out what’s currently inspiring my writing. Enjoy! If you’re a subscriber and don’t see it in your Inbox, please check your Spam or Junk folder. For Gmail users, it might also be on your Promotions tab. If my emails are consistently ending up in …
Anyone else remember the days when library books and DVDs had their due dates stamped on pieces of paper attached to the item? I was surprised to find this inside a DVD I recently checked out from the library. Too bad the years aren’t there. I’d love to know when the last physical stamp was made.Photo …
I am pleased to announce that my books are now on The Indie Author Bookstore from The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLI). Despite the name, this is a discoverability tool, not a store. The book pages have buy links to retailers where the books can be purchased. But if you’re looking to find a new indie …