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Point of View: Seasons of Change

Autumn forest - deposit photos

Fall is finally here in Northern California. Officially, it arrived a little over three weeks ago, but we had temperatures into the hundreds until early last week. Now at last, the days are milder and the Delta Breeze brings us cool air in the evenings. There’s that indefinable sense of change in the air, when the leaves slowly start to yellow, the days grow noticeably shorter, and many of our favorite television shows return, creating a train wreck in our streaming apps. The seasons of life are slowly changing too. Mark and I just said goodbye to two dear friends, … Read more

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Author Spotlight: Christiane Knight

Christiane Knight

Welcome to my weekly Author Spotlight. I’ve asked a bunch of my author friends to answer a set of interview questions, and to share their latest work. Today: Christiane Knight [she/they] is an artist, musician, writer, and author of the contemporary fantasy series Stories of the Eleriannan. A former club and FM radio DJ, Christiane’s love of dark subculture and music infuses her work. They write hopeful, magical stories set in the Fae infused version of their already quirky hometown, Baltimore MD. She’s a lifelong enthusiast of faerie, folktales, forests and fauna, especially combined in copious amounts with all-black clothing … Read more

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Serial: Down the River – Chapter Twenty-Three

Down the River Header

I’m finally revisiting the characters from The River City Chronicles nine years after their original timeline. I’ll be running the series weekly here on my blog, and then will release it in book form at the end of the run. Hope you enjoy catching up with all your faves and all their new secrets! Today, Diego visits the farmer’s market with Gio for a little papà to figlio chat… < Read Chapter Twenty-Two Join my email list to get my weekly newsletter with notifications of new chapters. Chapter Twenty-TwoAll Roads Lead To… “I don’t know why you needed me today. … Read more

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Point of View: Living in a Fantasy

heartstopper cast

We live in consequential times. In just over four weeks, folks here in the US will be asked to choose a new President, in an election that will have serious ramifications for the future of my country, and for the world. Whichever way it goes. War is exploding in the tinderbox of the Middle East. Hurricanes are appearing and expanding to maximum destructive levels in less than a day. And one of the places we used to get respite – spending time on social media with our friends – has been twisted into a soul-devouring, money-making psychotic hole. So what’s … Read more

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Author Spotlight: Chloe Spencer

Chloe Spencer

Welcome to my weekly Author Spotlight. I’ve asked a bunch of my author friends to answer a set of interview questions, and to share their latest work. Today: Minnesota native Chloe Spencer (she/her) is an award winning writer, indie gamedev, and filmmaker. She is the author of multiple sapphic horror novellas, novels, and short stories. In her spare time she enjoys playing video games, trying her best at Pilates, and cuddling with her cats. She holds a BA in Journalism from the University of Oregon and an MFA in Film and Television from SCAD Atlanta.  Thanks so much, Chloe, for … Read more

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Serial: Down the River – Chapter Twenty-Two

Down the River Header

I’m finally revisiting the characters from The River City Chronicles nine years after their original timeline. I’ll be running the series weekly here on my blog, and then will release it in book form at the end of the run. Hope you enjoy catching up with all your faves and all their new secrets! Today, Gio needs a change in his life, and an opportunity presents itself… < Read Chapter Twenty-One | Read Chapter Twenty-Three > Join my email list to get my weekly newsletter with notifications of new chapters. Chapter Twenty-TwoAll Roads Lead To… It’s time for a change. … Read more

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New Release / Giveaway: Whiskey and Warfare – E.M. Hamill

Whiskey and Warfare - EM Hamill

E.M. Hamill has a new queer women-led space western out (pan, lesbian, aro/ace), Team Huntress book one: Whiskey and Warfare. And there’s a giveaway! Running on caffeine and spite with nothing left to prove. GOLDEN GIRLS meets FIREFLY in this rollicking space opera adventure. Maryn Alessi retired from mercenary service after her last assignment went horribly sideways and settled down on a quiet planet with the love of her life. Unexpectedly widowed, Maryn must fulfill a promise to return her mate’s ashes to zer home planet for funeral rites, but a brutal civil war has destabilized space travel. Former Artemis … Read more

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Point of View: Additive vs. Subtractive Writing

additive / subtractive (plus minus) - deposit photos

I recently had a fascinating talk with a relatively new author in our local writer’s group. We all have a bi-monthly lunch together, which gives us time for casual chats about the practice and business of writing. I mentioned that I was an additive writer – that is, that my stories tend to get longer in later drafts, especially in the second, as I smooth out the work and layer in more details about the characters and the world around them. I liken it to an artist who starts with a pencil sketch on canvas, adds the base colors, and … Read more

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Author Spotlight: Sheryl R. Hayes

Sheryl R. Hayes

Welcome to my weekly Author Spotlight. I’ve asked a bunch of my author friends to answer a set of interview questions, and to share their latest work. Today: Sheryl R. Hayes (she/her) can be found untangling plot threads or the yarn her three cats have been playing with. She is equally likely to be shooing one of them off the keyboard as she is working on her novels and short stories. In addition to writing, she is a cosplayer focusing on knit and crochet costumes. You can find her online at http://www.sheyrlrhayes.com. Chaos Wolf is on on saleSeptember 27th through … Read more

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Serial: Down the River – Chapter Twenty-One

Down the River Header

I’m finally revisiting the characters from The River City Chronicles nine years after their original timeline. I’ll be running the series weekly here on my blog, and then will release it in book form at the end of the run. Hope you enjoy catching up with all your faves and all their new secrets! Today, Matteo figures out how to catch a thief, and Ainsley has a surprise client at Ragazzi… < Read Chapter Twenty | Read Chapter Twenty-Two > Join my email list to get my weekly newsletter with notifications of new chapters. Chapter Twenty-OneThe Thief and the Artist … Read more