Science Fiction and Fantasy
Ah, what a glorious life becoming a novelist, gleefully crafting thousands of words daily. A seemingly endless flow of creative ideas keeps bubbling to the surface. Fanciful dreams take flight—New York Times Best Seller, Oprah’s Book Club, movie rights.
You probably guessed where I’m going with this.
The life of a writer is mostly hard work. There are moments when everyone in this business asks, “What made me think I could ever do this?”
Continue reading “The Life of a Writer”
And so, a new adventure begins. I hope you had a wonderful holiday and decided on all your New Year’s resolutions. If so, I wish you the best in keeping them for the year.
As for me, I’m not much of a resolution-type of person. Just as in my writing style, I prefer to take things as they come along without sticking to a plan.
With some luck and hard work, we will find happiness and success in 2024. At least that’s my wish. As in previous years, I’ll spend as much time as possible writing the next installment in The Story of Elthea’s Realm series.
Continue reading “Welcome to 2024”
Have you ever considered the magic mere words can have when strung together in a novel? I don’t necessarily mean the sorcery or witchcraft in a supernatural or fantasy story.
I’m referring to the feeling you get from a good book, whether it’s happiness, wonder, surprise, or whatever the emotion.
Most people read fiction because they want to experience something from the story.
Many readers love getting swept away to another place and time. Maybe it’s the excitement of seeing a hero or heroine overcome insurmountable odds. Or perhaps you like twists and turns and shocking surprises.
Continue reading “The Magic of Words”
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.
Continue reading “Why Some Novels Are So Easy To Read”
In this journal post, I am excited to share a list of my all-time favorite books, spanning beyond just the past year or so. These are the books that have captured my heart and that I have remembered through time.
I once heard someone say that books provide a view into a reader’s soul, and the ones readers choose can tell a lot about them. So, I’d like to share some of my most cherished books with you. Looking at this tally is like taking a snapshot of who I am.
I’ll begin with those most recently read and work my way back. Let me know if we have any in common, or even better, if you have recommendations of books I should consider.
Continue reading “My Most-Cherished Books”
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.
Continue reading “Creating Fantasy Fiction”
This may take a while for me to get over. Those of you who have been with me for a while know I do not release books rapidly. When writing a novel, I take the time to reflect on every sentence to ensure it conveys the right emotion and meaning.
So, please forgive me for still celebrating the publication of my latest story Elthea’s Nemesis. During the rest of the year, I have little hard news to speak about. After all, there are so many times I can say, “I’m still writing (or editing) a manuscript. So stay tuned for more.”
Continue reading “The Satisfaction of Publishing a New Book”
If you’re like me, you look forward to the time of day when you read for pleasure. I enjoy meeting people who are avid readers.
These are the ones who steal glances at cover jackets whenever seeing someone else reading. They ignore the trinkets and furniture at yard sales as they rummage through piles of dusty old books. Bookstores are a mandatory stop while shopping. They subscribe to a half-dozen online promotional sites offering discounted ebooks.
In the book publishing business, these people are called whales. They consume far more books than the typical person. When it comes to word of mouth, whale readers are priceless. They will tell everyone what they are reading and post detailed reviews.
Continue reading “A Healthy Addiction to Books”
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”
The first question I’m typically asked when someone finds out I’m an author is, “What kinds of books do you write?” My simple answer is Science Fiction and Fantasy.
That’s an uncomplicated response, which most people immediately understand. The problem is, it really doesn’t do justice to the question. If I’m asked to explain more, I might say that I write in the category of magical realism, or science fantasy, or (a definition I’m not crazy about) metaphysical and visionary. More often than not, I’ll receive blank stares.
So, here’s my attempt to explain what my books are about without putting a label on them.
Continue reading “When Reality Becomes Fantasy”