The screen blurs before tired eyes but there's a goal - a phantom number - to be reached, and so I rub my eyes, drink more coffee, and continue on. Day after day after day. It's no longer a story, or characters with distinct voices, or a setting alive with color, it's letters and words… Continue reading Keeping Wonder
As most of you know, I've been super focused on getting Zap Dragon published, which means I've been a bit silent on the Hidden Mythics II progress. In the background, I have been editing the novel. My Alpha reader's feedback has been amazing. Many times readers highlight different things. This is the beauty of having very different… Continue reading Hidden Mythics II Update #3
During and just after college, I worked in a sporting goods shop in a small mountain town in Colorado. In hindsight, the experience from this shop has been a huge benefit. I'm a strong introvert by nature, so the ability to talk with people without stumbling all over myself is priceless. But that's not the… Continue reading Socks, Sandals, and Pine Straw
I never know what might spark a story idea. I posted this drawing by Megan with Little Druid Stories this last week because it caught my eye at SwanCon. That probably was because I've already found myself fascinated by the fungus and toadstools that grow in my backyard. Growing up in Colorado, we'd see mushrooms… Continue reading All It Takes
I lay down for a brief nap in the afternoon, hoping it'll refresh me enough to keep powering through editing. But as I lay there, breathing deeply and telling my muscles to relax, an idea starts rolling through my thoughts. It's persistent and intriguing. "You're a steel dragon with marble eyes, strong claws, and long-plated… Continue reading Epiphany Moments Hit at Odd Times
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