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  • About Me
  • About My Novels
  • Press Kit
  • Podcasts 2022
  • Books I’ve Enjoyed
  • Shop My Products
    • Book Pages Wreath
    • Heart Pages Wreath
    • Small Book Pages Wreath
    • From Humbug to Humble: The Transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge – Personalized & Signed
    • Beneath the Mimosa Tree: A Novel – Personalized & Signed
    • Baseball Girl: A Novel – Personalized & Signed
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    • The Postcard and Other Short Stories & Poetry – Personalized & Signed
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  • A Pep Talk on How to Use NaNoWriMo to Your Advantage

    November 5, 2021 /

    Okay, listen up writers. I’m here to kick you into gear. I’m here to tell you it can be done. I’m here to tell you not to give up. November is here, and on this 5th day, let us remember that there are many more days in the month, and they shouldn’t go to waste if you are participating in NaNoWriMo, otherwise known as National Novel Writing Month. Established many years ago, NaNoWriMo was created to encourage writers to complete 50,000 words of a novel or work of nonfiction by November 30. The word count of 50,000 words constitutes a short novel, or approximately 1,660 words a day. I’m here…

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    Stephanie Verni 0 Comments

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    Travel, Interrupted

    January 2, 2019

    Friday Fiction: A Short About Reincarnation & Love (and in need of feedback)

    April 3, 2020

    What Blogging Has Meant to Me

    January 12, 2019
  • Finding Inspiration

    September 3, 2019 /

    As someone who writes fiction as my side job, I seek inspiration, either from other people or from places. Additionally, as a writer who is about to publish my 4th novel, I use places almost as I use characters in my novel—they must have a personality and purpose.  Setting is very important to me, and getting a handle on that place requires me to do some digging and exploring. Next month, I will launch my newest novel, LITTLE MILESTONES, set in St. Michaels, Maryland, a place I love visit when I need to get away from the rat race of life. It’s only a little over an hour away from…

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    On the Road to Event Planning

    October 16, 2015

    Mercury Glass For A Touch of Sparkle

    July 30, 2015

    The Move to Online Learning and Its Benefits

    March 22, 2020
  • The Postcard & Other Short Stories Earns Finalist Award in 13th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards

    May 27, 2019 /

    Finalist | Short Stories | 2019 National Indie Excellence Awards YOU GUYS!!!! Am I allowed to be a little excited for a moment? I was thrilled to learn on Friday that The Postcard and Other Short Stories & Poetry received recognition as a FINALIST in the 13th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards! This is the fourth time my books have placed in this contest, and on behalf of all indie authors out there, I want to thank organizations such as NIEA for hosting contests where our writing can be reviewed and showcased. Indie authors are tireless little bunnies out here writing and publishing our own stories, and I couldn’t be…

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    Stephanie Verni 2 Comments

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    Podcast 3: The Things I’ve Learned From—You Don’t Want to Say “I Could Have Done Better”

    February 21, 2022

    Escape to Italy and Meet Anna, Matteo, and Nicolo

    January 28, 2022

    The Most Difficult Part is Getting to the Finish Line

    January 10, 2019
  • The Postcard Gets 5-Star Review from Readers’ Favorite

    May 20, 2019 /

    Honestly, it’s been a pretty rough 2019 for so many reasons, but seeing this review this morning from READERS’ FAVORITE put a big smile on my face. It’s when I read something like this that I know that despite all the work and effort it takes to be an independent author, it is all worth it in the end. Thank you also to my former student, now PR pro, Grace Clark, for the amazing cover photo, which helped earn us a perfect 5 score for the collection, from writing, storytelling, to cover design. Cheers! THE BOOK REVIEW Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers’ Favorite A postcard is more than just…

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    Stephanie Verni 2 Comments

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    5 Sure-Fire Ways To Boost Creativity

    March 16, 2016

    My Favorite Villain

    March 25, 2022

    Why I Will NEVER Break Up With Coffee

    January 16, 2019
  • Keep Your Head Down

    February 7, 2019 /

    I’ve learned a few things from being an independent author and as someone who loves to write and tell stories, and it’s this: Just Do Your Thing. When I saw this quote from Michael Connelly, I paused, and then posted it on my Instagram page, where I post often about writing (and some fashion, too!). It’s encouraging and it is meant to keep you focused on the story you are telling. Don’t try to make your story like someone else’s story. It’s your story, the one you are meant to tell. If love stories or fairies or wizards or futuristic robots aren’t the hot button in publishing right now, but…

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    Stephanie Verni 1 Comment

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    Friday Fodder: My Obsession with Letters & Journals

    May 6, 2022

    Meet Some of My Author Friends on #WritersWednesday

    March 25, 2020

    Times Flies & Simple Goals for 2020

    December 29, 2019
  • Let’s Do This Thing

    November 1, 2018 /

    I’m back to motivate you. Are you open to it? Do you have an idea for a novel, memoir, nonfiction story, or a collection of short stories that you need to give some time to this month? You’re in luck. Welcome to National Novel Writing Month, or as we call it for short, #nanowrimo. We’re here to help you get moving. Along with my friends at the Stevenson University Library, our job tonight is to inform you on the best ways to go about writing and producing your book. In one hour, we’ll have you inspired and on your way to beginning this exciting path to writing and publishing a…

