Dec 17, 2021The four best books I read this yearThese 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, 2021When you don’t feel like writingLong 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, 202015 Joyful ThingsAnyone 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 19, 2017Writing on a Bad Hair DayHere’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, 2017It’s a Dog Eat Dog WorldToday 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, 2017Oh, the unbearable glamourThis 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, 2017Meeting Mr. BigMost professions spawn myths. They cling pretty tightly, despite the facts. Like: Actors are superstitious. Screenwriting is a glamorous...
Sep 14, 2016Starting 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, 2016One Step at a TimeToday 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, 2015Kay’s Favorite SFF/H Reads in 2015I 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, 2015Discouraged 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, 2015All inA 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, 2015Character Through LineSean 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, 2014Interview on latest bookThis interview, slightly revised below, appeared recently on The Wonderings of One Person blog. Please tell us a little bit about you....
Mar 22, 2014Twenty feet from being Stephen KingToday’s offering is a guest post from Louise Marley, an award-winning author of historical fiction as well as science fiction and...
Jan 18, 2014Good books latelyI’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, 2014Excellent things that happened to me in 2013Before 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, 2013Top Writing the World Posts of 2013Courage, faith, balance. Essentials for the writing life This year on my blog I’ve had fun sharing my views, exploring the writing...
Dec 10, 2013Best 2013 thingsThe year was amazing. Hard to pick the best things, but I’ll try: Best literary novel: Beautiful Ruins, Jess Walter. Best SFF: American...
Nov 3, 2013On incurably loving the beginnings of novelsI’m on page 147 of my new novel in progress. Those of you who’ve been following my posts may wonder why I’ve added so few pages to my...