One of the things discussed in a session at DFW Writers’ Conference this year was not to blog about writing. I’m gonna go right on ahead and break that “rule,” because when I was first starting out, there were so many mixed messages and people with a bias making proclamations that it was hard to tell which way was up. I wish I’d had someone “in the thick of it” to tell me what was going on, so I’m going to provide that resource.

I’ve had a little bit of time to recover from the sugar-and-caffeine soaked two-day marathon that is DFW Writers’ Conference, and I’m here to tell you it is money well spent. I was a little nervous going in that I wouldn’t get as much out of it as I had last year, in my first visit, but this year was better. I was more comfortable, had…

Beverly and Tamara: Welcome to SSLY Charlotte. Thanks so much for joining us today. So first why don’t you tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Charlotte Howard, I’m a housewife and mother of two young children, and a writer! I live in Somerset and my first full-length novel ‘Seven Dirty Words’ has just been published.

Tamara: What do you HAVE to have when you are writing?

A cup of tea. In a big mug!

Beverly: When did you start to write?

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. A poem I wrote when I was 10, was published in an anthology, and I’ve had chapters and articles published in anthologies and on the internet since 2008.

Tamara: What do you think are the qualities that make up a “hero”?

I think the hero has to be brave, but not necessarily aware of their bravery…