Category: Writing

Author Interview Series #66 – James Kahn

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Oh, the power of social networking. A couple of weeks ago, I was attending the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold writers’ conference, learning about things like social networking, promotion, etc. Since I launched into the Twitterverse and punched the ion engines back in March, I’ve been getting a steady, daily stream of new followers. That’s just how it works. So I was monitoring my incoming followers between panels at the conference, and then I see James Kahn come through as new follower. When I was twelve, I read the novelization of Poltergeist. It scared the crap out of me.Continue readingAuthor Interview Series #66 – James Kahn

Author Interview Series #65 – Nick Mamatas

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A couple of years ago I was attending the World Fantasy Convention, and at such events, amidst streams of late-night alcohol springs, a person can chance to meet quite a number of interesting people. Why do you think I go to conventions? At just such a party I encountered Nick Mamatas, discovered his first published novel, Move Under Ground, was Cthulhu meets Kerouac, and I was intrigued. From there, it’s obvious that he is a busy guy. Aside from two novels, he has also edited or co-edited Clarkesworld magazine and several anthologies. His book Starve Better is a collection of witty,Continue readingAuthor Interview Series #65 – Nick Mamatas

Author Interviews Revisited – Jack Ketchum

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I first became aware of the name Jack Ketchum whilst reading On Writing Horror, a collection of essays and articles by everyone who’s anyone in the horror genre. (Previous interviewees Joe Lansdale, Jeanne Cavelos, Ramsey Campbell, and Richard Dansky also have essays in this book.) Jack’s essay, “Splat Goes the Hero: Visceral Horror” was one of those that opened my eyes to what good horror fiction is. It’s not just splattering viscera; it’s making the reader care whether a character’s viscera is about to be splattered. If there is any writing advice that I have completely embraced, it is thisContinue readingAuthor Interviews Revisited – Jack Ketchum

Author Interview Series Redux

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Having just returned from World Con, I’ve been thinking a lot about the nature of writing as a career, what it takes to create one, build one, sustain one. One cannot attend an event like World Con (or World Fantasy, for that matter) and not find that one is up to one’s waggling fanboy eyebrows in the likes of George R.R. Martin, John Scalzi, Robert Silverberg, Ellen Datlow, and many other luminaries of the speculative fiction field.

New Blog Theme Unleashed!

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Okay, so it’s not that big of a deal. But allow me to introduce my new blog, Ronin Writer. Check it out and let me know what you think; I’d love to get some feedback. So what does the “ronin” thing mean? Ronin is a Japanese word that means masterless samurai. They were independent warriors, either cast adrift on the waves of the world by their lords or by the cruel hand of fate. They were outcasts, but powerful outcasts, because they were still warriors, and thus, dangerous. You won’t find many real weapons around these parts, except for words,Continue readingNew Blog Theme Unleashed!

Denver Co. Fair and the Geek Pavilion

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This weekend yours truly will be joining other Denver-area writers in the Geek Pavilion at the Denver Co. Fair. I’ll be there from noon until 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 11 (that’s tomorrow), signing books, hanging out, promoting geekery in all its forms. Buy a book and sit down to read it with your deep-fried Oreos! Thanks to the Denver Area Science Fiction Association for the invitation!

Book Trailer Project

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Recently, I’ve been working on somewhat of an experiment. I did a book trailer for Heart of the Ronin once upon a time with my good friend Neil Witkin. It turned out beautifully, but this time I wanted to do something different, something unexpected a little askew for Rogues of the Black Fury. A couple of long trains of thought through Albequerque, Arkham Asylum, and Addis Ababa, ending up in Zanzibar by way of Ypsilanti, I arrived at the idea. After the idea, came the brainstorming, an enormous mind fart of dialogue appeared on the page. Then came the software. I gotta say, XtranormalContinue readingBook Trailer Project

Novel Sale – Damnation Books to Publish The Wild Boys

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Sound the trumpets, but keep your eyes open for signs of lycanthropy. I just signed a contract with Damnation Books to publish my Young Adult horror/sci-fi novel, The Wild Boys.  It is slated for a December 1, 2012 release, just in time for stocking stuffers. Can a 16-year-old girl stem the tide of a werewolf apocalypse? Mia’s mother blames her for the accidental death of Mia’s little brother–perhaps Mia does, too–and her father is too wrapped up in work to notice. She’s in love with Dalton, a boy who barely knows who she is. Her grades are in the toilet. AndContinue readingNovel Sale – Damnation Books to Publish The Wild Boys

To Be Free or Not Be Free: That is the Question

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In 2008, I decided to become a podcaster. I had been listening to podcasts like I Should Be Writing, The Survival Guide to Writing Fantasy, Escape Pod, Pseudopod and others for a while, and appreciating this new form of entertainment. Audio books, customizable news feeds, a wide open world of creativity and content, and free, free, FREE! I was in heaven.

Great Review for “Snakes”!

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I was reminded today of how powerful the written word can be–not just once, but twice. The first came when I heard of the passing of a writer who had changed my life–Ray Bradbury. Fahrenheit 451 remains a life-changing book for me, and I can say nothing at this point to do justice to his memory, except to say that his work changed me, inspired me, and shaped how I live my life. The second instance turned my day around. I have gotten good reviews before (and oh, yes, some bad ones, too.) Of course I enjoy the good ones,Continue readingGreat Review for “Snakes”!

Who Let the Rogues Out?

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E-Reads did! It’s finally here! The Black Furies have just hit the streets in my new military fantasy novel from E-Reads, Rogues of the Black Fury. It’s available in trade paperback and all e-reader formats. If you’ve been paying attention, you know that I’ve been podcasting the novel, too. So you can sample it there to see if it’s your jug of dark ale. Here’s what some advance readers said: “Bold, colorful characters pull the reader into an unforgettable adventure with the perfect mix of suspense, intrigue, and action.” —Jeanne Cavelos, author of The Passing of the Techno-mages “Rogues ofContinue readingWho Let the Rogues Out?