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Next Book Set in Los Angeles, a City That Defies Definition
I’m currently writing my third book in the Mary Donahue series and it takes place in California, and specifically, Los Angeles, an iconic...

marthaengber
Apr 14, 20252 min read


The Story Graph Book Site
While at AWP2025 recently, a woman told me about The Story Graph and said it’s like Goodreads , the book reader/reviewer site owned by...

marthaengber
Apr 9, 20251 min read


The MMR Vaccine and Autism
During the process of writing BLISS ROAD , a memoir about my undiagnosed autistic dad, I went on a mountain biking trip about two hours...

marthaengber
Apr 6, 20254 min read


Jamie Nash's "Save the Cat! Writes for TV
Buy NOW! While writing our pilot for THE RECORD SHOP (coming 2026, Knight Studios ), a sci-fi thriller, my writing team and I were...

marthaengber
Mar 31, 20252 min read


Massive Bookfair in Los Angeles March 27 - 29!
AWP 2025 I’m really looking forward to seeing my fellow Vine Leaves Press authors and other friends at this year’s Association of...

marthaengber
Mar 26, 20251 min read


Female Heroes: Pino and Boudica
Buy NOW! When taking part in the American Historical Novel Facebook page holiday giveaway some months ago, I asked readers who their...

marthaengber
Mar 24, 20251 min read


Book Review: "Barren"
by Byddi Lee Available for preorder NOW ! Irish author Byddi Lee's BARREN ( US link , UK link ) is a wonderful mix between Jean M....

marthaengber
Mar 23, 20252 min read


Severance Season 2: Are You a Fan?!
TV show When we were developing our TV show, THE RECORD SHOP , recently bought by Knight Studios , I held SEVERANCE as the standard of...

marthaengber
Mar 21, 20251 min read


Screenwriting: Takes a Village That Includes EJ DeBrun!
Contact EJ “If a TV show gets produced, it’s a miracle.” When EJ DeBrun said those words while speaking on a panel at the San Francisco...

marthaengber
Mar 19, 20252 min read


Happy St. Pat's Day From Mary Donahue!
Buy NOW! Growing up in Chicago , I was used to the city dumping gallons of green dye in the Chicago River to celebrate St. Pat’s Day,...

marthaengber
Mar 17, 20251 min read


"The White Lotus": Are you a fan?
"The White Lotus" season 3 I’m a huge fan of screenwriter, director, creator Mike White for what he’s accomplished with THE WHITE LOTUS ...

marthaengber
Mar 14, 20251 min read


Screenwriters: Let's Talk Sizzle Reels!
Image from sizzle reel for THE RECORD SHOP (coming 2026) If you’re an aspiring screenwriter, or know someone who is, pass along this...

marthaengber
Mar 9, 20252 min read


Exciting TV Show Update!
Coming 2026! Some months ago I told you my inconsistency in producing a newsletter was due to the hard work my writing team and I were...

marthaengber
Mar 7, 20251 min read


Developmental Edit of Next Book Underway
I just started the developmental edit of SCATTERED LIGHT (published by Vine Leaves Press Nov. 2025), the Mary Donahue sequel to WINTER...

marthaengber
Mar 3, 20251 min read


Help a Worthy Independent Bookstore!
There was nothing quite like walking into a Books Inc. bookstore years ago to see my very first book, GROWING GREAT CHARACTERS ,, on the...

marthaengber
Feb 28, 20252 min read


Book Review: "The Midwife's Revolt"
by Jodi Daynard I love books about midwives , because they play such a key and dramatic role in women’s lives. Jodi Daynard’s THE...

marthaengber
Feb 26, 20252 min read


Choosing My Book for Your Next Book Club Pick!
You gotta love your sisters! Or at least I do mine. They and their book club have chosen my book, THE FALCON, THE WOLF AND THE...

marthaengber
Feb 24, 20251 min read


Fiction Can Lead to Increased Empathy
1978 was my freshman year at Lyons Township High School in La Grange, IL. I’ll admit I was pretty straight-laced, so I would have...

marthaengber
Feb 17, 20251 min read


Calling All Authors: Second Annual VLP Writing Contest
If you love to read books about experiences you’ve never had in places you’ve never been, and you know someone who writes, or would like...

marthaengber
Feb 10, 20251 min read


Book Review: "Listen to Me"
by Cordelia Biddle LISTEN TO ME by Cordelia Frances Biddle is an amazingly inventive book! The author writes from the viewpoint of many...

marthaengber
Feb 5, 20251 min read
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