While I was in Utah, I had the opportunity to be on the Writing Excuses podcast with Eric Flint. Howard Tayler and Dan Wells hosted us for a discussion of writing Alternate History. The three areas of Alternate History that we covered were: Our history, but with a key change occurring (the “branching point.”) […]
Writing Excuses 5.21: Alternate History » Writing Excuses Read More »
I guest blogged at Apex today, talking about the genesis of my short story “Tomorrow and Tomorrow.” Stories come from the strangest places. Way back in 2006, I was working as a puppeteer in Iceland on a television show called Lazytown. As part of a way to deal with the physical stress of the job,
Finding Tomorrow and Tomorrow at Apex Book Company Read More »
I’ve often felt that one of the way writers differ from other artists is that we tend to jump into trying to create finished products without working on the individual skills involved in that finished product. For instance: An artist will practice shading without working on a picture. A writer very rarely sits down and
Exercising your story telling techniques Read More »
Woot! Escape Pod has accepted Jaiden’s Weaver for their podcast. I love Escape Pod. It’s my go-to audio fiction source when I’m building puppets so I’m delighted that “Jaiden’s Weaver” is going to appear there. Originally, this story appeared in Mike Brotherton’s Diamonds in the Sky anthology and you can read the entire story there.
Sale! Jaiden’s Weaver to Escape Pod Read More »
This was the second day of the Superstars Writers Seminar and I’m really glad I came. I have to admit that the name makes me giggle a little, even though I recognize the impressive track records of the instructors. I think because I associate superstars with the 80s show Star Search. I keep having pictures
Day two of the Superstars Writers Seminar Read More »
I spent the day hanging out with Howard and Sandra Tayler, which was a great deal of fun. Knowing they had kids, I tossed the Broken Bridge into my bag and took it to their house. Not only did I perform the show, two of their children got excited and started doing their own performances
Hanging with writers, puppets, books, and Schlock. Read More »
If you are in the Salt Lake City area come to Sam Wellers Book Store for the Super MASSIVE BOOK SIGNING. In attendence will be authors Jessica Day George, Tracy Hickman, Dave Farland AKA Dave Wolverton, Kevin J Anderson, Rebecca Moesta, Larry Correia, Eric James Stone, Brad Torgersen, Brandon Sanderson, and me. The signing is
Mass signing tomorrow in Salt Lake City Read More »
I have a story in this month’s issue of Apex magazine. I should probably mention that “Tomorrow and Tomorrow” is SF horror and nothing like Shades of Milk and Honey. Here’s the teaser. The moment Tuyet walked into the Dagenais’s compartment, she knew something was different. The usual pack of dogs swarmed around her, distracting
SHORT FICTION: “Tomorrow and Tomorrow” at Apex Magazine Read More »
As 2010 winds down, it’s time for the annual fiction review. This was a great year because for the first time I get to put a novel on my list. I still feel like this is someone else’s life. By the way, if you are reading for awards this year and want to read something
2010 Year End Fiction wrap-up Read More »
As a Christmas present, I’d like to give you a short story which takes place between the end of Shades of Milk and Honey and the beginning of Glamour in Glass. Unavoidably, it contains a spoiler so I’ve hidden the story below.
Happy Christmas from the Ellsworths Read More »
The San Francisco Chronicle just posted their list of the Best science fiction and fantasy books of 2010. Shades of Milk and Honey is on there! Kowal presents a tale of romance in Regency England with just a sprinkling of fantasy. Able to pull “glamour” out of the ether and create intricate tableaux that trick the
San Francisco Chronicle’s best science fiction and fantasy books of 2010 Read More »
December 16th is Jane Austen’s birthday. To celebrate that, I’m releasing Chapter two of Shades of Milk and Honey as a sample. You may download a pdf of Chapter 2 or an epub of Chapter 2 or read the sample chapter below. (Chapter One is here.)
A Sample of Shades of Milk and Honey: Chapter Two Read More »
I had this odd experience last night while we were watching Doctor Who. In the episode “The Hungry Earth” there’s a sticky wooden door. Rory asked the Doctor why he didn’t sonic it and he replied “It doesn’t do wood.” This created a moment of author horror for me. I have one (1) story in
Me and the canonical Doctor Who Read More »
My inbox is overflowing with good news today. Shades of Milk and Honey is on the Kirkus Reviews list of Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of 2010! This is just staggering. Really, I got the email and threw my arms up in the air with a hurrah. (Also, no lie, the sun just came out.
Shades of Milk and Honey is on the Kirkus Best Of list! Read More »
One of the things that’s tricky about writing historical fiction like Shades of Milk and Honey is getting the vocabulary right. There are a lot of words which are obviously anachronisms but there others which aren’t. Short of looking up every word in a novel, there’s no way to really know if a seemingly innocuous
The Jane Austen Word List Read More »