Point of View

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Point of View: The Dragon Eater: – Evolution of a Cover

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The Dragon Eater final wrap

One of my favorite things is to share how a cover came about, and this one was really fun to put together. I say that, though I wasn’t the one who actually did it – that honor goes to Kelley York at Sleepy Fox Studio. Kelley’s a good friend, and a former almost-neighbor – she lived in the greater Sacramento area until a few years ago, and was a part of our Queer Sacramento Author’s Collective. Now she’s moved somewhere up north… Redding? Seattle? Nome? But we still keep in touch, and when I started discussing the cover design with … Read more

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Point of View: The Dragon Eater Teaser #5

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HC cover wrap - The Dragon Eater

Hey all… we’re just 24 days (and counting) away from my first major release in twenty months (and three days from the cover reveal and opening of preorders). I’m thrilled to bring The Dragon Eater (Tharassas Cycle Book 1) to you, thanks to Steven Radecki and Water Dragon Publishing. Each week I’ll share something special about the book, and an excerpt. This week, it’s some “concept” art of Aik I commissioned from the amazing L.J. Phillips. In the first excerpt, you met Raven the thief (and titular Dragon Eater). In the second excerpt, I introduced Aik, Raven’s loyal friend (and … Read more

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Point of View: The Dragon Eater Teaser #4

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Hey all… we’re just 33 days (and counting) away from my first major release in twenty months. I am thrilled to bring The Dragon Eater (Tharassas Cycle Book 1) to you, thanks to Steven Radecki and Water Dragon Publishing. Each week I’ll share something special about the book, and an excerpt. This week, it’s some “concept” art of Aik I commissioned from the amazing L.J. Phillips. In the first excerpt, you met Raven the thief (and titular Dragon Eater). In the second excerpt, I introduced Aik, Raven’s loyal friend (and inconveniently for a thief, part of the Gullton city Guard). … Read more

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Point of View: The Dragon Eater Teaser #3

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Raven from The Dragon Eater - LJ Phillips

Hey all… we’re just 40 days (and counting) away from my first major release in twenty months. I am thrilled to bring The Dragon Eater (Tharassas Cycle Book 1) to you, thanks to Steven Radecki and Water Dragon Publishing. Each week I’ll share something special about the book, and an excerpt. This week, it’s some “concept” art of Raven I commissioned from the amazing L.J. Phillips. In the first excerpt, you met Raven the thief (and titular Dragon Eater). In last week’s excerpt, I introduced Aik, Raven’s loyal friend (and inconveniently for a thief, part of the Gullton city Guard). … Read more

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Point of View: The Dragon Eater Teaser #2

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Hey all… we’re just 47 days (and counting) away from my first major release in twenty months. I am thrilled to bring The Dragon Eater (Tharassas Cycle Book 1) to you thanks to Steven Radecki and Water Dragon Publishing. Each week I’ll share something special from the book and an excerpt. This week, it’s the map of the whole “known” world – from the Heartland to the Highlands. Last week, you met Raven, the thief (and titular Dragon Eater). This week, I’m introducing Aik, Raven’s loyal friend (and inconveniently for a thief, part of the Gullton city Guard). The cover … Read more

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Point of View: The Dragon Eater Teaser #1

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Gullton Map - The Dragon Eater

Hey all… we’re just two months away from my first major release in twenty months – I released Dropnauts in May of 2021. I didn’t mean for it to take this long, but there were reasons. That said, I am thrilled to bring my new Tharassas Cycle to you thanks to Steven Radecki and Water Dragon Publications. It’s loosely connected to The Ariadne Cycle and Dropnauts, and to The Oberon Cycle too, falling somewhere in the middle of these two time-wise. It’s my boy-eats-dragon, other boy-wears-gauntlet, girl-becomes hencha queen YA/Adult crossover sci-fantasy four book trilogy. Isn’t that a mouthful? To … Read more

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Point of View: Social Like It’s 2004…

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Mastodon

A couple months ago, I shared why we were leaving the Birdsite. The lack of content moderation, the horrendous way New Owner is treating his employees, and the concerns about not having our content placed next to racist, queer phobic, misogynistic and other awful content were bad enough. But when New Owner invited Orange Monster to come back, we decided we could not in good conscience stay there. We’ve left our accounts there, with a note to follow us to Mastodon, because we were advised by a number of folks that if we deleted them, someone else might pick up … Read more

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Point of View: The Wisdom of Letting Go

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Man breathing into a paper bag - deposit photos

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. The Serenity Prayer (above, minus the usual reference to the deity) is usually associated with Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s a reminder to those in the program that not everything is in their control, and trying to control things that are beyond us often ends in heartache. I’ve been finding a lot of wisdom and solace in that prayer lately. I’m not an alcoholic – fear about losing control (there’s that word again) as a gay … Read more

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Point of View: The Future’s So Bright…

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man wearing sunglasses - deposit photos

Last week I took a look back at the year that was. This week, I’m casting my gaze forward, to the year I hope will be. I’ll start off with the personal. Mark and I have just come through a bout of covid (not awful, but not much fun either) which follows a truly hellish period of very little sleep and painful PT following my broken arm at the end of June. It has NOT been a great health year in the Guzman-Coatsworth household, but things are looking up. Mark tested negative today, and me last week, so I am … Read more

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Point of View: The Year That Was

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2022 - deposit photos

2022 was A LOT. To finish out the year, Mark and I both have the virus. As the last wave subsided in late summer, we slowly allowed ourselves to get back to normal, even if we took it slow, still wearing masks indoors, except when it was quiet enough in the cafe or restaurant we were visiting. And eventually giving them up altogether in restaurants, because, hey, at 5 PM they’re deserted anyway, right? Until this last week, when holiday-goers packed those same places, even in the early evening, and the rise in local cases finally caught up with us. … Read more