I got halfway through the first draft of The Library at Eventide last summer and gave up. It was too much of a downer. One of the main character’s parents passed away. The world was post-apocalyptic. The other main character was struggling with a chronic illness. There was a heavy, unpleasant feeling of sadness and…
Category: Writing
Research As a Source of Brainstorming
Going back through my notes for Talio’s Codex, I discovered some research I did at the very start of the project. I wanted to see what kind of cases, terminology and legal concepts were used in medieval England. Fortunately, the proceedings of the Old Bailey (the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales) are online….
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reusing material you’ve already written is a huge help during revisions. Don’t get rid of anything permanently! Whenever I delete a scene, or even a part of a scene, I tuck it away in a OneNote notebook in case I’ll need it later. In the case of Talio’s Codex, there was an entire pages-long scene…
Finished My Dev Revisions for Talio’s Codex
Yesterday, I got an email from my publisher (Space Wizard Science Fantasy) that they were good with the developmental revisions for Talio’s Codex. After two years of writing, I feel like it’s finally finished (but not yet published – that’s coming in July). Exciting times. I’m going to go back over some early notes and…
Lavender Tavern – “The Unlucky Gambler”
From the pilot episode of the Lavender Tavern podcast. Go give a listen! In a city that stood on a hill by the sea, every child born was given a pair of dice. When the doctors had delivered the baby, red and crying, and cleaned it and cut the cord connecting it to its mother,…
Old Fiction – “Jentner’s Tunic”
This one’s from 1998. I am grateful to my old friend Josef C. for finding it. In a way, this story makes me very sad for the person I was when I wrote it. I’m also glad my writing’s improved substantially since then. “No”, said Jentner, “I won’t do it.” His mother laughed…
Old Fiction – “The Sixth Jewel”
An incomplete story from 1998. Based on a dream I had. I woke up, wrote it down…and then was interrupted by a person from Porlock. Once upon a time, there was a glittering city of jewels that shone and banners that waved gloriously in the breeze, a city of happy, content people who knew…
Bear Fiction – “Crab Nebulous”
This pastiche of Sex And the City is from decades ago…thus the iBook. Still as true today as it ever was. Contains mature content! Okay, so the four of us were sitting at our favorite café, and at least one of us was itching. Wait, I’m getting ahead of myself here. You have to know…
Sale – “Talio’s Codex” novel to Space Wizard Science Fantasy
I’m over the moon to announce that I’ve sold my novel manuscript Talio’s Codex to Space Wizard Science Fantasy for publication in July, 2024. Talio’s Codex is set in a Dutch/Venetian-inspired world of canals, water worship and magic-powered skyships.
Sale – “Mail-Order Husband” short story to Wyngraf
I’m very happy to announce that I’ve sold my short story, “Mail-Order Husband” to Wyngraf. It will be published in their Valentine’s Day 2024 issue along with two other stories. No spoilers, but I can say it involves the Weird West, a half-orc and combustible materials. Looking forward to seeing it come out!