Category Archives: Writing

Professional Wednesday: Finishing a Book Actually Means More Work

As I mentioned last week, I have recently finished the third book in my new contemporary Celtic urban fantasy, The Chalice Wars. This book, The Chalice Wars: Sword, will be out sometime fairly early in 2023. Book I, The Chalice … Continue reading

Posted in Belle Books, Novels, The Chalice Wars, Urban Fantasy, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Professional Wednesday: Finishing a Book Actually Means More Work

Monday Musings: Remembering My Brother Bill

Five years ago this week, my family—spouse and kids, brother and sister and their families, cousins—gathered in northern Massachusetts to say goodbye to my oldest brother, Bill, who had passed away earlier in the year after a brief, intense battle … Continue reading

Posted in Family, kids, Music, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Monday Musings: Remembering My Brother Bill

Creative Friday: Celtic Urban Fantasy Teaser!!

This week, I finished the first draft of the third and final book in my new project, a contemporary Celtic urban fantasy called The Chalice Wars. I have a lot to do with this newest manuscript still — I’ll discuss … Continue reading

Posted in Belle Books, Novels, Publishing, Urban Fantasy, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Creative Friday: Celtic Urban Fantasy Teaser!!

Professional Wednesday: “Hidden Brain,” Perception, and Fiction

On a recent drive I began listening to the Hidden Brain podcast, with the brilliant Shankar Vedantam. I had listened to scattered episodes before, but never in a systematic way. But this was a long drive and I wound up … Continue reading

Posted in Novels, Reading, Research, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Professional Wednesday: “Hidden Brain,” Perception, and Fiction

Professional Wednesday: It’s All Connected

One more post about my teaching weekend at the Hampton Roads Writers Conference . . . . As I believe I mentioned last week, I taught four classes at the event. The topics were: point of view, character development, world … Continue reading

Posted in Character, Fantasy, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Professional Wednesday: It’s All Connected

Monday Musings: Additional Thoughts On Writing and Teaching

After a wonderful weekend at the Hampton Roads Writers Workshop (kudos to Lauran Strait and all those who helped her make the conference such a success), I am reminded again of why I love to teach writing, to talk about … Continue reading

Posted in Appearances, Business of publishing, Publishing, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Monday Musings: Additional Thoughts On Writing and Teaching

Professional Wednesday: Hampton Roads Writers Conference, and the Hardest Writing Topic to Teach (For Me)

This week I head to the Hampton Roads Writers Conference in Virginia Beach. I’ll be teaching several workshops over the three days I’m there — a two-hour master class on “Point of View and Voice,” a ninety-minute class on “Character … Continue reading

Posted in Appearances, Character, Novels, Publishing, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Professional Wednesday: Hampton Roads Writers Conference, and the Hardest Writing Topic to Teach (For Me)

Professional Wednesday: Once More Unto The Breach — To Outline or Not, Redux

After attending DragonCon and speaking on panels about various aspects of writing, I have found myself thinking—yet again—about the age-old debate between those who outline their books and those who don’t. Or, between planners and pantsers, in the parlance of … Continue reading

Posted in Character, Islevale Cycle, Novels, Time's Assassin, Time's Children, Time's Demon, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Professional Wednesday: Once More Unto The Breach — To Outline or Not, Redux

Professional Wednesday: What To Tell Aspiring Writers About The Current Literary Market

If we have to write — and I’ve always felt that writing is an imperative, something I do to tame the voices in my head, the stories burning in my heart — then we should do it to satisfy that … Continue reading

Posted in Business of publishing, Family, Novels, Publishing, Short Fiction, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Professional Wednesday: What To Tell Aspiring Writers About The Current Literary Market

Monday Musings (On Tuesday): Back From DragonCon

I have spent this past weekend at DragonCon, catching up with friends, meeting new people, and returning an air of normalcy to my professional calendar. To be honest, I went into the weekend a bit reluctantly. I was excited to … Continue reading

Posted in Appearances, Business of publishing, Friendship, Publicity, Publishing, Urban Fantasy, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Monday Musings (On Tuesday): Back From DragonCon