A Season of Healing, Wisdom, and Wonder: Give the Gift of Dr. Martha Lucas This Holiday

The holiday season is here — that lovely, chaotic, emotional stretch of the year where we’re all searching for gifts that mean something. If you’re looking for presents that nurture, uplift, and inspire (instead of ending up re-gifted in March), Dr. Martha Lucas’s books are the perfect choice. Dr. Martha isn’t just a practitioner. She’s a healer, a teacher, a researcher, a storyteller, and a woman who has spent decades helping people feel healthier, calmer, … Read more

The Challenges of Writing a Book About Your Business

Writing a book for your business can be a rewarding and beneficial endeavor, but it also comes with its own unique set of challenges. From determining the purpose and audience of the book to finding the time and resources to write it, there are many obstacles that business owners and entrepreneurs may face when embarking on this journey. One of the main challenges of writing a book for your business is clearly defining the purpose … Read more

The Problem with Wordy Clauses

Many early drafts contain sentences weighed down by wordy clauses—phrases that add length without adding meaning. These clauses often appear in forms like: Writers use these constructions when they are explaining a thought instead of stating it directly. The result is a sentence that circles around the idea rather than delivering it clearly. Consider this example from the world of Pinocchio: Now compare it to a cleaner version: Pinocchio realized that lying always made his … Read more

Stop Telling Readers How Things Feel: Let Verbs Do the Work

If your writing keeps explaining how something felt, chances are the sentence already proves it—and then ruins it by over-explaining. This is one of the most common issues I see when editing manuscripts, especially in memoir, nonfiction, and reflective fiction. Writers don’t trust the sentence to carry meaning on its own, so they step in and explain the experience instead. The result? Softer prose, slower pacing, and emotional distance. Let’s fix that. The Problem: Emotional … Read more

Stop Filtering Your POV: Trust the Scene to Speak for Itself

Once a point of view is established, you don’t need to keep reminding the reader who is seeing, noticing, or realizing things. Yet many writers do exactly that—over and over—by inserting the viewpoint character between the reader and the scene. This is called POV filtering, and while it’s a common habit, it weakens immersion, slows pacing, and creates unnecessary distance between the reader and the story. Let’s fix it. What POV Filtering Looks Like POV … Read more

Position Yourself as an Expert: The Power of Writing a Business Book

In today’s saturated business landscape, standing out from the competition is crucial. But how can you establish yourself as the go-to authority in your industry? How can you position yourself as the expert who garners respect and attracts opportunities, clients, and partnerships? One powerful approach that can elevate your professional credibility is writing a business book. By sharing your knowledge and insights in a comprehensive and authoritative manner, you can establish yourself as a thought leader and industry authority. … Read more

The Problem with Passive Voice

Passive voice occurs when a sentence hides or removes the person or thing performing the action. Instead of showing who is responsible, the sentence focuses on the result of the action. This structure is not always wrong, but it often creates sentences where the subject becomes unclear and the prose loses energy. Consider this example from the world of Hansel and Gretel: Hansel and Gretel were led into the forest. The sentence tells us what … Read more

Victorious Aging: Tips for Your Best Health at Any Age by Dr. Martha Lucas, PhD, L.Ac

A deeper look at how to stay healthy, vibrant, and joyful as you age. At ArmLin House, we’re proud to publish the newest book by Chinese medical doctor, acupuncturist, wellness educator, and author Dr. Martha Lucas, Victorious Aging: Tips for Your Best Health at Any Age, a smart and empowering guide to aging with intention, energy, and optimism. This book is packed with valuable insights for anyone who wants to take charge of their aging … Read more

3 Simple Tips for More Productive Writing Time

Writers don’t always have the luxury of endless hours to chase words. Life intrudes—kids, jobs, laundry, that Netflix show that just dropped. The good news? You don’t need long stretches of uninterrupted time to make progress on your manuscript. You need focused time. Here are three tips to help you get there. 1. Protect Your Writing Window Schedule your writing time like an appointment. If you tell yourself “I’ll write when I get a chance,” … Read more

