The Story of Elthea’s Realm – Page 2

September 19, 2023September 19, 2023

Why Some Novels Are So Easy To Read

The photo above was taken at my desk where I am working on my latest novel.

I once heard a writing coach say that the easiest novels to read are often the ones that authors worked the hardest on.

My novels take a long time to produce because I spend so much effort fine-tuning the little things that the reader will never notice. Every author has a million choices to make as the story progresses, and those choices make the difference between a dull story and a book that you can’t stop reading.

July 18, 2023July 19, 2023

Starting a New Novel

As an author, starting a new novel can be both thrilling and intimidating. Right now, I’m spending my summer writing the initial chapters of an upcoming book. At this point, I am taking a bit of a departure from writing the next book in The Story of Elthea’s Realm series—which will be Book 5.

Currently, I’m working on a story that takes place in Elthea’s Realm universe, but it’s set before the first book in the series. This particular time was crucial as the Bots and other great races engaged in a major war, which the Bots almost won. Although I mentioned these events in the first book, it was only in the narrative. This era is now known as the first significant conflict with the Bots.

June 29, 2023

Creating Fantasy Fiction

People often ask me, “Why did you decide to write fantasy fiction?” The other question I often get is, “How do you come up with ideas for your stories?”

So, today, I pull back the curtain just a little to show you what’s behind my books and what inspired me. This won’t answer all your questions, but it will give you a peek into why I write and what I think about as I develop a manuscript.

Why Do It: Everyone has a passion in life—that one thing you want to accomplish more than anything else. For me, it has always been to write fiction (at least since I was in college). I had worked as a communications and marketing manager in the corporate world for many years, which paid the bills. Eventually, I pursued my passion and wrote the story I had secretly worked on for decades.

May 16, 2023

Artificial Intelligence Is No Longer Science Fiction

Not that long ago, artificial intelligence was a topic limited to science fiction novels and movies. That is no longer the case. AI is here, it will change many aspects of our lives, and it’s not going away.

AI systems are generally more intelligent than humans and are already beginning to change our society in many ways.

Experts with more knowledge about the subject are debating AI’s positive and negative ramifications–something we all should pay close attention to. AI has the potential to transform society by improving human creativity. However, it also comes with a serious risk of misuse and societal disruptions that could have dire consequences.

March 28, 2023

Elthea’s Nemesis is here

My latest novel is now available on all book retailer sites. Phew. That took a long time.

Maybe every author feels that way, but for me, it’s one of my writing habits I hope to improve.

I’m sure you’ll like this installment in the series. Elthea’s Nemesis is book four in The Story of Elthea’s Realm series, and it’s available in ebook, paperback, and hardcover. You can now purchase books online at your favorite book retailer.

March 20, 2023

Release Date Approaches

Elthea’s Nemesis, Book 4 in The Story of Elthea’s Realm, is nearly here. Yippee! The next installment in the series will be available in the next week.

This is both an exciting and nervous time for me. Finally, after spending months upon months writing and perfecting my latest novel, it is nearly ready for publication. Elthea’s Nemesis will be ready to order online at your favorite bookseller.

Putting a new book out in the world for others to judge is scary. But, after spending so much time wrestling with words, typing them out one after another until somehow the chapters come together in an imaginative story, I’m ready to push it out for others to read.

December 15, 2022December 15, 2022

A Story of the Christmas Book Flood

Here’s a picture of the first snowfall of the season in my area of New England, granted that it wasn’t much and didn’t last long. Other areas of the country have received considerably more, and we’ll likely be buried with a nor’easter before this winter is over.

I hope you have an enjoyable beginning to the holiday. I find this time of year simultaneously hectic and fun. Somewhere along the way, the season has become a time of giving gifts to those you love. And sometimes, random people we don’t know that well.

Many people have traditions around gift-giving. For example, have you heard of the Icelandic custom called the Christmas book flood? The name for it is Jólabókaflóðið.

August 31, 2022

The Bond Between Author and Reader

Many years before I became an author, I worked as a marketing and communications manager, crafting messages for large and small companies, primarily in the tech industry. I enjoyed the profession and found it rewarding, at least most of the time.

Writing was always a cornerstone of my responsibilities during that period of my life, and I learned many best practices, which I frequently use today as an author. For example, I learned to be concise, limit unnecessary superlatives, use proper grammar, and captivate readers regardless of the topic.

Although good writing is always essential, whether for promotional marketing material or a fantasy novel, I quickly learned that writing fiction was an entirely different ballgame.