“The sun in the west was a drop of burning gold that slid nearer and nearer the sill of the world. All at once they were aware of the evening as the end of light and warmth.” ---William Golding, Lord of the Flies Great works of literature transcend time and place. They not only speak... Continue Reading →
Why Jeff VanderMeer is Lovecraft’s True Successor
In glimmers, in shreds of thought, in the aftermath of my reading, I wondered if he kept a journal still, or if the dolphin's eye had been familiar for a reason other than that it was so human. But soon enough I banished this nonsense; some questions will ruin you if you are denied the... Continue Reading →
The Magiq of Aenya Production Diary #3
I am 130k words into my fourth novel, The Magiq of Aenya, and should have a completed draft around August. But before then, I'll be heading to my wife's home country of Morocco, a real-world fantasy setting, to better realize the Arab-North African inspired City of Shemselinihar. This is a rough map of the area... Continue Reading →
Seriously, don’t be a writer
Are you thinking about becoming a writer? Well, don't. That's my advice. Don't do it. Please. Too many of you think that after watching a few YouTube videos, you can become the next Tolkien, Sandersen, or whoever's hitting the bestseller charts these days. But the real world doesn't work that way. I get tired of... Continue Reading →
Aenya Newsletter, May 2025
In a recent podcast, Nick Alimonos shares updates on his participation in the first Tarpon Springs Book Fair, where he successfully sold his books, particularly "Princess of Aenya." He addresses challenges authors face with algorithms that misrepresent his work by associating it with nudity, despite its broader fantasy themes. Alimonos emphasizes the importance of storytelling beyond monetary gain, reflecting on the market trends favoring emotional narratives that resonate more with female readers. He discusses his ongoing project, "The Magiq of Aenya," aimed at younger audiences, and how he is rethinking cover designs to better connect with readers.
Skeleton Crew Review(s)
Today, I bring you not one, not two, but a whopping twenty+ story reviews! It's my first critical look at an anthology series from my favorite comfort author, Stephen King. Skeleton Crew includes a lot of great shorts, a few mids (like the kids like to say these days), and a few duds. But the... Continue Reading →
Planet of the Apes: Review
Unless you've been living underground awaiting the coming apocalypse, or maybe you just don't like movies, you've probably seen the famous scene with Charlton Heston and the Statue of Liberty. Or perhaps you're a lot younger than me, and you watched the newer series with James Franco and the CGI apes. There is even a... Continue Reading →
Neil Gaiman: Can We Separate the Art from the Artist?
So, I guess we need to talk about Neil Gaiman now . . . (sigh). Unless you've been living under a rock or have zero interest in the literary world (and if that's the case, why are you even here?), you've probably heard about the awful allegations directed at Neil Gaiman, author of some of... Continue Reading →
Magiq of Aenya Production Diary #2: Cancer Can’t Keep Me Down
"Is he . . . writing?" "Yes. Yes, he is." I heard my nurses saying this, the ones who'd been taking care of me for over the month of May as I was getting treated for acute myeloid leukemia. Now let me just say, chemotherapy is a real bitch. It's straight-up poison they pump directly... Continue Reading →

You must be logged in to post a comment.