[Her book] was inspired in part by "The Sopranos" and Morrell's realization that an anti-hero such as Tony Soprano can be at least as compelling as any good guy.

"A lot of the old advice writers have been given is really outdated," Morrell said.

Like what?

"Like you should only write likable characters. Like the hero should always be someone the reader can relate to. Things don't have to be black and white. Most of the characters that are fascinating and have depth are colored gray."

What kind of guy draws a monster every day? Bucher leads a lifestyle that some might classify as monstrous. Or, at the very least, vampiric. When the rest of the city is sleeping, he is drawing, from midnight to 4 a.m. He reasons, “Drawing is a monastic activity, on a straight line from illuminating manuscripts. Drawing a monster a day every day for 100 consecutive days? It becomes a stamina question.”

Bucher’s monastery, though, is open to the world, and people complain if no monster appears on time. It’s their morning coffee or lunch break.

That's kind of a good description for many HOW titles: art that's open to the world. Buy a HOW Book, support art! (Now off soapbox.)

Wow. Now we just need werewolves reading sonnets and I'm set!

You heard it: "Writer's Market IS a great resource."

I am surprised, however, that the conversation didn't shift focus at that exact point from Meyer to Writer's Market. A good interviewer would've interrupted saying something like, "Whoa-whoa, Stephanie--Writer's Market?!? Here let me get my pen out; can you give us all the URL on that? (pause) And one more time for the folks at home? Thanks, Stephanie. And tomorrow, we'll be bringing you an interview with the folks from Writer's Market." I mean, that's how I would've handled it. ;)

Falling with the group,
by the time I get to her,
all that's left is hair.

Always be careful
when you're biting teeth with teeth.
Dead teeth tend to lose.

I push with my chin,
a better biting angle,
into her shoulder.

Long May Iowa and New Hampshire Reign! Primary Scenario 1

Regardless of the reasons why, everything is riding on the battle for these two states. Taking heed of legendary former House Speaker Tip O'Neill's maxim that "all politics is local," the first part of this challenge will ask you to demonstrate your knowledge of Iowa and New Hampshire. Decide whether each statement applies to New Hampshire or Iowa (or one of the other choices … you get the idea).

1. My motto is "live free or die."
A. Iowa
B. New Hampshire
C. Tony Hawk
D. Other

Answer: B (Tony Hawk is a good guess, but he isn't a state.)

Epiphany should not be confused with a trick ending. For example, if you write a st ory in which a young woman looks forward to getting together with a man, giving this the appearance of a date, and then, in the last line of the story, it turns out that the man is her dad—and that's the whole point—you are not making an epiphany. The main character knew it all along, and the writer chose to hide this information to surprise us later. Now, this may be charming, but it's cheap. The character must come upon some genuine discovery.