You know the scene in adventure movies where the protagonist, digging feverishly where the "X" on the map has led, hits metal in the mud? That was me last weekend, only I wasn't excavating earth, just the closet in my home office. And the telltale clunk wasn't a spade striking a strongbox, but an heavy... Continue Reading →
From “Drought Town” to “Blue Karma”: 25 Years of Cli-Fi
Last month, book blogger Alex at ScribblesAndStories posted a delightful retrospective of her childhood writing projects. Her unflinching but affectionate review hits all the classic points in a writer’s early evolution, from those first forays into fiction starring ourselves and our friends, to the imitative works inspired by a favorite story, to the more deliberate... Continue Reading →
Looking back, moving forward: 2017 Writeolutions
Maybe it's my OCD talking, but year's end always strikes me as a good time for cleaning. As long as I'm packing away the holiday decorations, why not go a bit further and start the new year organized? While tidying my office recently, I unearthed a folder crammed full of writing-related material I'd forgotten I'd... Continue Reading →
Passion in Publishing: Why I’m #PoweredByIndie
“You’re a published author?” My new acquaintance’s eyes widen in surprise. “Where can I find your books?” “On Amazon,” I explain. “I publish independently.” I watch my companion’s expression for the unmistakable flickers of confusion, disappointment, or even contempt. But only a smile appears. “That’s so cool! What’s it called?” I’ve had this conversation a... Continue Reading →
Book (and rocket) Launch! “Transient Phenomena” now available
My new book has launched! Transient Phenomena, part one of seven in the Syzygy novella series, is now available on Amazon. Appropriately, it's not the only thing blasting off today. At 10:05 EST, NASA will test a powerful new rocket called the Space Launch System (SLS) intended to propel astronauts to Mars. It's an eerie confluence:... Continue Reading →
Groundhog Day: Recurring Draft Doubt and How to Beat It
As if insults on a chocolate foil weren’t enough, now cough drops are attempting psychotherapy. Unwrapping a lozenge yesterday, I found the paper printed with aggressive encouragements: “You can do it and you know it!” “Flex your can-do muscle!” “Fire up those engines!” It read like a lemon-and-menthol Jillian Michaels. I laughed because just moments... Continue Reading →