Homelessness is a devastating problem for many of our big cities. Sometimes in extreme weather, shelters aren't able to accommodate all the  people who need protection from the elements. There are some homeless, however, who want their independence and refuse to go to shelters. (I know because they've told me!)

In winter, it's rather common to get on a train and find a homeless person sleeping. Most of the time, they are simply are looking for shelter out of the cold. However, occasionally, you'll come across one who is either mentally off-balance or very angry with the world. One morning, there was one guy who was probably a combination of both.

There was a section of seating shaped like an L, and this homeless man was using it to sleep. He was taking up four seats.

A professional man got on the train and walked over to the homeless man. He politely asked if he could sit in one of the seats. The homeless man stood up, allowed the other man to sit down and then began harassing the professional man about how rude it was to wake someone up. Mr. Professional was trying to be nice about it, but nothing he said or did calmed the homeless guy down. The homeless man did something I'd never witnessed in my life and hope to never see again. WARNING: If you're squeamish, skip the rest of this paragraph! The homeless man vomited on cue -- no finger down the throat or anything like that, just opened his mouth and threw up -- onto the professional man. We were all horrified and gagging, trying not to get sick ourselves.

At the next stop, the homeless man left the train.

The next day, when I got on the train, I saw another homeless man. He was slouched down like he was sleepy but still awake. Scarred by the event of the previous day, I stayed as far away from this man as I possibly could. During the ride, a couple of people got a little rowdy, and I saw this man sit alert and closely watch them. That's when I realized, this was no ordinary homeless guy. We had an undercover policeman watching over us! I was so grateful the city had taken precautions to make sure we didn't experience the other homeless guy again!

I LOVE epilogues!

When I end a book I really loved or watched a great movie, I look forward to the bonus material at the end.

​In the movie theater, I'm the person sitting in her seat until the very last second while the poor theater workers wait for me to leave so they can clean the room. I watch the people leaving as the credits role, and I'm always so tempted to ask them if they know there's more to come. Whether it's bloopers, a cute bonus scene or a hint of what's to come in the sequel, I want it! I'm actually disappointed when a movie doesn't have a little something extra in the credits.

​The same thing goes for the stories I read. Some, I realize, won't have epilogues because it doesn't make sense. If the book ends with a cliffhanger for the next in a series, then an epilogue won't work. But if it's the final book in the series or a stand-alone title, then I want to know that the characters I loved so much really did achieve their happily ever after. That's why in A Boy Named Justice (and of course, the series compilation) I added an epilogue to let you know that all the "boys" had great futures ahead of them.

I don't feel the same about prologues. I'll read them, but usually I wish the author had found a way to sneak the information I needed to know from the prologue into the main body of the story. I know some people who skip the prologue altogether and will only read it if it's obvious they're missing key information. (I wonder if these are the same people leaving the movie during the credits....)

​What about you? Do you read prologues and epilogues, or do you wish they weren't there?

Let's talk about money and fame! Do you want to make a livable wage from your book sales? if you research a thousand different authors, you'll get just as many answers. Everyone's journey is unique to them, just as yours will be unique to you.

Regardless of whether you follow advice that says you need to pursue a traditional publisher or you should self-publish or you need to be active on Goodreads or Wattpad or Instagram or (fill in the blank) -- the common thread through these writers' sage advice is this:

Write often and write well.

When I find authors I love, I'll read everything they write. If they only have one story out there, then I try to remember to check on them later; however, I don't always. It may be years down the road when I remember them and see if they have anything new (if it happens at all).

If you want to make money from your writing, you need to have multiple titles. When that reader finds your story and loves it, she'll be thrilled to see you have more, and you'll be thrilled that she buys them all. The more titles you have, the more likely readers are to discover you.

Just don't forget about the last part of the advice. Give them your best effort.

There was a writer I discovered when she had a few titles. Her stories were cute; although, her writing occasionally grated my nerves. I still read her works because the stories were so engaging. Fast forward a couple of years, and she had over 50 titles! 50!!! I picked up a book and began reading it, expecting the quality I'd seen in the past. It was gone. It felt like she'd thrown the story together, and the things that had irritated me about her writing previously were now amplified. I could be wrong in assuming that the quick release of so many titles meant that she'd rushed through it. All I know is her new stuff turned me off.

​So, find that balance of producing new works quickly while taking the time to make sure it's the best you can give your readers. Both you and your readers will be happy you did.

When I think of crazy train experiences, this is the one that pops into my mind immediately. It was my first really wild experience, and probably the most scary.

​I rode the commuter train for years. Never once did I ever feel like my life was truly in danger. There were moments when I was uncomfortable, I was offended, I was entertained. I never worried for my life. I share that because as crazy as this story is, I was grateful for the quick and professional response of the police and the manner in which they handled the situation. It was reassuring to see if something truly bad happened that help would be close by.

