This past decade was when my childhood dream of becoming an author became reality. I began the 2010’s with a manuscript of a fantasy novel, and ended it with 5 published books. Here’s a glance back at some key events: 2010: Went to Paris in April, and Disney World in Continue reading looking back, looking ahead (and a peek at “stray cats”)
This Wasted Land, my third published novel, was released a year ago. As I mentioned in this post, it was in 1988, when I was a senior in college, that I first began working on what would become TWL. I developed the premise, created some characters, and did extensive research, Continue reading a great “wasted” year
Like most other novels, there’s a disclaimer—albeit with a twist—at the beginning of Lost Dogs, my story about two dogs who witness the end of the human world. It goes like this: All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons or dogs, living or dead, Continue reading the “lost dog” we brought home
Queen Anne’s County TV, the local cable show where I live (in Scenic, Convenient-to-Nowhere, MD) has launched a new show, “Papa’s World,” (a reference to “Papa” Ernest Hemingway). Every episode will feature an Eastern Shore writer, and I was chosen as the very first interview. You can watch the whole Continue reading “lost dogs” on “papa’s world”
My children have never known a home without pets. There have always been at least two in the house. When my older daughter Beth was born, we had our cats Loki and Freya (who were littermates), as well as our dogs Pupcake, Ajax, and Daisy. Beth was very young—3 ½ Continue reading we got six. that’s all there is.
The latest in a series about influences from my earlier days Sci-fi purists might sneer (but then, that’s what they’re best at) when I tell you that a good chunk of my formative years was spent in darkened movie theaters and in front of the TV. And what was I Continue reading when the world was young: sci-fi movies of the ’70’s
On January 28, 2004, my father-in-law Fred Blahut died of COPD, and not a day goes by when I am not reminded of him. I first met Fred in late 1985, when I started dating his daughter Joni. Shortly after we announced our engagement, Fred lamented to me: Joni’s the Continue reading what fred said
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
