Musings

Dec 17, 2021

The four best books I read this year

These were my favorite reads this year. Give them a try! (These books are recently published, but not during 2021.) ECHO IN ONYX. This...

Sep 27, 2021

When you don’t feel like writing

Long ago I stopped asking myself on any given day if I felt like writing. Often the answer would be, “Actually, I don’t.” Another...

Mar 23, 2020

15 Joyful Things

Anyone else been waking up at 3 o’clock in the morning lately? There’s a lot to worry about with so many people going through heavy cares...

Jun 18, 2017

Writing on a Bad Hair Day

Here’s my next installment on author myths. Myth #5 Writers depend on inspiration to get through the writing day. This one comes from...

Jun 5, 2017

It’s a Dog Eat Dog World

Today I continue my musings on the top myths of the writing life. Wherein I share some of the odd notions I started out with; and how...

Mar 29, 2017

Oh, the unbearable glamour

This is my second post on the myths of being an author. Some of these casual assumptions are great fun, but they may not be at all true...

Feb 3, 2017

Meeting Mr. Big

Most professions spawn myths. They cling pretty tightly, despite the facts. Like: Actors are superstitious. Screenwriting is a glamorous...

Sep 13, 2016

Starting a novel: Granite or fun house?

Today’s post: the mental state of being at the front-end of the novel. I love the start of novels. It may be the only time I can say I am...

Aug 22, 2016

One Step at a Time

Today I hit a muddy patch in the novel. Not exactly a brick wall. Not really a bout of writer’s block, but a serious resistance to doing...

Dec 27, 2015

Kay’s Favorite SFF/H Reads in 2015

I read less fiction this year, but among the many fine fantasy, science fiction, and horror stories, here are some of my favorites. The...

Nov 19, 2015

Discouraged writer walks into a bar…

. . . and it was full of other discouraged writers. OK, lame joke. But sometimes you just have to laugh. It’s that aggravating. Writing,...

Jul 10, 2015

All in

A conversation I had today with a friend about a significant failure in a business venture: She: I tried and I so blew it. Me: But at...

Jan 14, 2015

Character Through Line

Sean Astin as Sam Gamgee. Can you describe your character’s essence or their raison d’etre, in a short phrase? How about Sam Gamgee’s...

Jun 10, 2014

Interview on latest book

This interview, slightly revised below, appeared recently on The Wonderings of One Person blog. Please tell us a little bit about you....

Mar 22, 2014

Twenty feet from being Stephen King

Today’s offering is a guest post from Louise Marley, an award-winning author of historical fiction as well as science fiction and...

Jan 18, 2014

Good books lately

I’ve curled up with some lovely reads lately. Here’s a list of my recommended reads, ranging from fantasy to mystery, thriller and...

Jan 1, 2014

Excellent things that happened to me in 2013

Before we utterly leave behind the old year, I’m looking back in gratitude. I often remember the tough parts of the year: the set backs,...

Dec 22, 2013