​It all started early one morning. The train was nearly empty, and I liked sitting in the first few passenger seats at the front of the train. The driver sat in a metal and glass compartment completely separated from the passengers. We could see him; he could see us. But a complete wall prevented us from any physical contact.

​I got on the train this morning, and the only person close to me was a tiny, frail-looking elderly lady. She was short and thin and reminded me a lot of my grandmother. I smiled at her and sat across the aisle. The train began moving, and the lady moved to the very front seat. She was intensely staring at the driver and got up a couple of times to peer through the window at him. We made it through a couple of station stops. A few people trickled onto the train, and the lady kept pacing between her seat and the driver's compartment.

​"I know you," she said several times and pointed her finger at the driver. At this time, I thought she'd either recognized him or had a case of mistaken identity. "I know who you are," she said, and her voice got a little louder. "Come out here," she demanded and knocked on the glass. "I know you. Get out here now."

​She wasn't yelling, but her voice raised in volume. We went past a couple more stations. She continued to pace back and forth and call out to the driver. He continued to ignore her.

​By this time, I was making eye contact with other passengers. They were as confused as I was. None of us interacted with the lady, who got more animated by the minute. She began yelling at the driver. "I know who you are. You're the devil. I'm not afraid of you, Devil!"

​She pounded on the door to his compartment and began yelling at the top of her lungs. People around me were now getting scared. As far as I could tell, she didn't have a weapon, and she was so frail that I felt good about my chances if she attacked me. However, I wasn't going to antagonize her. I pretended to read my book while I secretly watched her.

​Then she said, "I'll kill you, Devil. Get out here. I'm going to kill you."

​I wanted to call security, but I was way to close to her to do it. I was sure she'd hear me and decide I was a devil, too. So, I watched her become more vocal, more threatening, and I prayed that the driver stayed inside his compartment where he was safe.

​The next stop after she'd begun the death threats, I glanced up and saw a reflection in the driver's window of someone walking down the aisle toward us. The elderly lady was too busy yelling at the driver to notice that a policeman had entered the train and was slowly walking our way. When she finally turned and saw him, she calmly walked to her seat and sat down where she stayed until the next stop.

​At that point, the policeman calmly asked the lady to step off the train with him. She very sweetly asked, "Why officer? Is there something wrong?"

He simply said, "Please step off the train with me."

She politely got up and walked to the steps and exited the train, where I could see six other officers waiting for her. As the doors slid closed, we all breathed a collective sigh of relief. Then one passenger said to us.

"I think she's off her meds. She did the exact same thing on the 6 pm train last night."

​I never heard what happened to her, and I hope she got the help she needed. It taught me a valuable lesson. Never assume anything based on a person's looks! That sweet little grandma may just be ready to kill the devil!

I received disappointing news this week. Amazon's program Kindle Scout is shutting down. This was a cool program where writers could submit work for consideration by Amazon Publishing, and readers could read the works for free and vote on their favorites. Even if the manuscripts weren't selected for a publishing contract, the program gave writers exposure to new readers. It was a win-win for everyone.

And, it was program where I'd planned to test some new stories in a genre I don't normally write.

Back in December, I was given a cute, little notebook that had the word Dream on it. The first thing I'd written in my Dream book was to submit to Kindle Scout. It was incredibly sad to scratch through that item because it was no longer possible.

But something else occurred this week -- the day before I learned about Kindle Scout's demise. An author, whose works I have enjoyed, stated on a blog post that she places her rough drafts on Wattpad to get readers' reactions to her work. I'm a fan of Wattpad -- it's where Just Another Stupid Boy was born. In addition to that, she said that a producer discovered her work on Wattpad and offered a movie deal for one of her stories.

The cliche "when one door closes, another one opens" seems to be true in this case. While Wattpad doesn't offer publishing contracts, it is a great place to connect with readers and get feedback. So, this is probably the route I'll take with my fantasy/romance novel. I'll let you know when it happens. Right now, I'm keeping a promise I made to you (Granted is on its way.)

​How do you handle when a dream is no longer possible? Feel free to share your story in the comments below!

Happy Friday the 13th to all of my friends!

​This day is extra special to me because it's my anniversary with my wonderful, supportive husband. If this wasn't good enough, I'm also spending this day with my beautiful daughter on her college campus. Life is pretty good right now.

​It's so important to celebrate those special days in your life. It might be an anniversary, birthday or another great event. You should remember those times and acknowledge them in a way that makes you happy. Maybe it's a big party, a nice night out, or a quiet day in. Celebrate the big stuff and the little stuff. Because they all play a part in what makes your life so special.

