• New Romantic Suspense Series with Mountain Brook Ink

    Keeping good news to myself hasn’t been easy, but today, I can officially share this book announcement with you. With the help of my agent, Stephanie Alton of The Blythe Daniel Agency, I’ve signed with Mountain Brook Ink for a new Romantic Suspense series. The first book in the series, Take My Hand, is scheduled to release December 2022 with the sequel to follow a year later in 2023. This announcement doesn’t mean I won’t write young adult fiction any more. I actually have a few projects for my teenage friends in the works, which I hope to share in God’s time. That said, I am thrilled to branch into…

  • My Writing Journey: An Interview by L.C. Helms

    I so much enjoy chatting with authors here on the blog, and today, it’s my turn to share! I’m so grateful to my friend and gifted writer L.C. Helms for inviting me to be her “author spotlight” on her beautiful website. Below is an excerpt of our conversation. For the full interview, visit lchelms.com. Lori: How old were you when you started writing? Kristen: I discovered my love for writing when I was nine or ten. My older brother had a creative writing project in school, and he shared it with us and our best friends. We all got excited about his short story and expanded it, each one of…

  • Writer’s Block: Publishing 101

    As writers, we often share a dream: to see our stories in print. In today’s video, we talk about the basics of publishing: some common publishing vocabulary, types of publishing, the reality of rejection, and what you, as a young writer, can be doing today to prepare to perhaps publish one day. As always, there’s a writing activity for you at the end. Join us on YouTube, and take a moment to comment or share your thoughts on today’s video.

  • Writer’s Block: The Basics of Plot Structure

    A story doesn’t just happen. The writer intentionally crafts it from start to finish–from inciting incident to denouement. In this meeting, we talk about the ten basic plots, the components of plot structure, and an example that helps visualize the whole process. As always, there’s a writing activity at the end to help you practice what you’ve learned. Join us on YouTube, and take a moment to comment or share your thoughts on today’s video.

  • Writer’s Block: Poetry in Everyday Life

    It’s February, a month famous for sharing sweet sentiments, so what better time is there to talk about poetry? Whether you want to craft a ditty for that special someone–or not–everyone can learn to enjoy and even write poetry. Most teens groan when their teacher talks about poetry in English class, but the truth is, we use poetry all the time. It adds beauty and extra dimension to writing, songs, and creative expressions. In this meeting, we’ll talk about the basics of meter, the difference between rhyme and free verse, and some common poetic devices. Then, at the end, I’ll share a writing activity so you can practice being your…