Steph's Scribe

The Website of Author & Professor Stephanie Parrillo Verni

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  • Podcasts from Steph’s Scribe 2020
  • Books I’ve Enjoyed
  • Books I’ve Written
  • About Me
  • PRESS KIT
  • Podcasts from Steph’s Scribe 2020
  • Books I’ve Enjoyed
  • Books I’ve Written

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  • The Path to Writing Novel Number 5

    June 26, 2020 /

    *** At almost 17,000 words in, I can’t hold in my excitement for the challenge I have ahead of me. Writing this next novel is going to require some thought and some time to get it all in order. There are so many moving parts to this story that I grabbed a notebook and am connecting and dissecting each character in detailed character sketches. I’ve researched what a true empath is, as the character who is an empath is the main thread within the novel. I’ve used sticky notes and pencils, diagrams and plot point outlines. My initial board that I began a couple of months ago has now been…

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    What Are You Missing Most Right Now?

    July 29, 2020

    Breathing in the Air and Tasting The Wines in Napa Valley

    April 27, 2016

    The Best Soup | A Family Favorite

    October 20, 2015
  • photo of building exterior during daytime

    Franco and The Blonde: Fiction Friday

    April 17, 2020 /

    Today, I’m trying my hand at a bit of short fiction. This piece of flash fiction is under 600 words at 595 words. This scene popped into my head last night, perhaps because at dinner, our family was talking about our Italian heritage and the legacies we leave behind (I know…a little heavy for a dinner conversation during a coronavirus crisis). Nonetheless, I knew I was going to write this scene when I went to bed last night, and I banged it out this morning, just to touch base with my creativity. I’m so immersed in teaching 4 online courses right now, that I have little time for something like…

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    Book Review: A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline

    January 31, 2019

    Happy World Book Day

    April 23, 2020

    Opening The Door to Love or Closing the Door to Love

    February 12, 2016
  • Podcast 9 – Building Your Story

    March 10, 2020 /

    Good afternoon! Storytelling and putting it all together—that’s the topic of today’s quick podcast. How do you begin to construct your story? Do you write in a linear fashion? Do you write the ending before you begin? Do you write out-of-order and then piece it all together? That’s the chat we’re having today on the podcast. And I’m sure I’ve left things out as I try to keep these recordings short and sweet. If I’ve neglected a way in which you write, please post in the comments and share with others. As we continue to build this community of writers, it’s important to share and boost others up. As a…

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    Giving In To Creativity

    February 2, 2020

    A Writer’s Muse: Annapolis

    December 18, 2020

    Springtime in Annapolis

    March 17, 2016
  • Podcast 7 – Writing a Character Sketch—it’s pretty helpful

    February 24, 2020 /

    Today’s podcast addresses writing a character sketch. It’s your job as the author to know everything there is to know about the characters you are including in your stories. How do you write one and what should you include? Check out today’s podcast to find out! * Stephanie Verni is Professor of Communication at Stevenson University. She has authored five works of fiction and one academic text on Event Planning. Her character-driven books are typically set in Maryland to showcase the beauty of her state. Connect with her on Instagram at stephanie.verni or on Twitter at @stephverni. Or, visit her Amazon page at Stephanie Verni, Author.

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    Celebrating World Book Day 2019

    April 23, 2019

    Playing with Photography and Memories

    January 19, 2016

    Podcast 4 – Addressing Some Questions From Last Week’s Book Talk

    January 27, 2020
  • The Beginning of a New Novel…or Not. What I’m Working On????

    January 30, 2020 /

    * The truth is, after reading my post headline, I’m not actually sure what I’m working on. I’m not sure at all. Ever since completing and now trying to promote Little Milestones, there’s been little happening in my writing world. January was spent getting ready for the spring semester as I’m teaching a course I haven’t taught in a while, so I’ve needed to spend a lot of time preparing for my classes. One night, however, the idea of these four characters popped into my head, and the idea of a book starting and ending in a bar took hold. I’m not sure AT ALL what is going to happen…

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    Podcast 14: Finding and Flushing Out Story Ideas for Novel Writers

