On Life as a Modern Wizard
Musings on why books are the best thing since papyrus scrolls.
books
The (Non-)Reading Habits of the Terminally Distracted
When I was a kid in Europe, I remember bookstores were almost luxury destinations. I would walk into one and feel overwhelmed and awed, and I’d touch the volumes with utmost reverence. Books were expensive. All of them, except for a handful of children’s books and pocket atlases, were hardbound with gorgeous covers that were as much works of art as the words held within. They were also a universe unto themselves. Getting an autograph, or even running into an author of any kind was almost unheard of. Seeing one made into a movie was a Very Big Deal. My great uncle would collect books just to show them off on his shelves. His brother, my grandfather, on the other hand, would borrow them from him to read, because he loved the written word, but couldn’t afford to buy the books he wanted. My mom had entire shelves filled with series […]
I Read, Therefore I Am
In the last two weeks or so, I seem to have gone into one of my philosophical moods. I was reading a book in a genre I used to devour back when I read two or three books a week. I don’t do it anymore, but back then, I would dive into a specific genre and read every book an author has ever released in it. Then I’d go to related books, and repeat the process with another author in that same genre. It was total immersion in a particular subject matter, and for the longest time I lived and breathed it. That changed when my me-time shrank considerably and I refocused my energies into writing instead. I’d still read here and there, but nowhere near as much as before, and definitely not one single genre. When my reading pattern changed, I noticed a distinct change in my general mindset as well. […]
Writer’s Gonna Read: Recently Read…
This will be my attempt to keep myself accountable for what I (don’t) read. It’s become an unsettling pattern for me lately to think, “I really miss reading! I never have time anymore!” but not pick up a book when I do have time. So I will try to post here about the books I read. Not reviews, just a mention, and possibly a recommendation, if I feel very strongly about a particular title. I will start this new series of posts off by recounting 2015 in books read so far, not counting my own books, which I read to edit. Sadly, it is a very short list… The Wolf’s Hour by Romert R. McCammon Legend by David Gemmel Nightfall by Ellen Connor (cheating a little, this was a re-read) Midnight by Ellen Connor (re-read) The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski […]
Follow-up on Facebook Advertising: The Circling Sharks
If you ever wanted to know why some books/products/services sell so well and others don’t, read this. It’ll be worth your time.
There MUST Be Blood!!
Anyone else get paranoid when they’re editing (or self-editing) a manuscript and there are almost no corrections on a page? I am working my way through Blood Hunt, going on 16 chapters now, and so far all I’ve been fixing are contractions and a word choice here or there. I won’t lie, it had me worried until I remembered I’d already done a hard edit of this part when I hit the halfway point. Still, it somehow doesn’t seem right to leave a page without red ink.
State Of The Author Address
Hello everyone! A quickie post to bring you guys up to date on what I’m up to these days. Since I’ve had people email me with questions, I thought it best to answer here. So here goes: Q: Is Blood Hunt ever coming out? A: YES! It absolutely is. It was delayed by a side project which turned into a mega novel, and now it’s being delayed a bit more due to life/work stuff, but rest assured, the fourth installment of the Blood Series is almost finished, and I am planning (hoping) for a release date sometime this winter. For those who follow my Facebook posts, you’ve seen me share some excerpts in the past. I also have a gorgeous cover, which I will be unveiling later this month, or early June. I do need to apologize for the long wait. If I could have helped it, believe me, this book […]
Happenings and Goings On
Greetings! Keeping this short and sweet to let you know about stuff going on and coming up. Take note and check it out! Series Starter Promotion at iTunes: iBook users, take advantage of this limited time promotion Starting today until Jan 6, Blood Moons is FREE at this link right here. What are you waiting for? Go grab it! 😉 Discounts at Smashwords: For the same time period, from today until Jan 6, The Royal Wizard is 75% off with coupon code UV58C at this link right here. That makes its price $1.00 even. Also, if you’re looking for a quick, exciting read, Virtual will be FREE with coupon code KR55Y at this link right here. Wolfen RELEASE DAY: It’s almost upon us! Sunday, 12.21.2014 is the day Wolfen officially releases all over the world!! 😀 If you missed the daily posts, you can still find them on my Facebook page album […]
10 Things Every Writer Should Feel (at least once)
It’s happened, or it will happen. Some things are unavoidable. But they’re not all bad! =)
The Triad of Storytelling: A Listener’s Point of View
Ask a hundred different people what makes a great story, and you’ll get a hundred different answers. That’s because no two people read alike. For that matter, no two authors write exactly alike. And many of us don’t exactly see eye to eye. But odds are, if you ask enough of the right “Why?” questions, the answer to what makes a great story boils down to the balance between three things: Plot, Characters, and Delivery. Now, I’m not saying this as a writer. I’m saying it as a reader. And as a reader, I have a few opinions on this matter.