If you’ve been around a while you’ve probably seen me reference The Perilous Gard, a book I feel deeply connected to. This month’s essay combines that book with one of my personal wrestlings: How do we respond to something too big to fight? [Excerpt:] I am very interested in those characters who are “stuck” with Continue reading →
You know, in case you haven’t noticed. Jeff Goins published a book about this recently. Got me thinking about how titles and assertions can affect how we see ourselves, and, therefore, how we behave. It’s odd how I’m so on again/off again with being willing to say out loud I am a writer, to Continue reading →
Apparently they aren’t just about saying *no*. I pretty much have that down (despite it making me feel like a jerk sometimes), so I’ve not paid close attention to the topic when it comes up. The study of boundaries (or rather, the person teaching about them) also suggests that I, like everyone, am continually teaching Continue reading →
Or who have enough interest to offer a theory: I need a connection between the two opening story lines. i.e., I need a reason the Lindorm and the digging half-djinn show up about the same time. I was reviewing my opening material, and felt very foolish that I don’t have a clear connection. But better Continue reading →
In my Magna Cartas post I got pretty specific about what I like and don’t like in my entertainment. I decided it would be most accurate to say entertainment, as I feel the same about these theses whether I’m reading, writing or watching it on-screen. Some of my favorite examples. It’s easy to see why Continue reading →
As a Christian I have always felt a bit embarrassed about other Christians slamming Halloween for its pagan roots. Yes, there is good evidence to tie it to old pagan rituals involving human sacrifice or the return of the dead (to visit/haunt the living– whatever you wish to call it) rather than “once to die, Continue reading →
Until tonight I have not finished a “fat” novel since Thanksgiving vacation. (I feel nearly as though I just confessed a venal sin.) ~ I have mentioned before I am not the sort of reader to stick with a book out of sheer loyalty if I have a bad feeling about it, so I’ve finished Continue reading →
Hoo— 13 chapters sounds like a much more manageable animal than 43 chapters, doesn’t it. Doesn’t it? I just finished running through my 2-part idea and broke part-one into identifiable units. Once they’re done being written (6 of the 13 are written, 2 more roughed in) I’m going to have to re-evaluate if this will Continue reading →
I suppose this is sticking my neck out– admitting what I like the most– but I wanted to mention my four most-influential novels at this point in my writing. Except for #2 I found all of them randomly on the recorded-book shelves at my library. Those, without exception, I’ve “read” more by listening than from Continue reading →
Overwhelmed is sponsoring a monthly book give-away that she said I could add my own spin to. The original rules have the books being offered the first Monday of the month (so you see I’m already late), and require each winner to offer the book in a give-away in a month or so (assuming it’s Continue reading →