by kristinoakley | Mar 14, 2019 | Newsletter, Writing Life
I reference music throughout my books because readers can immediately identify with the tunes and the melodies establish moods which add essential elements to the setting. Additionally, when I wrote Carpe Diem, Illinois, musical ringtones were popular so I included...
by kristinoakley | Mar 2, 2019 | Creativity & Craft, Newsletter
You’re probably wondering what the heck Alpha, Beta, Expert, and ARC Readers are. Writers use some or all of these readers, in addition to professional editors, to help them create the best possible books. An Alpha Reader is the first person to read the...
by kristinoakley | Feb 15, 2019 | News and Events
EXCITING NEWS! My second novel God on Mayhem Street was selected as a finalist in the 2018 Winning Writers North Street Book Prize! It was one of only 20 finalists selected from over 1,000 entries. I’m so pleased and proud! To celebrate with you, the God on...
by kristinoakley | Feb 5, 2019 | Newsletter, Writing Life
Last Saturday was a tough day for me. In Print, a professional writers’ organization in the Rockford area, an organization I’d helped create and presided over as president for many years, met for the last time. In September of 2010, Mary Lamphere, Kathleen...
by kristinoakley | Jan 19, 2019 | Books and Movies, Newsletter
One of the things I do as a writer is to justify watching hours of live-streamed television by claiming it’s a way to study my craft. I’m not totally off the mark — television shows today are incredibly well scripted, acted, costumed, and filmed....
by kristinoakley | Jan 12, 2019 | Newsletter, Writing Life
Writers get a lot of advice. For instance, we’re often told that we have to write every day to practice our craft and complete our work. This makes sense. If we’re not writing every day, then can we really call ourselves writers? I tell people I’m a...
by kristinoakley | Dec 28, 2018 | Books and Movies, For Readers, Newsletter, Writing Life
I can’t believe 2018 is almost over! It’s been a wonderful year full of adventures, insights, inspirations, amazing experiences, and great stuff. Here’s my list of the Best of 2018: Best movie – “Green Book” starring Viggo...
by kristinoakley | Dec 21, 2018 | Creativity & Craft, Newsletter
I wanted to get you something for the holidays and thought why not share my writing? So here are my Christmas gifts to you — three of my flash fiction short stories: “A Kwiki” – takes place in Madison, Wisconsin and...
