“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 →
The Lies of Locke Lamora Review
Scott Lynch is a talented wordsmith. His writing is exceptionally vivid, which he uses to significant effect in his debut novel, The Lies of Locke Lamora. That being said, his characters lack depth, and the plot takes a while to get going, and when it does, it is relatively straightforward. The Lies of Lock Lamora... 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.
*NEW RELEASE* The Feral Girl Hardcover Edition!
It's finally here!!! When I received this proof from Amazon, I was quite literally blown away. This new cover truly pops! The colors are vivid, the interior images are solid, and the overall feel of the binding is just oh-so-professional. If you're a fan of Aenya or fine books in general, you'll want to add... Continue Reading →
Monsters and Butler Stories: A Look at King and Ishiguro
In today's double-whammy podcast, I discuss Stephen King's novella, The Mist—one of King's best and most gripping yarns, IMO—I then don my monocle to shift gears into high-brow territory as my special guest (my wife) and I delve into the equally terrifying (jk) tale that is Kazuo Ishiguro's Pulitzer Prize-winning, The Remains of the Day. My hormone-fueled... Continue Reading →
Doctor Sleep: A Worthy Sequel
A whopping thirty-six years after first releasing The Shining (from 1977 to 2013), Stephen King finally gets around to giving us a sequel, Doctor Sleep. That almost makes the wait for Winds of Winter reasonable! Of course, The Shining was in no need of a sequel. There were no loose plot threads to tie up nor... 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 →

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