The Art Thief: Cover Design Spotlight

This cover was created for The Art Thief by Bernard Langs and is a great example of how classical art, modern tools, and restrained typography can come together to reflect a story’s psychological depth. The design was created in Photoshop using early AI-assisted image generation techniques, blended carefully with historical artwork to preserve tone and authenticity. At the heart of the cover is The Miraculous Draught of Fishes by Raphael, a Renaissance master whose work … Read more

A Step-by-Step Guide to Nailing Your Chapter Openings with the Assistance of AI

Every time you start a new chapter, you’re making a promise to your reader. You’re saying: Here’s where we are, here’s who we’re following, and here’s why you’ll want to keep turning pages. But too often, writers fumble these openings. They slip into an all-knowing narrator who explains what everyone is feeling. Or they bury the scene in exposition before the reader has a chance to see, smell, and hear what’s happening. Or they rush … Read more

Why Are There Hundreds of Content Controls in My Word Doc?

This book formatter recently opened a manuscript to do a simple round of edits and got smacked in the face with hundreds of content controls. Fields that wouldn’t behave. Text boxes that felt… caged. Dropdowns. Placeholders. Everything wrapped in mysterious grey borders like a haunted digital form. This was a children’s book. Not a legal intake form. So why was Word treating it like one? Wait, What Are Content Controls? If you’ve ever clicked into … Read more

Introducing Polished Pages: Clean Up Your Manuscript Like a Pro (Even If You’re Not One)

Let’s be honest—MS Word is powerful, but it’s also sneaky. One moment you’re typing away, and the next your manuscript is littered with mysterious formatting marks, rogue section breaks, and quotation marks that can’t seem to make up their minds. If you’ve ever opened your document and muttered, “Why is it doing that?”—this book is for you. Polished Pages: A Comprehensive Checklist for Cleaning Up Your MS Word Manuscript is your go-to guide for transforming … Read more

Things to Consider Before Writing a Business Book

Maximize Your Influence: Writing a Business Book Learn key strategies for marketing yourself with a business book, writing a book about your business, and mastering authority marketing to boost your professional stature. Are you looking to cement your status as an industry leader, attract new clients, and unlock doors to speaking gigs? Well, penning a business book might just be your golden ticket. But before you dive into the deep end, let’s chat about what … Read more

Cover Reveal & Chapter Release: HELL AND SECOND CHANCES Has Arrived & the Other Books are FREE

We’re thrilled to announce the return of Barry—half-Fallen, all trouble—in Hell and Second Chances, the third installment in Winnie Jean Howard’s acclaimed Angels Dark and Dumb series. The new book will roll out chapter by chapter exclusively on winniejeanhoward.com, where readers can experience Barry’s latest mess in real time. To celebrate the launch, we’re also unleashing something special—the first three books in the series are completely free on Amazon Kindle from June 5–9. If you’ve … Read more

From Manuscript to Memoir: Your Guide to Publishing

Publishing a memoir is a rewarding journey, giving you a chance to share your personal story. You might wonder how to turn your manuscript into a published book. We’ll guide you through the steps involved and help you find the best path. This guide covers everything from crafting your story to effectively marketing your memoir. Key Takeaways: Crafting an Engaging Memoir First, make sure your memoir tells a captivating story. You want it to be … Read more

How to Choose the Right Topic for Your Business Book

Selecting the right topic for your business book is crucial to its success. A well-chosen topic not only showcases your expertise but also resonates with your target audience and fills a gap in the market. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you choose the perfect topic for your business book. 1. Identify Your Area of Expertise Start by reflecting on your professional experience and skills. What unique insights or knowledge do you possess? Consider: Your … Read more

Christopher Walken Caricature – First Digital Pencil Portrait

This was my very first attempt at a caricature — and my first time trying to recreate the feel of graphite using Adobe Fresco. Digital pencil is a completely different creature than real graphite, but this project taught me so much about texture, pressure, and letting the weirdness lead the way. If you haven’t already guessed, this is Christopher Walken, one of my absolute favorite actors and a true national treasure. I originally aimed for … Read more

Continue Shopping →
Item added to cart.
0 items - $0.00
Checkout