In honor of the kids going back to school, this will be the first of several posts about the great teachers I was fortunate enough to have in my academic career. To kick things off, let me tell you about Professor Verlyn Flieger. Back in the mid-1980’s, as a young English Continue reading teacher appreciation: verlyn flieger
One of the obligations (and considerable joys) of writing fantasy and science-fiction is the task of “world-building.” That is, the creation (or “sub-creation“, as J.R.R. Tolkien called it) of a fictional setting for one’s story. A well-built imaginary world is not only interesting, but also has a degree of versimilitude, usually because it has a Continue reading the importance of world-building
Though I have no regrets about self-publishing my debut novel, Dragontamer’s Daughters, there are several things I wish I had known beforehand. It would have saved me time, effort, money, and irritation. In June 2012, I released my book(s); in the weeks and months that followed, I quickly learned that: Continue reading 31 things no one tells you about self-publishing
So last night, I had an interview on ArtistFirst Radio for Dragontamer’s Daughters. I feel like it went well, though I was a little nervous at first: I haven’t been on the radio in about 25 years or so, since I was a DJ at WMUC AM 65 at the University of Maryland. Continue reading post-radio interview thoughts
More and more, I’m becoming convinced that people who don’t reply to e-mails should, after death, be confined to Dante’s Sixth Circle of Hell, right next to those folks who back into parking spaces. Yes, I realize that e-mail etiquette is still a work-in-progress for society. Yes, I realize that some Continue reading a place for those who don’t answer e-mails
The other night, I was hanging out with my buddy Pat, who is currently reading and enjoying the first Dragontamer’s Daughters book. The topic soon turned to other young adult books, which led us to The Hunger Games, the blockbuster series that I bet you’ve heard mentioned a time or twelve. Continue reading the hunger games and dragontamer’s daughters
