by kristinoakley | Jun 4, 2021 | Creativity & Craft, Newsletter
The setting for my novel, The Devil Particle, is a dystopian world where it is illegal for more than 10 people to gather in one place. Knowing we’re social animals, I imagined the horrors of living in a world like this–no weddings, no funerals, no...
by kristinoakley | May 23, 2021 | Creativity & Craft, Newsletter
I’ve been listening to fledgling novelist Tim Grahl interview Shawn Coyne on The Story Grid Podcast. Shawn’s been an editor for over thirty years and is the author of The Story Grid; What Good Editors Know. I highly recommend these podcasts for more...
by kristinoakley | May 7, 2021 | Creativity & Craft, Newsletter
After writing about the Academy Awards, I was curious about screenwriting so, I decided to interview my friend and colleague, Rebecca Williams Spindler. Rebecca is an award-winning novelist, screenwriter, producer, and the former Vice President of the Wisconsin...
by kristinoakley | Apr 24, 2021 | Books and Movies, Newsletter
This Sunday marks the 93rd Annual Academy Awards and, more importantly, my niece’s 7th Annual Academy Award Party. In preparation for the party, my daughters and I watched all eight movies (and many others that were nominated for other awards). Here is my take...
by kristinoakley | Apr 14, 2021 | Homeschooling, Unschooling
Are you considering homeschooling your children but are hesitant, worried they might not get into college? Rest assured that most colleges and universities eagerly accept homeschoolers. In fact, many colleges provide separate admissions pages specifically for...
by kristinoakley | Apr 9, 2021 | Creativity & Craft, Newsletter
When I told my editor, Tim Storm, I was struggling with the character arcs in The Devil Particle series he suggested reading craft books by Michael Hague and Lisa Cron. So, I checked out Michael Hague’s Story Master website and was surprised to find a video of...
by kristinoakley | Mar 26, 2021 | Creativity & Craft, Newsletter
Laurie Scheer, the powerhouse who made UW-Madison’s Writers’ Institute a must-attend event for thousands of writers throughout the Midwest, is offering new opportunities for writers. In this interview, Laurie and I discuss Nature Writing and her latest...
by kristinoakley | Mar 19, 2021 | Homeschooling, Unschooling
I vividly remember when my daughter Caitlin learned to read. One morning when she about six years old, Caitlin stormed into the kitchen with a library picture book in her hand. It wasn’t a favorite book, in fact, it was the first time we’d taken it out. I...
