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One of the interesting things about writing an Urban Fantasy novel is the number of doors that are open to you as an author. Of course, this is also one of the more annoying aspects of the genre as well. For example, some part of my brain decided that it would be fun to set large chunks of Book Three at various points in Read more
As I mentioned last week, I am currently reading Helter Skelter, the definitive work on the Manson Family Murders co-authored by the DA who prosecuted the case. It is a wealth of detail and insight concerning the crimes, the motive, the trial, and the people involved. And, as I mentioned last week, it is absolutely Read more
I am currently reading Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry. The book is about the Manson Family murders, which is a moniker that sounds gaily sing-songy compared to just how nightmarish those events were. Charles Manson and the group of people he had brainwashed Read more
This past weekend was filled with a horrible rainstorm, and then one of the most beautiful days ever. Unfortunately I forgot that it was a three day weekend when I was making up my work schedule, and so I had to sit inside on that most beautiful day ever. I always say, the best part of writing is that I'm my own boss. And Read more
This past Sunday I rode a trolley around the city, drank champagne, played skeeball, drank pickle backs, and lost my glasses. I know, I know, it all sounds very glamorous from the outside, but really it was a lot of confusion and a mysterious amount of receipts in my pocket the next day. And also, no glasses. But Read more
I've been noticing that a lot of writers I talk to all seem to have the same hurdle: They have a hard time selling their work to others. Now, on the one hand, this makes perfect sense to me. I have a difficult time summarizing my books or telling people in casual conversation what they're about. But that's more about Read more
I have been doing quite a bit of research while writing this current book. I've read books about everything from sewing to Ancient Rome. Most recently I finished off a brief history of Romania. You would think that I would be getting more confident in my ability to portray these concepts in my fiction. However, an odd Read more
I've noticed recently that I mention the phrase "Critical Mass" a lot when I discuss marketing. Actually, I mention it a lot and thousands of other people mention it a lot as well. The other day I was giving this phrase some thought and decided that a few words on its origin and what it means to me are in order. So, Read more
Yesterday I started a new scene in Book 3. It wasn't a natural continuation of any scene before it, it was an abrupt shift introducing a new character in a new setting who will, in a few more scenes, be engulfed by the main story line. I managed to write this new character's name down, then a sentence or two after that. Read more
I am currently writing the story of Gregor. This tale contains nothing about when he was a human; it focuses on the hinted-at-story of how he tried to strike out on his own in the world of testers. This is touched on here and there in the first two books, something about how his work became such an integral part of the Read more
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