WARNING: RANT AHEAD If you genuinely enjoy reading fantasy---if you delight in the works of Homer, Burroughs, Tolkien, Sanderson, Rothfuss, or any author who dabbles in speculative storytelling, you owe it to yourself to pick up the books in the Aenya Series. But if you're looking to satisfy some voyeuristic urge or wish to justify your... Continue Reading →
The Name of the Wind is the story of Kvothe, a brooding emo-rogue type hero and run-of-the-mill Gary Stu who suffers through all the usual cliches: mysteriously killed parents, living in poverty, attending a magic school with comically cruel teachers, etc. While Rothfuss’s writing flows smoothly, painting a vivid albeit generic landscape, the book lacks... Continue Reading →
Greetings, Aenya fans! I have decided to do something different for my upcoming project. I am releasing a production diary, starting with this one, because I am eager to share all the exciting news regarding The Magiq of Aenya. So what is 'The Magiq of Aenya'? It's the fourth book in the ongoing Aenya series... Continue Reading →
In this exciting matchup, I pit legendary authors against one another to see who comes out on top! Yessiree, folks, step right up for the fight of the century. In one corner, we've got legendary suspense author of over sixty-five books and counting, Stephen King, and his novella, The Body. And in the opposite corner,... Continue Reading →
It's sad that social media always appeals to our basest instincts. It's why YouTubers make millions---YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!!---and why Amazon authors find success writing ENF (Embarrassed Naked Female), harem, and dinosaur erotica. Unfortunately, my readers have fallen into the same trap with my latest book, The Feral Girl, but in reverse. They buy... Continue Reading →
I sit (virtually) with my artistic conspirator and college-attending daughter, Jasmine, to discuss one of our favorite pieces of fiction, Howl's Moving Castle, comparing Diana Wynne Jones's original fantasy novel with Hayao Miyazaki's cinematic interpretation. We also get into anime in general and the differences between Western and Japanese storytelling. Love Studio Ghibli? Or books... Continue Reading →
After finishing Coraline, my 13-year-old daughter begged me to read it. I told her I would if she would agree to discuss it on my podcast, Story Matters. And, I am happy to say, Coraline was a real treat. Despite skewing towards younger readers, there's a lot here for older fantasy fans to enjoy. As... Continue Reading →
I finally got around to reading one of this generation's most beloved and successful fantasy authors: Brandon Sanderson. Is the guy all he's cracked up to be, at least judging by his debut novel, Mistborn? While I found much of the book a bit too formulaic for my tastes—we are treated, yet again, to another... Continue Reading →
R.F. Kuang's The Poppy War starts as a typical coming-of-age fantasy about a girl from humble beginnings who discovers she has special powers. Despite a cliched beginning, the first chapter had me hooked, as it's probably the best bit of writing in the novel --- not surprising given the knock-them-dead-from-page-one nature of publishing today. The... Continue Reading →
While it may not be the popular opinion to hold, like most things on social media, and especially for every frothing-at-the-mouth critic on YouTube, hatred for Amazon's "The Rings of Power" has reached a fever pitch and is entirely overblown. Is it a great show? Not really, no. Is it worthy of Tolkien's masterpiece? Certainly... Continue Reading →
The Art of Storytelling 
You must be logged in to post a comment.