M.C. Muhlenkamp's Blog

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an aspiring author who interviews her writing heroes, must fangirl over said heroes. Hi Rockstar! Boy, do I have a treat for you today. I was able to interview the amazingly talented Ellen McGinty, author of Saints and Monsters, and I am so excited to share her spotlight… Continue reading Saints & Monsters: Ellen McGinty Author Spotlight + Giveaway!

My new short story is here! Do you love fantasy? Immersive settings? How about a little creepiness thrown in? Then I have a treat for you. This short story has been in the works for a long time. Birthed from a prompt at my local writing group (and a picture of creepy puppets), it kind… Continue reading Free Short Story: Dark Carnival Magic Awaits!

It never ceases to amaze me how perspective works. I’ll be the first one to admit that I can be—and often are—very hard on myself. I tend to focus on my shortcomings, instead of what I have already accomplished. That led me to discover three concrete and actionable things I can do to maintain a… Continue reading Master Your Mindset: Daily Tips for Better Perspective

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an aspiring author who interviews her writing heroes, must fangirl over said heroes. Hi, reader! Are you ready for a literary treat? Then, let me introduce you to a new powerhouse author, and absolutely hilarious girl that you need to know about. I met Amy a few months… Continue reading Discover the Magic of Fairy Tale Retellings with Author Amy Trent + Bookish Giveaway

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an aspiring author who interviews her writing heroes, must fangirl over said heroes. Hi Rockstars! Do you like whimsy YA romance with a dash of magic? Because if you do, I’m about to introduce you to a gem of an Indie author and friend. I met Amber Lambda… Continue reading Author Spotlight + Giveaway: Amber Lambda

Hi Rock Stars! Here’s a question for you, How do you celebrate your successes? I was listening to a great podcast yesterday where the host and guest were discussing their fears as professionals, and one of them mentioned the fear of failure. This made me think about my own relationship with that word, and I… Continue reading Failure is good + August Giveaway!

Hi Rock Stars! In recent years I’ve really tried to make an effort to develop my understanding of what makes good storytelling, whether it is in book form, movie, or even music. Storytelling is everywhere, and though catching the difference between a good story and a bad one can be second nature to most writers,… Continue reading How to Write a Logline

Hi Rockstars! It’s been almost ten weeks since I began my agent querying process for Project Castle, my YA fantasy novel with a Venetian Carnival twist set in 1796 Italy. Since then, I’ve received my fair share of rejections and full manuscript requests (of which I’m still waiting to hear from). All in all, I’ve… Continue reading The Truth About the Querying Trenches

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an aspiring author who interviews her writing heroes, must fangirl over said heroes. Hello, Rockstars! Today, I get to spotlight another author (and editor) that I’ve known for a while, and who I absolutely love. Please meet Lindsay Flanagan. She is an extraordinary (and award-winning) editor, writer, and… Continue reading Author Spotlight + Giveaway: Lindsay Flanagan

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an aspiring author who interviews her writing heroes, must fangirl over said heroes. Hi Rock Stars! Do I have a treat for you today! I was first introduced to wonderfully talented Ashley Bustamante by my daughter (bookworm extraordinaire and book dragon in her own right) when Book 1… Continue reading Author Spotlight & Giveaway: Ashley Bustamante