Mary Ann Tippett

Are you a novelist ready to transform your first draft into a polished masterpiece without breaking the bank? Whether you've spent three days or three years crafting your novel, mastering the art of self-editing is within your reach.In "Self-Edit your Novel in 8 Steps: the Bear and Grin It Method," author Mary Ann Tippett presents a systematic eight-step approach designed to streamline your editing journey. Drawing from personal experience editing eight of her own books, Tippett shares invaluable insights gained from trial, error, and refining recurring editing techniques.Unlike other writing guides that delve into specific authors' methods, "Bear and Grin It" offers a clear, step-by-step blueprint that simplifies the editing process. From initial revisions to final polish, this method promises clarity, determination, and peace of mind as you navigate each stage of self-editing.In addition to the comprehensive editing framework, this book includes practical publishing tips, actual editing notes from Tippett's own work, recommended reading, and a curated list of professional editors should you choose to seek expert assistance.Whether you're facing your manuscript for the first time or seeking to enhance your editing prowess, "Bear and Grin It" equips you with the tools and confidence to elevate your novel to its fullest potential.

Still reeling from the murder of her best friend Jolee, Daisy McCartney scrambles to juggle law school and her testy new boss at Jenny's Hair Salon. Living with her mother, who lives in constant chaos and keeps volunteering Daisy for security at the museum, doesn't help. Then Daisy thinks she sees a ghost, and can't understand why she finds the server at the new donut shop so captivating.When she receives a strange letter from her ex-boyfriend, who later turns up dead at the museum, Daisy relies on her friend Petra for advice, and avoids telling love interest and police officer Brett about the letter. Fighting a slew of emotions from Jolee's death and now her ex-boyfriend's, Daisy neglects her job responsibilities, falls behind at school, and flounders as a friend to Petra.Before she becomes the prime suspect in a possible murder investigation, Daisy must find out what really happened that night in the museum after she left. Can she find the clues she needs before it's too late?

Starting to write a novel is hard. Finishing one? Even harder. With this guide you can check write a novel off your list. A feat you can accomplish in three days.Unlike novels written over longer periods of time, writing in the Zone blasts past common obstacles to finishing. Once you know how to channel the Zone, you may never write a novel any other way.Key areas covered in this guide: Why novels go unfinished.How actual three-day novelists produce quality work.What experts say about writing in the Zone.Why thirty days is too long to write a novel.What essentials three-day novel writing requires.How to end and edit a Zone-fuelled novel.Do you have a novel inside you? It's time to give your story a life.

Clara forgets to remember a lot of things, but she clings fiercely to the memory of Florida, her real home. With best friends Bonnie and Jimmy filling her lapses with Zumba and happy hour tea, Vermont's Milton Manor senior living is almost bearable. Her new friend, Axel, is also a gem, stopping by often to run her errands.But then ousted tenant Willie, who tried to kill Clara's dog, starts lurking around the Manor once again, and the gossip over Clara's rule-flouting becomes more intense. When her son begins colluding with Bonnie and Jimmy, questioning her every decision, she's had enough.She doesn't know who she can trust, including herself. But one thing she knows for sure - she will escape Milton Manor if it's the last thing she does.

As Mt. Pleasant's top weight loss counsellor, Susan Snow is gunning for a promotion. Her only distraction is a mirror she suspects is magic. Angela Marshall can't seem to make a dent in an irksome five pounds she's packed on, and she's willing to cheat her way into ShapeShifters to lose it. Mina Haver risked everything to ensure her daughter could attend school in a bomb-free environment, and she is not about to let a feisty old lady her husband hit with his car get in the way. These three women form an unlikely alliance when they join a ShapeShifters training run. Then Susan gets fired and her daughter gets expelled. Mina becomes the target of a vicious meme. And Angela turns to her new friends from ShapeShifters to find her footing as her son becomes increasingly angry over their move to Canada. Separately, their lives may be derailing, but together Susan, Mina and Angela can survive anything -- their erratic children, running mishaps and unraveling identities. Even a mirror with mystical properties cannot tarnish the bond pulling them into an unanticipated future.

From International Award Finalist, Mary Ann Tippett, comes a story that answers the question: What if your soulmate is out there and you're not looking? Faith loves animals and hates Pinot Noir. Brian loves Pinot Noir and is allergic to animals. She is searching for love and a wine career. He is content to write news stories and dote on his commitment-shirking girlfriend. A new dating app hits their city and everyone is talking about its guaranteed soulmate matches. Brian registers for a match when he is forced to write a story about the app's dubious "guarantee." At the same time, Faith is looking for a love connection. When Faith and Brian are paired, sparks fly. Until she reveals she hates Pinot Noir. And he lets slip he may have killed a chipmunk. Can the popular app, reputed to unfailingly connect soulmates, be wrong about Brian and Faith?

Clara hates Vermont. Her son moved her here due to her dementia, but it was a mistake. There's a squirrel murderer on the loose and management's ignoring her concerns. Her pet pug, Pig, hates it too, threatened by a vengeful tenant and constrained by the cold, and senior residence rules that never end. What's more, strange letters from the dead arrive in Clara's dreams. And someone's arranging her grandchildren's toys into alarming scenes outside the front doors. Before it's too late, Clara hatches a plan to escape with the help of a non-binary youngster named Radish, Bonnie the eyelid artist, and Jimmy the overly popular owner of a working vehicle. But escape may not be what Clara needs. Can she ever find peace in her new home and its colourful residents with a slowly fragmenting mind? At once horrifying and hilarious, "Clara & Pig" will captivate anyone who has ever loved a dog or watched a loved one struggle with dementia. Perfect for fans of Fredrik Backman's "A Man Called Ove" and Lisa Genova's "Still Alice."