Today we take you into the life of a few River Northers to see how they keep organized among hectic writing schedules. Below are five tips our authors use that might help you keep organized as well!

From Alice Wisler, author of Still Life in Shadows (coming in August 2012)
Here’s my tip: Post-It Notes!

Whenever I’m working on a novel or a project at my desk and an idea or thought comes to me, I rely on these colorful squares of memo sheets. It only takes a second to write the thought down and then I can continue with whatever I need to do. Most often the idea that zings into my head has nothing to do with my WIP, but more like, “I need to e-mail Jane about the upcoming Crop Walk for Hunger.” Or, “Buy eggs to make that soufflé tonight.”

I use these notes freely and toss them in the trash when the mission is accomplished. I even post a sheet in my Day-Planner before a book event so that I can jot down what to bring with me on that day. Post-It Notes can be costly, so I often buy cheaper brands (like Z-Notes) at my office supply store. I’d be lost without these handy sticky reminders!

From Susan Page Davis, author of Captive Trail and Cowgirl Trail (coming in April 2012!)

One thing that helps me out every day is emptying the dishwasher as soon as it’s done cycling. That way the family can put their dirty dishes directly into the dishwasher, instead of letting them pile up in the sink. Continue reading / Leave a comment…

Post by Natalie, RN Managing Editor

Yesterday as I sat on a train headed to Chicago from Detroit, I finished reading Long Trail Home by Vickie McDonough. Though my surroundings were a chilly train with windows showing a Midwest spring, I was happy to be transported to a dusty post-Civil War Texas through Vickie’s fantastic descriptions. 

Below are five terrific descriptions that set the scenes for a few of our books. I hope you enjoy being carried to five different worlds through today’s post!

Long Trail Home by Vickie McDonough
“Her dress swished through the foot-tall grass and wildflowers, sending a grasshopper leaping away to a quieter spot. Bald cypress and live oaks hugged the creek bank, offering cherished shade from the hot Texas sun, but a few stood in the fields where she could imagine cattle and horses grazing in the wide valley.”

A Marriage Carol by Gary Chapman and Chris Fabry
“He walked with a noticeable limb and when we reached an overstuffed, leather chair, he turned it toward the fireplace. Three huge logs burned and crackled, and their warmth and aroma gave me a fresh vision of welcome that covered me as well as the afghan.”

Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar
“She made certain that her inn gained a reputation for simple elegance and comfort. Decorating it with woven tapestries and rich carpets, she avoided the gaudy ornamentation common among other inns…By the time Rahab turned twenty-six, her inn was as popular as she herself, though like her body, it often remained empty. Continue reading / Leave a comment…