    April 14, 2020

    Frocktober begins tomorrow & I’ve picked my charity

    September 30, 2020

    Reflections on 2131 after ESPN Aired the Game Last Night

    April 8, 2020
  • What I Didn’t Say About Life as an Author

    January 22, 2020 /

    Last night, I was honored to have been asked to do a book talk at my local library in Severna Park.  I gave a little background on my writing, shared my books, and talked about what it’s like to be an indie author. I said a lot. I answered questions. I was positive. But there was much that I didn’t say…and I feel obligated to share it here. Full disclosure. Complete honesty. So, here it goes. What I didn’t say was… I didn’t say how hard it is to wake up every day and be consumed by what you can do to sell one book. Just one. I didn’t say…

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    Podcast #3 – Writing the Preliminary Synopsis

    January 20, 2020

    There’s Something You Should Do During Quarantine and Social Distancing

    May 17, 2020

    The Loss of George

    July 10, 2020
  • Podcast #3 – Writing the Preliminary Synopsis

    January 20, 2020 /

    Podcast #3 further explores inspiration and focuses on writing that initial synopsis of what your book will be about. Check it out below, and let me know how you’re doing! xx, Stephanie * Stephanie Verni is Professor of Communication at Stevenson University. She has authored five works of fiction and one academic text on Event Planning. Her character-driven books are typically set in Maryland to showcase the beauty of her state. Connect with her on Instagram at stephanie.verni or on Twitter at @stephverni. Or, visit her Amazon page at Stephanie Verni, Author.

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    Baseball Nostalgia and Baseball Fiction

    May 17, 2020

    On the Road to Event Planning

    October 16, 2015

    Thank You, Readers! I’m Flattered.

    November 6, 2019
  • Stay Positive, Writers!

    May 29, 2019 /

    It’s the first day of summer break for me, and that means it’s time to dust off my work in progress and hunker down. I’d really love to have this novel done by the end of summer. However, in doing so, there are challenges. It’s really easy to tell ourselves that our work is mediocre…that it needs a lot more love and attention…and that may very well be true. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be wonderful! My current work in progress needs some love and attention. I have to start at the beginning and go through it, chapter by chapter and sentence by sentence. I have to pull this…

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    Meeting People at Baltimore Book Festival

    September 28, 2015

    Mercury Glass For A Touch of Sparkle

    July 30, 2015

    Meeting People Makes Travel Magical

    May 2, 2016
  • sea beach water ocean

    Fictography For Old Time’s Sake and as a Teaching Tool: Back Home

    March 12, 2019 /

      /FICTOGRAPHY/ def. — The intersection of photography (submitted by readers) and fiction (written by me!). A few years ago, I executed a writing challenge whereby readers submitted travel photos they took, and I would write the story that I imagined went along with that photograph. Today, as I write this, my students are engaged in an activity that asks them to write using their five senses—and to see where those senses can take them. They smelled something, tasted something, and touched something, and then they used photos and clips of music to spark a story. When it came to “sight,” I posted three photographs that they could use as…

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

    April 3, 2020

    A Suggestion for Your Kids: Write About The Pandemic

    July 23, 2020

    Podcast 5 – Clearing Your Head, Work Space, and Thinking About POV

    February 3, 2020
  • Fiction Friday: An Update

    January 25, 2019 /

    * I’m not exactly sharing a fictional story today, but I’m sharing with you the crazy writing journey I’m on at the moment as I write my fourth fictional novel. In December, after National Novel Writing Month ended, I was 45,000 words into a new story, one that I had set in the hills of the Cotswolds in England. After a conversation with my family about how the work was going and picking their brains a little one night over dinner, I decided to relocate the story to St. Michaels on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. I know. Big change. I’m a Maryland girl (see my mug below thanks to…

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    body of water with people rowring on boat beside tall building

    Remembering Venice Through Poetry

    May 14, 2018

    Back To School Sunday

    August 23, 2015

    Podcast 16: Taking a Gander of What’s Out There Before You Write

    May 21, 2020
  • For the Love of Postcards (and other written correspondence)

    January 14, 2019 /

    I’m romantic about travel. I’m also romantic about writing. Actually, I’m kind of romantic about everything. I have a really bad case of hopeless romanticism, and have been accused many times by people who know me that I tend to see the world in an unrealistic way. That may be true, but I also do see the world in quite a realistic way. Sometimes that makes me resort to my hopeless romantic bubble, which I don’t mind being inside. When we travel, we learn more about the world around us AND ourselves. This is just true and tough to argue. No matter where you go or how far you travel,…

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    Podcast 2 – Who Inspires Your Writing?

