SEX!!! Everyone loves to think about it, and everyone is afraid to talk about it. So, as Salt-N-Pepa famously put it, "let's talk about sex babeee, let's talk about you and me, let's talk about sex." Sex has been a part of literature since the first cuneiform tablets were baked by the Sumerians, and yet... Continue Reading →
The Magiq of Aenya Production Diary #5
THE BOOK IS DONE!!! Break out the champagne, folks! Cue the fireworks, drop the confetti . . . After three and a half years, I have finally completed (a draft) of my fourth Aenya book, The Magiq of Aenya. OK, to be fair, this celebration comes with a few caveats. First and foremost, the book's... Continue Reading →
Fyodor Dostoevsky: Greatest of All Time?
Is Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821—1881) the greatest author of all time? I think the answer to that may quite possibly be yes. It puts you in mind of some frail and sickly girl you sometimes note with pity, even a sort of compassionate love-and at others simply fail to notice at all, who suddenly, in an... Continue Reading →
The Intersection of Science and Fantasy: King, Sagan, and Dunsany
I have this crazy idea. I want to get Stephen King, Carl Sagan, and Lord Dunsany (Edward Plunkett) in a room together ... At first glance, these writers could NOT be further apart in terms of tone and subject matter. One of the books I am reviewing for this post isn't even fiction. But as... Continue Reading →
How AI is Creating New Scams for Writers
I have been at this forever, it seems. I began my storytelling journey 44 years ago, after turning six --- and in 2010, fifteen years ago, I started this blog. My goal was to promote my work, encourage aspiring authors to succeed in this ever-changing literary landscape, and share with readers my love for books... Continue Reading →
The Magiq of Aenya Production Diary #4
I am hammering out the details on the last chapter of my latest book (42 of 42), which currently stands at 165k words. While it's a bit dense for a YA debut novel, stories are organic things with a life all their own, and often go places I don't intend. I hope, however, my future... Continue Reading →
The Buried Giant: Ishiguro’s Fantasy Masterpiece
This is my third review of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro, and I have to admit, he's done it again! The Buried Giant is a superb fantasy tale told in a way only Ishiguro can. Very reminiscent of the fairy tales of yore, the book reminded me of my favorite fantasy classics, including The Last... Continue Reading →
Lord of the Flies: As Timely Today as it Ever Was
“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 →

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