When people think about the challenges writers face, they often think about finding good ideas or proofing for grammar. None of the How-To books deal with the things that matter most to me: finding the energy, the drive, and the passion to keep going, to keep going when all seems hopeless, to keep going when... Continue Reading →

An author once told me to forget about art. "Publishing is a business," he said, "and you have to write what sells. If you’re lucky, art comes later."  I sincerely tried to take this advice to heart. But as I went about dealing with publishers, I was appalled by their suggestions. “You have to make... Continue Reading →

Plot: George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones involves a dizzying cast of characters in a world that can best be summed up as “north” and “south”. On this extremely similar to medieval North Europe/United Kingdom type world (with some Hun-occupied Russian steppes thrown in for good measure), it can be winter for years or... Continue Reading →

Plot: The story of The Darkness that Comes Before is not easily summed up. There are factions both political and religious, and many characters including princes, mages, warriors and a prostitute, all of whom get wrapped up in preparations for a Crusades-like Holy War to capture the holy city of Shimeh. Comparisons between the actual... Continue Reading →

Summary: Alder the Mender has bad dreams regarding his dead wife. He sees her begging for help at the wall dividing the living from the dead. Unable to sleep, he seeks the aid of the ex-Archmage, Sparrowhawk, who in turn sends him to his pal, King Lebannen. Cons: Ursula K. Leguin's The Other Wind reminds me a... Continue Reading →