Purchase

Blog

Annotations to My Podside Picnic Interview

This is a bit of a companion piece to my most recent appearance on Podside Picnic talking about "crap books" that got me reading science fiction and (mostly) fantasy. My first two years of high school were consumed by reading anything Dragonlance I could get my hands on. That included the initial "Chronicles" and the subsequent "Legends" that I mentioned on the show, but there were so, so many Dragonlance anthologies and other stand-alones that followed I couldn't follow all of them. I remember reading what seemed to be a baker's dozen of anthologies that had Tanis and Company going on so many adventures before the events of Dragons of Autumn Twilight that I wondered exactly what level the heroes were when the first book in the trilogy started. With all those stories, it couldn't possibly be 1st level. A couple that stand out even now as charming subversions of the...

July 1, 2020
Public Appearance, Reading
, , , , ,

I’ve Joined Clarion West’s 2020 Write-a-thon

I will be part of Clarion West's Write-a-thon this year, writing every day from June 21 - July 31. My goals are to have several stories completed by the end of this time, ready to be submitted. I'm also raising funds for Clarion West, so if you've enjoyed my fiction in the past consider sponsoring me. I'm eager to meet this challenge, and finish the summer with strong stories! ...

June 21, 2020
Writing
, , ,

Added To the University of Liverpool’s “Resisting Dystopia” Reading List

"As The Shore To The Tides, So Blood Calls To Blood" was added to the University of Liverpool's "Resisting Dystopia (Part II)" reading list earlier this week, which I hope will help put my story in front of more new readers. Very exciting. As I came down off the initial thrill, however, I wondered how many fantasy dystopias are out there. For me, the term "dystopia" is one that seems very rooted in science fiction rather than fantasy, but as I asked other people their opinions, a few titles came up. There is, of course, N.K. Jemisin's Broken Earth series, as well as the new Dark Crystal series on Netflix, but I'm not certain if there's many more. Given the way our world is headed, I wouldn't be surprised if our own dystopian leanings leak into worlds of our imagination more and more often. ...

May 8, 2020
Fantasy, Writing
, ,

Interview at Podside Picnic

Last week, I was invited back to one of my favorite podcasts to discuss my recent story. Last time, I talked about how my experiences as low-level enlisted personnel informed my reading of The Forever War; however, this time, I talked to Connor to discuss my recent story, "As The Shore To The Tides, So Blood Calls To Blood". We talked a bit about inspirations (if I may be permitted a small spoiler, they included games, the Bible, Sumerian myth and Ursula K. Le Guin), the writing process (such as it is for such a slowpoke as me), and whether I'm working on any other stories in this setting (I am). To my delight, Connor loved the story enough to name drop it in his newsletter -- which I've always found to have great insights into whatever he's reading or watching at the moment. Note: This is a patrons-only episode (as was...

April 19, 2020
Fantasy, Public Appearance, Writing
, , , ,

“As The Shore To The Tides, So Blood Calls To Blood” Is Now Live

My story is now available to read at Beneath Ceaseless Skies. This is my longest works and one of my more complex ones, which I'm very proud to share with everyone. I tried to make this story about brothers, blood magic and bad blood resonate with familiar stories, but weird enough that it feels new. I'd be honored if you gave the story a read. ...

April 10, 2020
Fantasy, Writing
, , , , ,