Just a quick note to the world that I'm alive and kicking (maybe not kicking, but definitely getting ready to kick myself for living on a hill as the snow comes...) Brigette and I at the beach in Cape May, NJ I've got grand intentions for a newsletter update, but the short version is: 2018 … Continue reading Goodbye 2018, Hello 2019
This past week I had the privilege of participating in a dialogue called the Coming Home Dialogues. This organization works to provide venues where veterans can use the humanities as a means of exploring their experiences. The content includes "DIALOGUES ON THE MORAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SPIRITUAL IMPACTS OF WAR." The group is supported graciously by … Continue reading Coming Home: Dialogue and Poetry
Team Thorium, If you're here, you're one of my fans, friend, or family. I'm in crisis. Kind of. I mean, it's just a story, right? [said Bastion as he paged through The Neverending Story in a dark attic....] Princess Penelope is a story idea I've had for a while, inspired by my friend Eddie whilst … Continue reading Let’s Save Princess Penelope: A Call for Help
Tempus fugit. I've been enjoying a few of my favorite films recently and noticed a common pattern. The use of time as a controlling element. When we build worlds and stories as author we are conscious of the passage of time, yet I wonder how often we are intentional about using time to keep our … Continue reading Tick Tock… Time as a Writer’s Ally
Once... Once upon a time, there was an orphan princess. She was a prisoner in a dark tower. After much cunning and bravery, she escaped and was rescued. Once upon a time, there was a broken knight who defended the helpless at great cost. He stood when many fled and was changed. Once there was … Continue reading Once Upon A Time….
Thank you. This concept has been unsettling to me, and I needed some outside thoughts to clarify my opinion and thinking. And naturally, as a writer, I want to write about a BAW (big @$$ wall) in every one of my stories. Maybe it’s a virus that needs inoculation?
Image source http://gameofthrones.wikia.com/wiki/The_Wall
I’ve just started reading Sabriel by Garth Nix. I’m not far into it enough to comment on the story’s overall quality, but I came across something early on.
The land is divided.
By a big-ass wall.
Separating the north from the south.
And now I’m finally asking somebody to explain to me: Why do we keep writing about this?
What is our collective obsession with giant mounds of stone and dirt forming stretch marks across the landscape?
In A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin, we have a huge wall dividing the frozen north from the cultivated south of Westeros.
In Codex Alera by Jim Butcher, we have a huge wall dividing the frozen north from the cultivated south of Alera. We have another wall dividing the Marat lands in the north from the Calderon Valley in the south.
In Lord of the…
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What a year! I just sent my latest author update to email subscribers, so make sure you're part of the court to hear the latest. As we roll down 2017, I wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday, and Happy New Year. To everyone, the same admonishment made over 2000 years ago: Peace on … Continue reading Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in 2018
Mea Culpa.... Hello dear reader! I must make an apology. Exiles of Heaven launches tomorrow without a couple of proof edits I wanted to get in. The Amazon publishing tool locks me out 72 hours ahead of launch, and that's a hard lock. When I checked the dashboard, I saw (to my surprise), a bunch … Continue reading Mea culpa
I intend to submit this to The Book Designer's monthly cover design awards and need to get it up somewhere. I've been very happy to work with Elizabeth Mackey on this set, and can't wait to continue with more! Image credit: Elizabeth Mackey
I didn't know where else to put this, but it's my blog and as Eric Cartman says, "I'll do what I want!" This is a great story for authors and a peak behind the author curtain for readers. Ever have one of those heart-drop-into-tummy moments when you realize, "Oh poop... this changes everything"? That was … Continue reading An Open Apology to Jim Butcher
