Birthdays: Honoré de Balzac (1799), Mary Pope Osborne (1949), Douglas Preston (1956), Justin Cartwright (1943), Margery Allingham (1904), Michele Roberts (1949), Sigrid Undset (1882), Walter Isaacson (1952)

Tip: When looking over a contract, if you are doing it yourself, be sure you are aware of the rights you are assigning to the publisher and the length of time they have the right to your work. These can include electronic, audio, translations, reprint, other editions, and more. Learn what they are so you can make informed decisions concerning your work.

Thought for the day: “You can’t believe anything that’s written in an historical novel, and yet the author’s job is always to create a believable world that readers can enter. It’s especially so, I think, for writers of historical fiction.” – Justin Cartwright

Jumpstart: What is your character’s dream car? Describe it in detail. How will s/he get one?