Louella Nelson
Louella Nelson’s writing credits include the reissued best-selling novel Mail-Order Mate and Emerald Fortune; the 2014 Amazon best-selling short story “Cora Lee,” a romantic romp in space called “Atlas Shrugged Again,” and the romance “Falling for the Prosecutor“; as well as poetry and scholarly works for the literary journals Onyx and Calliope.
A former magazine editor, Louella is also published extensively in nonfiction: Her articles, features, technical reports, advertising materials, and photography have won industry awards.
A professional editor and writer’s mentor, she has been editing and writing since the 80’s and teaching fiction since the 1990’s. Many of her clients are now agented, multi-published, and award-winning and best-selling writers.
Lou was awarded the Distinguished Instructor Award by the University of California, Irvine Extension. She also teaches at Orange Coast College. She received her M.A. in English with departmental honors from California State University Long Beach and a B.A. with honors from Chapman University in English with an emphasis in creative writing.
Get in Touch:
If you have interest in writing classes, consultations about your project, or developmental editing, send a separate email via the Contact Me link at right, indicating your interest in these or other craft how-to writing courses, seminars, books, and services.
Favorite Books:
Jane Eyre and many other greats in the 19th Century British literature cannon
Lief Erickson’s Peace Like a River
Anything by James Lee Burke (except Tin Roof Blowdown; it made me too sad)
James Dickey’s Deliverance
The novels of James Blaylock
The early gum-shoe detective novels by Raymond Obstfeld
Winter’s Bone (thanks, Steve!)
The great historical romances–I cut my teeth on MM Kaye and Colleen McCullough
Silent Joe by T.J. Parker
Currently reading:
Amy Falls Down by Jincy Willett
Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
Kindle Bestseller Secrets by Derek Doepker
Sailing Alone Around the World by Capt. Joshua Slocum
Macrowikinomics by Tapscott and Williams
Enjoyed recently:
A Cold Day in Paradise by Steve Hamilton
Loveyoubye, a Memoir by Rossandra White
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Wayfaring Stranger by James Lee Burke
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts (Audible Books version)
Mai Tai One On by Jill Marie Landis
Smashwords Style Guide
The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne
Wild Montana Sky by Debra Holland
Harvest of Dreams by Debra Holland
The Green Glass Sea by E. Klages
Beat the Reaper: A Novel by J. Bazell (thanks, Blake, Kristin, and Alison!)
The Bridge
Half-Broke Horses by J. Walls
The Hunger Games by S. Collins
Cry Wolf by Julie Davey
The Rook: A Novel by Daniel O’Malley
The Day Jimi Hendrix Died by Tobey Crocket
The Hammer of Witches by Begona Echeverria
Soon to be enjoyed:
In Deep Shitake by P. Mason
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by J. Ford
Model Home by E. Puchner
Crossed Out by K. Baccellia
Cyber War: The Next Threat to National Security and What to Do About It by R. Clarke and R. Knake
Destiny, Rewritten by Katherine Fitzmaurice (2014 from an imprint of Harper Collins)
Secret Light by Z.A. Maxfield
Echoes by Jacqueline Diamond
Reviewed
Wayfaring Stranger by James Lee Burke
Fire Dance by Delle Jacobs
Do You Believe in Magic by Susan Squires
Bewitching by Jill Barnett
How to Write a Novel in One (Not So Easy) Lesson by Jacqueline Diamond
Ether Man by Shari Broyer
“Tupho’s Pink Deville” by Wally Runnels
“Red Car” by Dennis Copelan
Novels by Jacqueline Diamond
Louella Nelson 
Hi Lou, It’s Natalie Walker from Costa Mesa-formerly. I’d love to hear from you.
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Skype has opened its online-based customer beta on the world,
soon after introducing it extensively within the U.S. and
You.K. previously this calendar month. Skype for Online also
now can handle Linux and Chromebook for instant online messaging communication (no voice and video but,
all those need a connect-in set up).
The increase from the beta brings assist for an extended listing of languages to help bolster that overseas functionality
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A big sapphire ring found by metal detector fanatic Michael Greenhorn in a field near Escrick, England is assumed to have originated within the fifth or
6th century and will have even belonged to a king.
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You ought to take part in a contest for one of the most useful websites online.
I am going to highly recommend this site!
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Thanks Bob. Kind words.
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Julie, I just read Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter and posted a review on Amazon: “Be ready to feel deeply the characters’ discovery of their faults and longings; their discovery of ends-of-roads, of impassable roadblocks; and of the infinite beauty of the heavens and wild places and the richness of love, of family, of creativity.” Lou
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Louella:
I hear you.
Since I am “retired” and only do volunteer teaching and speaking now, I get lots of time to read but find I am usually writing. Right now I am enjoying re-reading Magnificent Obsession by Dr. Lloyd C. Douglas. Its pages are yellowed with a somewhat tattered dust jacket on it but inside the hard cover is my grandmother’s name. She was a reader and whatever money she had left after paying the family’s bills was spent on books. I am fortunate to have many of her books to read and while I read, I imagine her turning those same pages.
Julie
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I put Cry Wolf on my Bookshelf on my website.
Lou
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Thanks for reading my book (Cry Wolf)!
I’m reading one of yours (Mail-Order Mate). Love it!
I went on your website and then was surprised when I saw my book on your list of Kindle books you were reading. We have similar backgrounds. I was a newspaper reporter, then mag. editor and then teacher and freelancer.
We can’t help ourselves, can we? Writing is in our blood; reading is what we do once we put our pens down.
Thank you again,
Julie Davey
Laguna Niguel, CA
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Hi Julie,
Hoping to be back to the gym this summer. Teaching schedule is nuts! See my Seminars & Classes link to get half the picture. 🙂 http://www.louellanelson.com
Glad you’re enjoying Mail-Order Mate. It’s close to my heart.
Lou
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Thanks Louella, for taking time to respond. I appreciate it and your mentioning my book on your site. I will do the same for you.
Julie ________________________________________
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Julie,
I love your line “Reading is what we do when we put our pens down.” After delivering an all-day seminar on Plotting & Character Arc on Saturday, I just wanted to veg on Sunday so I read Beautiful Ruins, a yummy treat.
Lou
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