The Wily Wastrel

The Wily Wastrel was one of my favorite books to write. Romantic Times nominated it for best Regency of 1999. I love James and Juliet and hope readers will as well. The Wily Wastrel is now available as an e-book at Regency Reads.

Appearances are deceiving as this apparently frippery fellow tries to hide his natural genius for invention from his disapproving older brother, Lord Darton. He has no interest in the silly young ladies who are forever being paraded before him as possible wives. But what happens when he meets a young lady with a mind as fine as his own?

Top Regency pick for October 1999 by Romantic Times Magazine and nominated by Romantic Times Magazine for best Regency of 1999.

kindle version

9/11

How well I remember that day. My daughter and I were headed to the Jersey shore for a couple of days together before she left for college. It was eerily empty on the highway except for emergency vehicles headed north--to NYC. My husband had family in the city and it took too long to find out they were all okay.

Like everyone else, I watched in horror as the towers fell. Like everyone else, I was touched by the courage of those on flight 93.

As all the planes were grounded, my daughter and I made contingency plans for how we would get her out to California in time for the start of classes.

We talked about our lives, our hopes and dreams. Though I didn't tell her yet, I realized I could no longer put off making changes. Not when life could end with such breathtaking suddenness and horror.

And I watched in the months and years after 9/11 as our nation changed. Yes, with wars and new security measures but also in the way we dealt with each other. It was as if, afraid, we tried to cling to what would make us feel safe. In some ways it felt as if we forgot how to listen to one another with kindness and respect, understanding that no one has a lock on wisdom, that we can learn from those whose view of the world is different from our own.

I hope that this anniversary reunites us, reminds us that despite all our differences, we are one nation and it is in those differences that lies our strength.

I doubt I will ever forget the horror of seeing the towers fall, the smoke rising from the Pentagon, the courage it took for those passengers on flight 93 to fight back and stop the terrorists.

I hope what I will be able to remember following this anniversary is how our nation came together again, finally, 10 years later.

September Book in a Week online class

My goal with this class: To bring more joy into your life and into your writing process. I believe that when we do anything with joy, we do it better and faster and more creatively. This is why so many who have taken this class have gone on to sell their work and/or win awards. At least one author has had her book written with this process optioned for a movie. This is an intensive class but I hope it will also be one that helps you smile as you brainstorm and then write your book.

You can sign up to be notified when I am offering this or any other class by using this link: April Kihlstrom online classes


Book in a Week Online Writing Class

Cost: $85 ($45 if you have taken it before) (Note: I understand the economy is bad and if you have a hardship situation, please let me know. I do offer discounts in hardship cases.)
Dates: September 12, 2011 to October 14, 2011
Deadline to sign up: by September 9, 2011 (though I do sometimes take people at the last minute if there is still room in the class)
Lessons: Everything is handled via email so that you can do the work at your convenience.
Class size is limited.

Class Description:

This class will take you through every step of the writing process—from beginning to brainstorm all the way through sending material out to be published. And it will help you discover who YOU are as a writer. You can participate as much or as little as you like in email discussions.

Weeks 1-3:
This is when you do the prep work with lessons that are designed to get you thinking in new ways about your project. Among other things, I'll cover characters and book structure, imagery and use of names, POV and how to make sentence and paragraph structure work for you. If you choose, you can post answers and get help brainstorming ideas for your book but NO ONE is required to do so!

Week 4: Intensive Writing Week (October 1, 2011 through October 9, 2011)
This is your chance to write better and faster than you ever have before, to discover what YOUR natural first draft will look like and ways to fit writing into your life that you may never have thought of before.

Week 5:
Here's your chance to look at the experience of week 4 and use it to create a writing method that works for YOU and is tailored to your most natural writing style. We'll also look at how to revise your work in the fastest, most effective way possible and I'll be sharing some of my thoughts on query letters, synopses, etc.

Does it work? Well, a number of people who have taken this class are now published or under contract with material they worked on during my classes!

Bio: April Kihlstrom is an award winning author of 31 published romance novels. She offers coaching to fellow writers as well as classes and workshops on writing and has spoken at many conferences including: the Romance Writers of America national conference (romance) and the East of Eden conference (non-romance).

Testimonials from students who have taken the Book in a Week class:

Flo Fitzpatrick wrote: "I hope you get a ton of students, April! ONE OF THE BEST WORKSHOPS I EVER TOOK!!!! ( It enabled me to write Hot Stuff in a week - and that book received four and half stars - Gold on RT Reviews and is under option for film.) TAKE THIS CLASS, PEOPLE!!!!"

“I have taken several online classes, none of them writing related. Still, none of them have been as well planned, documented and executed as BIAW.”

“Wow...Let me begin by saying Thank you Thank you Thank you! What an amazing process and generous amount of information given in a relatively short amount of time!”

“This course was certainly value for the money. A price can't be placed on the invaluable information and experience you imparted during this course.”

“I'm a better writer. I'm a faster writer. I'm a more confident writer.”

Payment for the class may be made by check or by Paypal.

To sign up send an email to aprilkihlstrom@yahoo.com with the title of the class you wish to take in the header and in the body of the email please put: your name and whether you prefer to pay by check or Paypal. Also, please let me know if you have taken the class before. Note: If cost is an issue, please let me know and on a case by case basis we may be able to work something out. Note: If you do not get a response back from me, please try emailing me at april.kihlstrom@gmail.com. Unfortunately email does sometimes simply disappear into cyberspace.