Mark Tompkins is joining us today to with his novel The Last days of Magic. Here is the publisher’s description: An epic novel of magic and mysticism, Celts and faeries, mad kings and druids, and the goddess struggling to reign over magic’s last outpost on the Earth. What became of magic in the world? Who […]
My Favorite Bit: Mark Tompkins talks about THE LAST DAYS OF MAGIC Read More »
Last year, during the lead up to the Hugos, I wrote a post about how this was more important than just a rocketship. Here, read a bit of it for context. One of the things about fiction in general, and even more so with SFF, is that it tends to reflect the zeitgeist of the culture. For instance, during
Theodore Beale is the Donald Trump of Science Fiction Read More »
I’ve just given the same pep talk to three different writers, so I figure you probably need it to. Let me speak to you about impostor syndrome. That thing where you are sure everyone knows you’re faking it and they are going to find out any minute and then you will be cast down and
Impostor Syndrome – an analogy and pep talk Read More »
Jason LaPier is joining us today with his novel Unclear Skies. Here’s the publisher’s description: The second book in Jason LaPier’s thrilling sci-fi trilogy Justice isn’t what it used to be Rogue cop Stanford Runstom blew open a botched murder case and was given a promotion – of sorts. But doing PR work for ModPol, the
My Favorite Bit: Jason LaPier talks about UNCLEAR SKIES Read More »
So I was in a mood tonight and invited Lee the Puppet to answer questions. Questions asked: What in your life prompted you to be an advocate of diversity, on social media, and in your writing? (besides having a brain, that is!) Where do you get your ideas? How do you balance the rabbit hole
Watch Lee the Puppet answer questions about writing and publishing Read More »
S. K. Dunstall is joining us today with their novel Alliance. Here’s the publisher’s description: As the Linesman series continues, linesman Ean Lambert finds himself facing an alien ship he doesn’t understand—and a terrifying political threat he cannot fight… The lines. The soul of every ship. It was once thought there were only ten, but
My Favorite Bit: S. K. Dunstall talks about ALLIANCE Read More »
When we talk about voice in writing, it can get confusing because people use the word to mean different things. Let me offer “style of puppetry” as a metaphor to talk about the different forms of voice. Mechanical In puppetry one of the first things you have to do when designing a new show is
Using puppetry to explain what writers mean by Voice Read More »
I had some thoughts on Twitter, because people seem to think that developing a diverse group is this big mystery. It’s actually pretty simple. [View the story “Diversity planning made simple” on Storify]
Thoughts about how to add diversity. Real simple thoughts. Read More »
URGENT PRESS RELEASE Call for Submissions! Contact: SL Huang & Kurt Hunt (campbellreading2016@gmail.com) Feb. 20, 2016: Submissions are now being accepted for Up and Coming: Stories by the 2016 Campbell-Eligible Authors. Authors eligible for the 2016 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer include writers who published their first qualifying professional science fiction or fantasy
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS – Up and Coming: Stories by the 2016 Campbell-Eligible Authors Read More »
Randy Henderson is joining us today with his novel Bigfootloose and Finn Fancy Free. Here’s the publisher’s description: In Bigfootloose and Finn Fancy Free, the sequel to Randy Henderson’s acclaimed debut novel, Finn Fancy Necromancy, Finn Gramaraye is settling back into the real world after his twenty-five-year-long imprisonment in the otherworld of the Fey. He’s fallen
My Favorite Bit: Randy Henderson talks about BIGFOOTLOOSE AND FINN FANCY FREE Read More »
Hurrah! I’m 47 today and I’m getting on an airplane to go to Salt Lake City to record Writing Excuses and attend LTUE. On my birthday. On a plane. I think we all know how this is going to go. Meanwhile! I have a party favor for you. This is the first scene, sort of,
I am 47 today! Have the first scene of GHOST TALKERS as a party favor. Read More »
I was watching Rutger Hauer clips to nail down a character and found this. What…? I– I mean, I know it was the 90s, but still, what the…?
Rutger Hauer is– I’m not even… What? What did I just watch? Read More »
Normally I do my end of year wrap up post in December, because it’s a good time to collect everything in one spot for when nomination season rolls around. I didn’t do that this year because I’d decided to recuse myself from eligibility for the Hugo awards. Why? Because I know how few nominations it takes
MRK’s non-eligibility awards post Read More »
At Christmas every year, there’s a giant gathering of family. I usually have a puppet because… because puppet. Anyway, one of my favorite things is introducing my newer cousins to the puppets. There’s an interesting thing that happens developmentally with little kids. You know that whole willing suspension of disbelief thing? Little kids haven’t started doing
Puppets and the suspension of disbelief Read More »
I started this challenge back in 2012 on a whim, and it turns out that I’m not the only person who enjoys sending mail. It’s like I know a bunch of writers or something. Fancy that. A couple of things about the challenge, for those of you who are looking at it and feeling like
Today is the first day of Month of Letters. Are you in? Read More »