Science Fiction and Fantasy
A famous line from William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet goes as follows: “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” The implication is that the name does not matter.
But I’ll tell you a little secret.
In the book-writing world, names do matter a great deal. Most authors I know spend an excessive amount of time fretting over the names of characters and places. Don’t even get me going about how much effort goes into the title of books.
Continue reading “What’s in a Name?”
Next to bookstores, I love libraries. They are a great national treasure. Regardless of what kind of book you’re looking for, you will probably find it at your local library.
And in today’s world, it’s easier than ever because most public libraries list their catalogs online for print books and ebooks. As an added bonus, libraries are the one place you can borrow and read all my books for free. All you have to do is request the books if they haven’t purchased them yet.
Continue reading “Our Public Libraries”
I spend a lot of time thinking about otherworldly beings to include in my novels. But I don’t write about imaginary creatures to scare, shock, or show how cleverly the book is written.
The nonhuman entities in my books are there to provide a contrast to the human side of existence.
The themes I often use in my storylines are the power of love, bonds of friendship, and the goodwill people have for one another. Long after you’ve finished reading one of my stories, those are the things I hope you’ll remember most about them.
Continue reading “Double Down on Being Human”
The roses are in full bloom, and the heat is rising here in the Northeast. I was once very passionate about gardening. You could often find me out in the yard from morning until dusk when I wasn’t at my office job. I still enjoy tending the flowers, but now I prefer to work on my next book.
Staying with the topic of gardening, it’s easy to see the parallel between writing and gardening.
With gardening, you plant a seed, nurture it with water until the plant blossoms into something beautiful. And then you prune and weed.
Continue reading “Writing and Gardening Have Plenty in Common”
Greetings. Spring has arrived here in New England, and with it the hope of life returning to normal after the past year. The cherry tree in our front yard has bloomed, and the daffodils are flowering.
That’s Missy in the picture. She’s looking at me suspiciously, wondering what I’m doing away from my writing desk.
I hope you had a chance to read my latest book, Elthea’s Paradox. If you have, and you enjoyed it, please consider posting a brief review. Help others decide if the book is right for them by posting a comment or two. Tell others what you liked in the story. I appreciate your assistance.
One of the creative aspects of writing fiction is devising fictitious names for people, places, and things. I often spend a lot of time trying to decide on the right name for a character or race.
Continue reading “A Few Words About Fictitious Names”
I am thrilled to announce the launch of my latest book, Elthea’s Paradox, the third novel in The Story of Elthea’s Realm series. Like all my books, it is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook. You can order any of my books online at major booksellers, including independent bookstores.
If you love reading fantasy adventures, you’ll enjoy Elthea’s Paradox.
A reluctant hero stands against an evil spreading across the land.
Newfound powers awaken within Philip Matherson. But when he needs them most, the spectral energies of Elthea elude him. His worst fears come true as the Bots capture his friends on the utopia team.
Continue reading “Elthea’s Paradox is now available”
The last twelve months have been a strange and difficult year for many people. But 2021 is here, and with it the hope of life returning to normal with more family gatherings, a resumption in travel, and the prospect of renewed friendships in person once again.
You can almost feel the collective longing for this to happen soon.
My daughter recently took the above photo. It’s a view outside our window during a murky, foggy morning. The bright sun rising on the horizon is about to dispel the gloom. I feel the scene is a perfect depiction of where we stand in the world today.
Continue reading “The Promise of a New Year”
Have you ever been stuck in a Groundhog Day movie as you experience the same events over and over again? Lately, I feel that way. It seems as if I’ve been editing and dealing with production and publishing decisions on my latest book, Elthea’s Paradox, forever. The process seems never-ending.
At times, I become impatient that it has taken too long. I want this book to be available so you can be as excited as I am about the story. I also want to begin working on the next book.
But this isn’t about me; it’s about you, the reader. A book, professionally crafted, can become positively magical. Within one simple container, you will find words that will entertain you for many hours. You never know what you will discover.
Continue reading “The Enchantment of a Good Book”
This has been a strange year and, in many ways, a difficult one. Anyone who has written a novel understands how events in the world can detract from the focus needed to craft a story. I felt the need to check news feeds more often during the past twelve months. Throw a U.S. presidential election into the mix, and the impulse can become obsessive.
Somehow during this turbulent year, my next book developed nicely. The storyline gradually took a life of its own, and the characters came alive. Nothing is more exhilarating to an author than knowing a story works and evokes a passionate response from readers.
It’s a magical feeling, believe me.
Continue reading “Writing During a Turbulent Year”
Monsters take many different forms. If you’ve read Elthea’s Realm and Elthea’s Gambit, you’ll understand the suffering caused by the Bots in my novels. In case you’re not familiar, the Bots I write about are not benign software programs operating mundane tasks.
In my books, the Bots kill without remorse. They are evil creatures that came to life from today’s computer viruses. We all understand the problems when a virus infects one of our tech devices. Now, imagine that destructive force as a living, breathing entity with magical powers.
I’ve taken what already exists in our world and turned it into something more deadly in my stories. During my time as a corporate marketing manager, I had frequently considered how technology could evolve in beneficial ways for civilizations or become disastrous to all.
Continue reading “When Bots Go Bad”