Science Fiction and Fantasy
With the holidays upon us, my message for this journal post is a simple one. I offer you my appreciation and gratitude. You make it possible for me to continue my dream of writing.
I’ve discovered that a writer’s life is not always an easy path to follow. It can be a daunting profession, putting words onto a blank page, knowing others will eventually judge the quality and worthiness of the books I write.
Continue reading “A Thankful Post”
I primarily read books that contain tales of science fantasy, magical places, or different worlds. If you also enjoy this genre, you’ll be interested in this free book promotion.
Continue reading “Find Escape Fantasy Books”
Good writing is unbelievably complicated. I feel that’s especially true for novels. Fiction authors have many decisions to consider when crafting stories that are enjoyable and easy to read.
But it all starts with the seed of an idea that can be developed into a plot.
I used a college course called The Utopia Project to help me write a story that became the science fantasy series The Story of Elthea’s Realm. The course was the springboard for everything that followed in my books.
Continue reading “My Inspiration for The Story of Elthea’s Realm”
I will often decide to read a new book based on someone’s recommendation. If you’re the same, read this post.
Because of my writing experience, I’ve become friends with a group of remarkable authors. You might not be familiar with their books, but be prepared for great reading in a variety of genres, both in fiction and non-fiction.
I highly recommend these authors and their books because of the flair they have for telling a story, or in the case of non-fiction, explaining a place and activity.
Continue reading “Great Books by Super Authors”
I always appreciate you taking the time to read my Journal posts. I try not to post too often, only when I feel I have something meaningful to discuss. Plus, as I’ve often said, I would rather be writing my next book than talking about it.
But the fantastic thing about this Journal is that the more you know about the person writing the book, the better your experience as a reader. You’re able to learn something about me and the reasons why I want to share my stories with you.
In this post, I’ll discuss a few of my thoughts about how I write and the motivation I use to keep writing.
Continue reading “The Ups and Downs of Writing”
Here are nine facts about the latest novel I’m currently writing.
1.) I expect to publish the book later this year, hopefully by this fall.
I wish it could be sooner. I’m thrilled to share the story with you because I believe it’s really, really good. But it takes time for me to craft a tale, especially a good one. I had decided long ago that the books I produce will be the best I can make them.
2.) The title of the next book will be Elthea’s Paradox.
At least that’s the title I’m working with now. Without revealing too much, the book contains a dilemma about how to use the powers of Elthea. The main character, Philip Matherson, must overcome this paradox to survive.
Continue reading “Great Information About My Upcoming Novel”
During my life, I’ve read a ton of books about writing a novel. From books about character development, world building, dialog, plot development… you name it, I’ve read about it. I have an entire bookcase full of books about how to write.
Many of those books did help me understand the essential techniques needed to develop a well-written story. But for me, the most crucial part of my road to becoming a published author was to sit down and do it.
Of course, my first attempts were horrible. But I kept trying. I put those early manuscripts in the bottom drawer of a file cabinet and began again. And when those results weren’t good enough, I started the process over from the beginning.
Continue reading “How to Write a Novel”
I hope you enjoyed reading my first two books, Elthea’s Realm
That doesn’t mean I can’t begin talking about my next novel. After all, the publishing cycle is so much more than when the book is released. Right now, I’m doing the hard work of writing and editing the first draft of the next story, making sure it’s as exciting and captivating as I can make it.
Continue reading “My Next Book”
I love finding inspirational quotations. That’s especially true when I read a quote regarding the love of reading books, or about writing them.
I always enjoy the pleasure others take in reading and writing. Even quotes about the challenges and pitfalls of writing interest me. They help me understand I’m not alone when I hit rough patches as I craft my next novel.
Continue reading “My Twenty Best Inspirational Quotations on Reading and Writing”
Next month will be two years since I released my first book, Elthea’s Realm. Since then, I’ve also published Elthea’s Gambit, the second book in the series. It doesn’t seem possible that I’m living a life I had wished for so many years ago.
But as the saying goes, careful what you wish for.
Before you jump to conclusions, let me say I love writing. Almost as much as that, I love working for myself. After spending most of my career as a marketing and communications manager at both global corporations and small tech start-ups, it’s nice to be my own boss.
Continue reading “The Joy of Writing”