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Point of View: Writing Interesting Characters

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characters

Every writer has a weakness. Or two. One of mine is characterization. I came to this whole writing thing via reading lots and lots of sci fi and fantasy – really really long, epic fantasy – and so my great love has always been worldbuilding. I adore strange new worlds – Pern with its dragons and thread, Dune with sandworms and funny sand walking, and Asimov’s overarching Foundation and Psychohistory. So when I write my stories, I start out thinking high level themes, weird and wonderful planets, and devices of great power. Then I have to fill those stories with … Read more

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Author Spotlight: Loren Rhoads

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Loren Rhoads

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, Loren Rhoads – Loren Rhoads is the author of The Dangerous Type, Kill By Numbers, and No More Heroes, space opera trilogy about bisexual assassin Raena Zacari. Her new series, co-written with Brian Thomas, is about a succubus and an angel. Thanks so much, Loren, for joining me! J. Scott Coatsworth: When did you know you wanted to write, and when did you discover that you were good at it? Loren Rhoads: … Read more

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Point of View: When it Rains…

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Scott

It’s been a crazy couple of weeks here in Scott-Land. I’m rushing to finish a novel and a novella, both due to the publisher by the end of December. And at the same time, I’ve been hit by edits for my first novel, “Skythane”, edits for “Wonderland”, a novella appearing in the upcoming “This Wish Tonight” anthology from Mischief Corner Books”, my weekly “River City” chapters, and chapter requests for my other serial project with MCB, “Marionettes in the Mist.” It seems like I just get one thing off my desk and pivot back to the novel when another one … Read more

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Author Spotlight: T. Strange

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T. Strange

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, T. Strange – T. Strange didn’t want to learn how to read, but literacy prevailed and she hasn’t stopped reading—or writing—since. She’s been published with Torquere Press since 2013, and she writes M/M romance in multiple genres, including paranormal and BDSM. T.’s other interests include cross stitching, gardening, watching terrible horror movies, playing video games, and finding injured pigeons to rescue. Originally from White Rock, BC, she lives on the Canadian prairies, … Read more

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Point of View: Responding

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Scott

Hey all, I won’t lie. Last week was a horrible, terrible, very bad week for Mark and I, and for most everyone we know. And it’s not just because a Republican won the white house. That’s happened before. Not my team, not my party, but it’s how America works. This was something deeper. Darker. The man who won did so on a platform of lies, fear, and hatred. He won by denying things he’d said before that we have on tape with a straight face. He won with the help of the Russian government, and of our own FBI. And … Read more

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Author Spotlight: M.D. Grimm

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M.D. Grimm

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, M.D. Grimm – M.D. Grimm has wanted to become an author since second grade and feels that her dreams are finally coming true. She enjoys writing romances because they always guarantee a happy ending, since real life often doesn’t have those. M.D. earned a Bachelor of Arts in English at the University of Oregon and is glad to put the degree to use with her own literature. Thanks so much, M.D., for … Read more

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Point of View: Keeping My Sanity

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banana-split

OK, it’s finally over after tomorrow. Far and away the worst and most personally damaging election of my lifetime is oozing ever so slowly toward its conclusion. That it was such a terrible, mentally and emotionally exhausting election for me this year can be laid squarely at the feet of one of the two candidates, who decided facts don’t matter and insults do. Suffice it to say I have voted for the other one, the one who will protect the interests of myself, my husband, our community at large, and the country. But this post is not about the election, … Read more

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Author Spotlight: Asta Idonea (aka Nicki J. Markus)

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Asta Idonea - Nicki J. Markus

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, Asta Idonea (aka Nicki J. Markus) – Asta Idonea (aka Nicki J Markus) was born in England, but now lives in Adelaide, South Australia. She has loved both reading and writing from a young age and is also a keen linguist, having studied several foreign languages. Thanks so much, Asta, for joining me! J. Scott Coatsworth: When did you know you wanted to write, and when did you discover that you were … Read more

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Point of View: Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Me

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Scott and Lana

Hey all, I thought it would be fun to do something a little different this week. I’m a strange and mysterious member of the human race, and there are a number of things you probably don’t know about me. Pictured: Me and my mom, circa 1982-83. So here it goes: 1) My First Book: My first fiction publication was the story “The Bear at the Bar”, published in 2014 by Dreamspinner in the “A Taste of Honey” anthology. But I was actually published originally in 1986 in the book “Raising Each Other,” a non-fiction title for teens and parents. 2) In … Read more

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Author Spotlight: Alicia Nordwell

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Alicia Nordwell

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, Alicia Nordwell – The number one question folks ask Alicia when she shares she’s a MM romance author: “Why gay fiction? Why write men when you’re a woman?” and her answer is: “Why the hell not!” Alicia Nordwell is one of those not so rare creatures, a reader turned writer. Striving to find an interesting story one day, she decided to write what she wanted instead. Then the voices started… Yep, not … Read more