​I remember the first time someone from outside the US bought one of my books. Amazon had a massive spreadsheet/report that let you see what countries your sales came from. This kind soul was from Germany! This was someone I'd never met and had no connection to whatsoever. I was overwhelmed and surprised and incredibly thrilled. It was the first time that I thought I could be a success at this writing thing. You, wonderful readers, have made me more confident that the tales I write are stories you want to hear.

​So, today, I'm celebrating everything! My anniversary, quality time with my daughter, my family and friends, and my readers. What a great day this is! Friday the 13th rocks!

Have you ever gone onto a website or app and seen that it was a "beta" version? What is that all about???

In the technology world, a beta is a version that you're testing to make sure it works as expected, and one great way to do that is to allow users access to the version before it's final. This gives the developers a chance to see how the site or app handles day-to-day use and gives users a chance to provide feedback.

So, why am I talking about beta testing in my Write Advice column? Because, your manuscript should go through its own beta testing before you release it to the world.

Beta readers are invaluable to your success. They give you the truth others might not want to share. They tell you want works and what doesn't.  They make you a better writer.

If it weren't for my beta readers, I'd have an ending for Wished that didn't work. I might never have finished Just Another Stupid Boy. I might not even be writing young adult/teen stories. One of my very first Beta readers (my beautiful sister) read a story I'd planned to pitch to Harlequin. Her feedback was, "I like the story, but your adults sound like teenagers."

I took a step back and looked at my story again. As usual, my sister was right. I started over, this time writing about a teen protagonist. My story What I Hear was born. The teen angle worked (even though the story didn't), and I was hooked on writing teen fiction.

I've learned so much about myself and my writing through my Beta readers' feedback. Even though it hasn't always been easy to hear, I've appreciated every comment.

So, I highly recommend you find some great Beta readers. People who will tell you the truth, who are willing to take the time to read your work in a timely manner, who will give you details on what worked, what didn't and why.

It may not be the most pleasant experience, but it will push you to be the very best version of yourself possible. And that makes the growing pains worth it.

I love Springtime! There's something so invigorating about seeing trees bud and flowers bloom, spending more time outdoors and putting away heavy coats. Of course, it's not a perfect time of year. Allergies kick up, thunderstorms pop up, and Tax Day slips up on you. Still, it's one of my favorite seasons.

After a few months of dreary weather, the warm sunny days are completely energizing me. I have several challenges I'll face over the next couple of months - there are big changes happening at my day job, and I'm going to finish writing and editing Granted.  Even though both of those are daunting, I'm feeling optimistic and up to the tackling the gargantuan tasks before me. Today, I feel like I can do anything!

What invigorates and encourages you to take on those challenging goals in your life?

Sometimes simply waiting for the train can be an adventure. Depending on the day, the platform can be packed or empty, and this particular day, it was vacant. It was a pretty day, warm - but not overly so -- and I had my eReader out enjoying a good romance.

"Hey Miss."

I looked up, expecting to see someone asking me for money. When people interrupt your reading, that's the typical question. Either that, or they're lost and need directions. But typically, they want money.

Instead, this homeless man held out a flower. "This is for you."

"No, thank you," I said as politely as I could. I suspected that he'd give me the flower and then expect payment for it.

"Take it. It's yours."

"Thank you, but no, thanks." I smiled and tried to be as nice as I could, since he was being so pleasant.

Instead of accepting that I didn't want the flower, he began cussing, threw the flower at my feet and stormed away. That's when I realized that he'd picked the flower from one of the planters on the platform.

I guess I'll never know if he genuinely wanted to give me a flower or if he wanted money. Either way, he didn't take the rejection well.

I just finished a meeting with someone whose last name is Coffin. I immediately thought Wow, I wonder what you think about your name. Is it something you love, something you hate, or something you never think about?

When my husband and I named our daughter, we received quite a few opinions (mostly negative) about the name we'd chosen. (All I will say is it sounds the same, but isn't spelled the same, as a former president.) We didn't listen, and now our loved ones agree it was the perfect name for her.

When I write, I try to choose the perfect name for the character, one that embodies who they are or their situation. Sometimes the name comes to me immediately, and sometimes I struggle. Secondary characters' names aren't quite as important to me, and many times I'll simply write the first name that pops into my head. With my latest story The Ugly Sister, I accidentally named a character Mark Sparks. One of my beta readers caught it and told me that she didn't like his name. I considered changing it. After all, he plays a very minor role, and I didn't want his name to draw more attention than it should.

On the other hand, his name cracked me up, and I loved the irony that one of the more serious characters had a fun name. So, I compromised. Mark Sparks retained his name; however, I made sure in the story that I never placed his first and last name next to each other.

Now you know a little secret, and we share an inside joke!

Have you ever experienced a name that drew your attention? If you have, feel free to share below.