We can all agree that dragons fly and look remarkably like lizards (there might be some dissenters who disagree with lizards as the reference. Some might argue they’re more like seahorses or birds). There are also two camps regarding whether they are mere transportation or intelligent companions. What about enemy or friend? The list could…
The early days of fantasy: Some time in my preteens, I came across fantasy books. Terry Brooks, J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Ursula K. Le Guin, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Peter S. Beagle, and Anne McCaffrey. My world took on an entirely new look. “What if?” became my favorite question. But that doesn’t explain…
I’m about halfway through drafting the first book in my new dragon series. As this story unfolded, I realized something about my writing. It’s driven by secrets. I find things out at the same time as you do. Sure, there are some things I know before any character does, but much of it, I don’t….
I can’t deny it. Purple martin swallows are my obsession. I love the look of them: they make me think of Toothless from the movie How to Train Your Dragon. They look like feathered dragons, don’t they? As similar as martins are to dragons — look at their heads straight on. They’re oblong on the…
I’ve mentioned in past newsletters how my mother died when I was an infant. I was told stories about her and had lots of pictures of her, but until I entered my thirties, I didn’t think of her as a real person. Someone who once lived a life. She was always a ghost in the…
Years ago we poured some concrete to extend the back of our carport. Our daughter was about five years old when she left this mark for us to find periodically as time went by. We did some cleaning today, and under the leaves of castoff years, her little hand print revealed itself and the memories…
Some days are more inspiring than others. I find myself sitting at my computer with several tasks to do. write monthly blog post post to Facebook, reply, repost, respond get lost on Twitter, reply, retweet, comment, post write 1,000 to 3,000 words to current book review edit back from the editor redraft book back from…
Do you research before your write? I sure do. During and after, as well. But none more than I am doing for the book I am currently writing. It is the fifth book in the Students of Jump series, and it takes place largely in the Capuchin Catacombs of Polermo, Italy. (Update: this series is…
