Nov. 19, 2016 – A walk in the woods today with this guy, during which all sort of possibilities arose. Bears. Monsters. Snakes. And with each dire scenario, a way to deal with it. Swords against the bears. Invisibility when the monsters appeared. As for snakes – “If there’s a snake, I want to see it!” That works, too. When do we lose it – not just the imagination, but the ingenuity, too? All this by way of saying, the next time I have trouble dreaming up a plot twist, I’m going to remember my walk in the woods with Charlie. He’d have no trouble at all.
Newsletter
The waiting is the hardest part
" Plus: Summertime blues, as in berries, and five great books Read article"Happy, happy, joy, joy
" Plus: The joy of typing The End, a $2.99 e-book deal, and shout-outs to a couple of great mysteries Read article"New look for the newsletter
" Plus: Writer's mental midnight rambles, a lemon cake, and three great reads Read article"Getting it right the second time
" Plus: Book deals, focaccia and RIP Alice Munro Read article"Work in Progress - XXX-rated drafting* (*if only)
" Plus: Tucson Festival of Books, bread and biscuits redux and some pretty great reads Read articleReviews - the good, the bad, the cheesy
" Plus: Biscuits and scones, James Lee Burke and Claudia Rankine Read articleWalking = Writing
" Plus: First review, good review; and peaches and pineapples Read articleA room of one's own is good. A couch, even better
" Plus, a cover reveal, an orange cake and some butter delivery devices Read articleFebruary features a new resolution
" Plus, book news on two fronts; Italian pastries; and some reading about Florios! Read articleVolcano love
May 17, 2022
Last October I did a writing residency in Naples, Italy. It coincided with a terrible time in my life, and to deal with my grief, I walked (and walked and walked). It didn’t take long for me to realize howRead More
It’s a newsletter!
April 1, 2022
On the advice of my agent, I’ve started a monthly newsletter. How is it different than this space? For starters, it obviously appears more frequently, although I intend to remedy that. You can sign up here for book news, myRead More
Winning the residency lottery
December 9, 2021
via GIPHY Writing residencies are a gift beyond measure, offering time and space away from the many (many, many) demands of daily life that conspire against productive writing. Typically they involve anywhere from two weeks to a month and beyond,Read More
In person again! Except … not
August 30, 2021
It was a thrill to schedule my first in-person book events in more than a year. I signed up for Bouchercon, the world mystery book convention, in New Orleans – a location that doubles the fun of my favorite writers’ conference.Read More
News & Announcements
Five Takeaways from 5E's Office Hours Session on Small Press Publishing
"1: Small Presses are not on the sidelines of the book business." Read article.
Kirkus reviews Best Be Prepared
"Florio continues to put a contemporary spin on the old-fashioned whodunit." Read article.
The Least Among Us featured on Crime Reads
"A murder on the margins, and a death that would haunt one writer for years to come." Read article.
New York Times reviews The Least Among Us
"Gwen Florio is one of those writers who regularly publish series and stand-alones that leave a lasting impression — like her latest, THE LEAST AMONG US' Read review.
Best Practices 'poignant'
"Publishers Weekly praises 'a strong female lead and a dramatic look at seldom discussed social injustices.' Read review.
The Truth of It All reviewed
"The Truth of It All clicks on three levels—mystery, character-study, and commentary on the modern-day pastime of rushing to judgment. That’s a fine triple play." Read review.
Florio featured in Distinctly Montana magazine, along with James Lee Burke, Craig Johnson and C.J. Box
"A lively and funny conversation that underscored how much she has to offer readers who crave the fast-paced and gritty stories that she tells so well." Read interview.
Big Sky Journal lauds 'The Truth of It All'
"A story that leaps from the page like a battle cry." Read review.
'Best Laid Plans' featured on The Write Question
Journalist-turned-novelist Gwen Florio talks about being a part of a welcoming community of mystery and crime writers, about utilizing silence in her writing (and seeking it out during the pandemic), about how gender operates in her newest novel, and more! Listen here.
'Best Laid Plans' a Book Browse top pick
If you're looking for some fun, easy reading by a gifted writer, I definitely recommend this one. Read review.
Starred review for 'Best Laid Plans'
"Baffling circumstances combine with life-changing adventures in this breathtaking page-turner." - Kirkus Reviews Read more
'Best Laid Plans' featured on Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' podcast
'The way you get stuff done is just do it and do it and do it.' Read more.
The Nation: Gwen Florio on community journalism
Fewer and fewer reporters cover the local institutions whose decisions most directly affect their neighbors' lives. Read more.
The Write Question interviews Gwen Florio
'Gwen Florio, in what ways are you impossible to control?'Learn More
2018 Writer of the Year Named
Gwen Florio won the Writer of the Year (WOTY) award for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. Learn More
Silent Hearts Released!
For fans of A Thousand Splendid Suns comes a stirring novel set in Afghanistan about two women who form an unexpected friendship in Kabul. Learn More
The Independent Reviews Silent Hearts
Gwen Florio masters the literary page-turner with 'Silent Hearts,'says Sarah Aswell of The Independent. Learn more
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