My arms rhythmically move, pulling me through the water in a steady, smooth glide. In the back of my head, I'm counting, "One, two, breathe. One, two, breathe." But at the forefront of my mind, I'm a steel dragon covered in soot and rust and hiding beneath a dumpster while three street boys search for… Continue reading Sometimes the Brain Helps
It was December of 2012 and I wasn't even into my first month of blogging when I posted about my cat eating my book outline. (Yarn, Sticky Notes, and a Cat). You see, I'd tried to outline my 100K word novel across the wall by using yarn and sticky notes. After putting hours into the… Continue reading The Sidekick Strikes Again!
Every time I read the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan, I find myself craving a good cup of coffee. There's just something about his descriptions of the rich aroma that calls to my taste buds. These are the details I love in books. They help make the story real. I have a hard time writing about… Continue reading The Little Details
For as long as I can remember, my dad's always had some sort of woodshop. When my sisters and I were young, he'd make us wooden puzzles like the one with the horseshoes connected by chain links and you have to figure out how to get the metal ring off the shoes. (Perhaps this explains… Continue reading Peace in the Process
I've never been one to coast and hope things happen. That's why I set goals at the beginning of each year as a way to keep myself moving and motivated. This year is no different, but there's a part of me that wants to set simple, easily achievable goals this go around. Perhaps I'm a… Continue reading Shooting for the Moon
A while back my sister introduced me to an artist by the name of Jake Weidmann. I believe I’ve mentioned him before due to his TedTalks. Anyway, he’s both a master penman—one of only eleven in the US—and a painter and carver who uses old-world techniques for much of his art. The work he does… Continue reading Done Right or Done Now, But Not Both
Mystery of the Golden Shells was published yesterday! It’s been a whirlwind of a process and I’ve learned over the last few years that planning a book launch is one of my weaker points in the book production process. Despite that, I’ve been blown away and blessed by the response to Golden Shells. So thank… Continue reading Moving Forward
A deadline passes without the goal being accomplished. Then it sits in the mind, nagging away that the goal still needs doing, and other things are piling up around it, falling farther and farther behind. It becomes a snowball rolling downhill. It gathers bits and pieces of broken plans until it’s a giant mess, gathering… Continue reading Just Breathe