We're probably going to catch a lot of flak for this, owing to the immense popularity of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time, perhaps the most sprawling epic ever written, rivaling even A Song of Ice and Fire in verbosity. But from what we (Heather and I) were able to assess from the first book... Continue Reading →
The World of Aenya is vast and varied. Its geography encompasses disparate landscapes, city-states, races, cultures, histories, and myths. For 2022, I am introducing a new series, Aenya Lore, to showcase the tales that exist within the larger narrative of the Aenya Series, some of which, you may remember, come straight from the novels. While... Continue Reading →
Ecthros, or "Ecks", as he is called by his friends, first appeared in The Princess of Aenya and is set to appear in my forthcoming novel, The Children of Aenya. Unlike your typical fictional archer (looking at you: Robin Hood, Legolas, Green Arrow, Hawkeye, Katniss, Merida), Ecthros isn't very good at shooting things with his... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Story Matters, Heather and I delve into the conservative YouTube/social media debacle. We talk about being "woke" and an "SJW," modern-day feminism, and we examine what role politics has to play in film, TV, and literature. And of course, we also talk about our favorite thing growing up, the 80's cartoon... Continue Reading →
In this episode of the Story Matters podcast, I sit down with my 11-year-old daughter, Sophia, to discuss Christina Soontornvat's A Wish in the Dark. While this book was required reading for her middle-school English class, we definitely didn't regret it! A Wish in the Dark is set in an alternate-history, Asian-inspired world, with only... Continue Reading →
What does Kristin Cashore's Graceling, Philip K. Dick's The Man in the High Castle, Terry Pratchett, The Promised Neverland anime, the Twilight series, Fifty Shades of Grey, X-Men, Philip Roth’s The Plot Against America, George Orwell's 1984 and Animal Farm, Alice in Wonderland, The Handmaid’s Tale, and The Testaments ALL have in common? Answer: THIS... Continue Reading →
Quick Blurb: John Connelly's The Book of Lost Things starts off strong, with an evocative hook that instantly draws you into the story. But the middle hundred pages or so felt like needless padding, and I started to lose interest. Much of what happens feels random and disconnected to the overall plot and the development... Continue Reading →
Who wants to read when they can listen? While going to work in your car, or coming back from a long stressful day, you can sit back, relax, and listen to me ramble on about books! What could be better? Now, I am very excited to announce my official foray into sponsored podcasting using the... Continue Reading →
In Greek mythology, Charon is the name of the ferryman who crosses the River Styx, delivering the Dead from the land of the Living to the Underworld. In the case of Demacharon, his name could not be more fitting. I introduced Demacharon in Ages of Aenya, and became unexpectedly invested in his story. Intended as... Continue Reading →
Imagine if, in The Force Awakens, everyone was either cruel, evil, or a bumbling idiot, except for Rey. Then imagine a Star Wars sequel where Rey isn't just a Mary Sue, but doesn't actually do anything to move the story forward, where she just waits on her planet for people to show up and tell... Continue Reading →
The Art of Storytelling 
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