By Piper Bayard

Some of you may recall my previous article where I explored some of the challenges of book marketing and announced that I was going to seek professional help. I would love to come back to you now and tell you that I found the perfect arrangement that led to phenomenal sales without me having to create one more ad on some program that changed its format yesterday, causing me to spend hours I didn’t have trying to figure out the update.… Read the post

by Piper Bayard of Bayard & Holmes

Genres from thrillers to crime to romance and others often include scenes where characters need to hide or seek out secure places. In my last article, 5 Home Defense Techniques for Any Character, my military and intelligence veteran writing partner Jay Holmes and I discussed the benefits of perimeter lights, security cameras, dogs, and brains.… Read the post

by Piper Bayard of Bayard & Holmes

Many genres involve characters who at some point experience fear, and it is common for them to want to hide in their homes. Everything from creepy shadows, to hang up calls, to ominous social media posts or threats by mobsters can have our characters holing up. … Read the post

by Piper Bayard

One of the most common elements of fiction writing is some type of faction vs. faction conflict, whether we are writing about a change of regime in a local PTA, a kingdom, a modern republic, or interstellar empires.… Read the post

by Piper Bayard of Bayard & Holmes

Before our characters in the Intelligence Community can save the world, they have to be recruited. While we can accomplish this any number of ways in fiction, reality is a bit more limited.

In the Past

During World War II, intelligence organizations snatched up exceptionally bright, capable students at their time of graduation.… Read the post