Mixing the elements of a romance and a thriller is no easy task, but Sharon Buchbinder demonstrates how to craft a page-turning romantic suspense. She would know after having penned eight of them. One of those books, the second in her Hotel LaBelle series, Legacy of Evil, is a prime example of intrigue, passion, and spot-on pacing. It won First Place for Published Romance in the 2018 Royal Palm Literary Awards. Sharon discusses working toward success and making a good … Read More »

It takes true skill to immerse a reader fully into a piece while using few words. Flash fiction requires a combination of tight prose and deliberate word choice to make less than 1,000 words pack a punch. Joan J. Harris is one of those masterful wordsmiths who can turn a short piece of work into something truly wonderful. Her piece, Scheduled Delivery, is evidence of her skill. It won First Place Unpublished Flash Fiction in the 2018 Royal Palm Literary … Read More »

Career writer Bette Lee Crosby knows a thing or two about telling stories in the South. After all, three of her eighteen novels have hit the USA Today bestseller list. Telling great stories while serving great food is a Southern tradition. Bette taps into her regional roots to enthrall readers with her characters. And one very special canine character took the stage in The Summer of New Beginnings, the First Place winner for Women’s Fiction in the 2018 Royal Palm … Read More »

Giving up on her story was never an option for Diane Byington. She spent seven years reworking her draft, pushing through every obstacle, much like her main character, Faye. The end result was an award-winning novel. Diane’s book, Who She Is, took home first place for Published Historical Fiction in the 2018 Royal Palm Literary Awards. Diane talks revision and research on this week’s RPLA Showcase. The Winning Entry, Who She Is Logline: In 1967, Faye wants to run the … Read More »

What do you get when you combine over twenty years in the FBI with a deep love and knowledge of South Carolina Lowcountry? The award-winning novel Beyond the Cabin by Dana Ridenour that took home First Place for Published Thriller in the 2018 Royal Palm Literary Awards. Dana began writing the book during her last two years working for the FBI and was faced with a challenging decision when she finally finished. How would she publish it? Both traditional publishing … Read More »

The beauty and heritage of the panhandle live in the heart of Ruth Coe Chambers and pour out as she builds the setting in her work. Growing up on the coast gave her memories and impressions she uses to create a true sense of place. Her novel, House on the Forgotten Coast, set in Apalachicola won First Place for Published Mainstream Fiction in the 2018 Royal Palm Literary Awards. Ruth discusses the importance of motivation, weaving a realistic setting, and … Read More »