Carla I. Pinilla D.The Fictional Lens: Writing the World as We Hope It Could BeIn times of darkness and despair, writing fiction can be a powerful tool for envisioning a better world and rekindling hope.Aug 24Aug 24
Carla I. Pinilla D.The Charm of First Love: Why L.M. Zorn’s “The Lion’s Cub” Made Me Rethink Slow Burn RomanceNormally, slow-burn romances test my patience, but “The Lion’s Cub” charms with rich characters, tender moments, and a beautiful first…Aug 12Aug 12
Carla I. Pinilla D.The Heart of the Matter: Why Female Fans Like “Bad Boy” PairingsFemale fans love “bad boy” pairings not for danger or fixing, but for discovering the hidden goodness and growth in complex characters.Jul 31Jul 31
Carla I. Pinilla D.A Method to my Madness: Reflecting on Ellen Brock’s Writer TypesDiscovering my unique writing style through Ellen Brock’s writer classification system and perhaps adding a new writer type while I’m at…Jul 21Jul 21
Carla I. Pinilla D.The Terrible Two … Thousand Words: Writing Through DistractionsStruggling to stay focused on my new novel! From life’s demands to endless distractions, here’s how the first 2,000 words can be the…Jul 7Jul 7
Carla I. Pinilla D.In Memory of Donald Sutherland: A Legacy of Iconic PerformancesMourning the loss of Donald Sutherland, reflecting on his iconic roles in Pride & Prejudice, The Hunger Games, and more. His legacy…Jun 20Jun 20
Carla I. Pinilla D.Reclaiming the Past: Queer Romance and Historical Insight in Jeanne Reames’s “Dancing with the…Jeanne Reames’s “Dancing with the Lion” is a must-read for fans of queer romance and history, celebrating Alexander and Hephaestion’s love.Jun 12Jun 12
Carla I. Pinilla D.Starting Anew, or: Researcher’s Block Is a Real ThingFrom one novel to the next, I must manage my love for research, struggle with the blank page, and find balance between planning and…May 12May 12
Carla I. Pinilla D.Rediscovering the Joy: Why ‘Psych’ is Worth a RewatchUncharacteristically, I decided to rewatch my beloved show “Psych” to remind myself that there is still joy in this world. You should, too.May 6May 6
Carla I. Pinilla D.Beyond Enemies: The Case for “Dislike to Love” in Romance TropesIs “enemies to lovers” too broad for you? Try “dislike to love” instead for a more gradual, genuine connection between characters.Apr 16Apr 16