As I write this, the latest 10K Novel-Building Challenge is coming to an end, and we are getting ready to select award recipients. In a matter of days, three deserving writers will take home awards for the novels they are working hard to complete, and I can’t wait to share the results of their hard work in next month’s issue.

Readers have reason to rejoice, too! We’ve got some newly published books available for you to read, including The Brightest Firefly, Dacia M Arnold‘s recent literary fiction release, and Don’t Let Go, a young adult novel by Karla Martinez. As the first snow of the season starts to fall, light a crackling fire and enjoy these excellent reads. Then bookmark our Hot Off the Press section, because more published books are on their way.

Now let’s talk about this issue, which is full of expert advice and insider tips from two seasoned editors and two accomplished writers. You’re sure to learn a lot!

Author and editor Jennifer Silva Redmond is here to help you bridge the gaps between the scenes you write. Since “Meanwhile, back at the ranch…” is probably the worst possible way to move a reader into the next scene, Jennifer has some tips that can make your transitions stronger, and help you smoothly make that leap “from breakfast to break-up, or from colonial Bangladesh to modern-day Bermuda.”

Then, in her monthly column, author Shirley Holder Platt explains that your main character doesn’t automatically have to undergo a positive change by the end of your story. He or she can, of course, but there are other options to explore. You’ll learn about character arcs, and how they can help you determine whether your characters should change for the better, the worse, or not at all.

Finally, author Tiffany S. Doran is feeling optimistic after conquering our 10K Challenge, and with Thanksgiving just around the corner, she’s preparing herself mentally for the challenges that lie ahead in achieving her writing goals, and encouraging you to do the same.

On the cover this month is Michael Mohr, a Manhattan-based author and editor who specializes in developmental editing. Michael, who runs his own freelance editing business—with an impressive client list—is also a frequent contributor to this magazine. When I interviewed Michael for this issue, he told me all about what it takes to start a successful editing business, gave me his best advice for writers who are just starting out, and talked about what he learned from a hitchhiking trip across the country in his twenties.

Tonight, mull the cider and spice the wine—and snuggle up with this month’s issue of Books & Buzz Magazine.

Happy reading,

Timothy Pike
Editor-in-chief, Books & Buzz Magazine