    January 13, 2020

    Travel, Interrupted

    January 2, 2019

    What Are You Missing Most Right Now?

    July 29, 2020
  • When You Majorly Alter Your Work in Progress After Writing 50,000 Words: The Hard Truth About Writing A Novel

    December 21, 2018 /

    * Today, my dear readers, I am going to give it to you straight. Straight up, as Paula Abdul once sang. And believe me, what I’m about to share with you is going to cause me to do quite a bit of work. Lots and lots of work. But in the end, I am hoping it will all be worth it. And also, you must know this about me: if I didn’t love crafting stories and the agony that goes along with that job, I wouldn’t do it. If you’ve been with me for a while, you know that I am a professor, writer, author, and as you see me…

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    Recounting Five Years of My Life As a Blogger

    April 17, 2016

    The Colors of Autumn

    October 27, 2015

    In Snape and Col. Brandon There Was Committed Love

    January 14, 2016
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Steph’s Scribe – The Website of Author Stephanie Parrillo Verni

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I finally picked up my mail from campus and got the award I received in August for the work the Fellows did to help the university navigate the pandemic. As one of five Faculty Fellows for the newly established Center for Teaching and Learning, we created programming workshops to help faculty adjust to teaching during these challenging times.
Hi, all! Thought I’d make a video and try a little different introduction. I am so thankful to be connected to you all. As I say in my profile, I’m here to inspire and be inspired, and today I’d like to share those sentiments.
Today, I'm trying to break the Monday blues by wearing an outfit inspired by the fashion on @emilyinparis. The character Camille wore a cute one-piece plaid jumper with a sheer-sleeved shirt (see my stories), and I tried to mimic that outfit in my own way.
Before you write something, do you have to get mentally prepared and inspired? I know I do. Getting in that head space and physical space to be ready to write can be hard sometimes.
My daughter and I were lucky enough to spend an afternoon in Monterey, CA. We had lunch at a restaurant that was on the Pacific Ocean that jutted out over the water. It was a cloudy day, but stunning, and the meal was delicious.
Well, we made it to Friday🥳With so much uncertainty still floating all around us, sometimes you just gotta toss your head back and laugh. My wish for you today is that you have people around you who can make you belly-laugh. You know the kind of laughing I mean, right? The kind where you snort or cry or can’t catch your breath because it’s so damn funny????
Venice. 💕 #tbt
Annapolis has a lot of cool neighborhoods, and there are many on the water...including homes on rivers, creeks, and the Chesapeake Bay. I took this shot of Sherwood Forest from the boat in the fall. It was a beautiful day, and my camera was ready to capture the colors that were all around us.
Tired of being here, here in the cold,
FINALLY! Woo-hoo! An edited and complete manuscript is DONE and ready for beta readers!
Yesterday, I was able to get to the 100-page mark of editing my new novel (in stories). There were a couple of points where I got a little choked up reading the story—not at all expecting myself to react that way, as I wrote the words. Again, as I said last week, that’s what can happen when you put a little distance between yourself and the work.
Any other tea lovers out there? I’ve been watching a bunch of British movies lately, and it reminded me of all the high teas we enjoyed in London. You can probably guess from my posts that I’m going a bit stir crazy and I’m totally dreaming of our next trip. Until then, we’ll have to make our tea at home and watch shows/movies set around the world. Some recent favorites include: Emily in Paris, Cider with Rosie, Love and Friendship, Photograph, Island at War, Finding Joy, Grantchester, The Last Post, and Call the Midwife. #tbt

Recent Blog Posts

  • Show recommendations to binge-watch January 7, 2021
  • Here’s Hoping for a Brighter 2021 December 31, 2020
  • Ending 2020 with a Manuscript and Some Thoughts December 30, 2020
  • A Writer’s Muse: Annapolis December 18, 2020
  • Give the Gift of Books December 15, 2020
  • One of My Favorite Scenes November 22, 2020
  • My 5th Novel Has a Name (at least for now) November 15, 2020
  • Capturing Moments November 12, 2020
  • The 6 a.m Pledge for My Health November 4, 2020
  • Reading, Writing, and an Empath for November November 1, 2020

Steph’s Scribe is the blog of Stephanie Parrillo Verni, professor, author and blogger. Copyright 2021.

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