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    Friday Fodder | It’s Been a Good Week

    September 4, 2015

    In Honor of Teacher Appreciation Week & A Thank You to My Students

    May 6, 2016

    Life Philosophies, Not Resolutions This Year

    December 31, 2018
  • Setting #Goals – The First Step in Turning the Invisible to the Visible

    September 4, 2018 /

    I use a lot of prompts in my writing classes. Today’s in-class writing prompt was this: Write about a goal you are trying to achieve. This can be a personal goal, an educational goal, or a professional goal. No more than 350 words. I decided to write along with my class this morning, as I am going to try something new this time. Feel free to join in the fun and write or blog along with us. Here’s my prompt. *** Over the last few months, I’ve decided that after self-publishing four independent works of fiction, I am going to write a fifth novel that I will attempt to send…

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    It’s Been A Helluva Week & A Little Milestone Is In The Books

    October 23, 2019

    Midnight Madness in Annapolis

    December 11, 2015

    Travel Writing: From Teaching It to Doing It

    June 21, 2021
  • Book Giveaway – Enter to Win!

    June 11, 2017 /

    * In the world of independent authors and publishing, Amazon gives us the opportunity to give away copies of our books… So let’s do it. If you’re wondering what the heck Inn Significant is about and whether you may want to read it, let me share some recent reviews about the book (below you will see the summary about the novel). In the novel, you’ll be transported to Oxford, Maryland (click here to see an lovely overview of the town form Only in Your State); one of my readers wrote to me and said, “Brilliant. Beautiful. A work of literary art. The vivid imagery of Oxford, as you did with…

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    Change

    October 6, 2015

    Talking teaching, life lessons, writing, and fashion on FamilyApp.com

    July 7, 2021

    Inspired by Joanna Gaines and Fixer Upper on HGTV

    April 4, 2016
  • Porch Sitting & Writing, A Winning Combination

    May 26, 2016 /

    My summer break is finally here. As a college professor, we love our teaching, but sometimes a little down time is important. For months, people have been asking me what I’ll be doing this summer. My answer? Reading, writing, relaxing. There you have it in a nutshell. And yes, I have some things to accomplish, but they will get done on my schedule. I’m still editing “Postcards and Other Short Stories,” and I’m writing my third novel. But the beauty is, I feel no pressure. I’m on my own timetable. Our porch at home is my little sanctuary. I love my office, its space, and the new chandelier, but in…

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    No More Blues with Blue Skies

    March 29, 2016

    Weekly Recipe: Chicken, Turkey Sausage & Kale

    May 22, 2019

    Books. Book Talks. Bookshelves.

    January 19, 2020
  • Writing Can’t Be ‘Thin Love’

    January 21, 2016 /

    Love is or it ain’t. Thin love ain’t love at all. ~ Toni Morrison I admire writer Toni Morrison. She is smart, insightful, and willing to write for herself. Her books are powerful and influential…and from the heart. After sitting here reading many of her quotes, I keep coming back to the one above along with this one: If there is a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, you must be the one to write it. ~ Toni Morrison You have to love to write in order to take an idea and watch it come to fruition. Anyone who has the fortitude to do…

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    BOOKISH — Sunday Book Festival and Monday Book Talk on the Docket

    September 25, 2015

    Pumpkin.ssssssssss

    October 14, 2015

    Weekly Recipe: Chicken, Turkey Sausage & Kale

    May 22, 2019
  • Some Quick Facts About Independently Publishing Your Book

    November 19, 2014 /

      Those of us who write books can all see it clearly: the world of publishing is in a state of flux. Independent authors are popping up ever more frequently, and there are numerous reasons for it. Why? Because writers want to maintain control over their own projects. Because writers want to immerse themselves into all aspects of the publishing process, from conception of story to editing to designing the cover to marketing and promoting their novels themselves. And, because writers write as a hobby, something they do on the side and not as their sole livelihood; perhaps they don’t want the hassle of everything that can come with traditional…

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    Stephanie Verni 3 Comments
  • The Right Perspective

    July 28, 2014 /

    “Writing has laws of perspective, of light and shade just as painting does, or music. If you are born knowing them, fine. If not, learn them. Then rearrange the rules to suit yourself.” ~ Truman Capote * * * I think I’ve been heeding this advice subconsciously for years. When a reviewer tells me, as an independent writer, to “take something out,” I always consider it. I’m actually pretty open to suggestions where my writing is concerned. However, when one thinks of creative writing as an “art,” which it falls under when considering academic Masters of Fine Arts programs, it makes me wonder about artists like painters and sculptors and…

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    Stephanie Verni 1 Comment
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Welcome to my website! I'm Stephanie Verni, and I love sharing my travels, stories, and experiences writing novels with you. Thanks for stopping by!
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