• Secondary characters in a novel

    As a romance writer, I enjoy creating secondary characters just as much as crafting the protagonists. In my debut novel, Misty Dreams, there are several secondary characters who play both major and minor roles. I loved giving each of them distinct personalities with unique traits and mannerisms, even the less prominent ones. Developing strong, well-rounded…

  • Hold on to your memories

    by Josephine Strand (first published in Memoirabilia Magazine in 2016) How I wish there were a recycle bin in our brain for old memories to be stored in. Then, when we’re unable to fully recall a life experience, all we’d need to do is look for the missing ‘file; and ‘restore’ it to its original…

  • Marzamemi: a hidden sliver of paradise

    If there’s one thing I love as much as writing, it’s discovering new places to visit. Although I don’t travel as much as I used to, even an impromptu road trip, maybe just to escape a dreary bout of bad weather, will charge my batteries, so to speak, and do wonders for my sluggish muse.

  • BOOK REVIEW

    TWO NICKELS by Michael F. DeConzo GENRE: Urban Fiction I don’t often post book reviews on my blog, but occasionally a book comes along that leaves a lasting impression on me, such that I feel I should share it with other readers. Two Nickels by Michael F. DeConzo was an unexpected gem. Although I haven’t…

  • Confessions of a late bloomer

    This article was first published in the online literary magazine Women Writers, Women’s Books (booksbywomen.org) My name is Josephine Strand and I’m the author of my first published romance novel, Misty Dreams, released in April 2021. I’m what is known as a literary late bloomer. Three years ago, I was a soon-to-be novelist past the…

  • Book Review: Of School and Women, by D.S. Marquis

    Of School and Women by D.S. Marquis is a riveting, nostalgic dive into the past. It’s brilliantly written and humorous, cleverly mingling cultural nostalgia with great life lessons. I wasn’t living in the United States during the 80s, but in all democratic countries the same fundamental changes in standards of living were taking place, and…

  • BOOK TALK: How I got hooked on reading

    When I was a young girl, the local library was one of my favorite places in which to spend the afternoon hours. It was before the internet, even before computers made it into our homes. It was where my friends and I would meet to do research for a school project, do our homework, or…

  • Laughter is the best medicine

    Laughter is the best medicine. How many times have we heard this phrase? Experts say it’s good for our health. Among other benefits, it boosts the immune system, relaxes the muscles, and reduces stress by releasing endorphins, making you feel less burdened. I’m a firm believer of this theory. Who doesn’t need a little less…

  • Finding inspiration in the simple things

    About a year ago I posted about my own experience finding inspiration in the places I visit: Have travel, Will write. That was at the height of the pandemic, when traveling was still a distant vision. But by this spring, my wanderlust was suffering severe withdrawal symptoms. One trip to Italy last September hardly qualified…

  • Tackling the second novel. From climbing a hill to scaling a mountain.

    Writing a book is hard work. I didn’t realize how hard until I started writing my second one. Writing my first book was fairly easy – like walking up a steep hill and slipping and falling a few times along the way. But that was all right, because no one was looking. I didn’t nurture…

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