Birthdays: Herbert Fris (1893), Simone Beck (1904), Robert Heinlein (1907), Margaret Walker (1915), David Eddings (1931), T.J. Bass (1932), David McCullough (1933), Nancy Farmer (1941), Harriet Ziefert (1941), Nikki Giovanni (1943), Kathy Reichs (1948), Jill McCorkle (1958), Eric Jerome Dickey (1961), Zoe Heller (1965), Jeff VanderMeer (1968), Renee Ahdieh (1983), V.E. Schwab (1987),

Herbert Feis won the 1960 Pulitzer Prize for History for “Between War and Peace: the Potsdam Conference”

Robert Heinlein was one of the most influential science fiction authors of his time.

Margaret Walker is best known for her book “Jubilee”

David Eddings is best known for his fantasy series “The Belgariad” and “The Mallorean”

David McCullough won the Pulitzer for his biographies of “Truman” and “John Adams”

Kathy Reichs is best known for her Temperance Brennan mysteries that were adapted into the TV show “Bones”

Quote: “My favourite part of writing any story is falling in love with my characters. It’s that moment when I really feel as though I understand their histories and can’t wait to put their perspectives on the page.” – Renee Ahdieh

Tip: Hooks keep a reader reading, keeps them turning the pages. They answer the questions: who, what, why, when, where, how. They should pull your reader in and keep them interested. They’re especially a good way to end a chapter.

Jumpstart: Your character is a straightlaced good girl, but now she has to do something out of character – strip, or commit a crime, or hurt someone. What does she have to do and why? How does she react?