I started this blog on August 21, 2012, with the release of my first book, Titan Encounter. Most of those posts are now in what I call the “Early Blog.” I’m gradually updating their format and bringing them into this new journal. Back then the sole purpose of the blog was to promote my books, but gradually that changed.
That’s how it started but, over the years, I’ve mused about other things that are important to me, such as my family, my farm, rural life, and occasionally about politics and country. However, I try to limit the politics in this journal. If you want to know more about my political leaning go to The Conservative Alternative.
The digital age continues to change the creative arts.
The film is an excellent example of the new avenues opening for creative artists and fans. I am certain we will see more films like this as cameras, sound systems and special effects, become cheaper and the internet provides more avenues of distribution.
Read MoreThe release date for my next novel, A Time to Endure, has been set.
The exciting saga of Major Caden Westmore continues. In the first book of the Strengthen What Remains series, Through Many Fires, nuclear terrorism destroys six American cities, leaving the nation in chaos. In the second novel, A Time to Endure, the economy teeters on collapse. The dollar plunges, inflation runs rampant, and the next civil war threatens to decimate the wounded country.
Read MoreI’m the kind of person who looks forward, not back, and the next occasion before me is the Southwest Washington Writers Conference. This one day event is scheduled for September 13th, at Centralia College. I will be there listening to great speakers, and also conducting a workshop.
Read MoreI should have kept a list—with pictures.
I mentioned earlier that one of my goals for this conference is to meet people and network. I’ve continued my practice of sitting at different tables for lunch and dinner. For today’s lunch, I sat with Jeff Gerke at a table of speculative fiction writers, including a teen working on his first novel.
Read MoreJust before the meal was served, only the seat directly across from me remained available. Moments later, a gentleman sat there. I thought he looked familiar so, I glanced at his nametag. It was Frank Peretti, one of the best-known contemporary Christian authors.
Read MoreDinner was the most interesting part of the first day of the conference.
When I say it that way it sounds like a bad thing, that the first day of the Oregon Christian Writers Summer Conference was a bust, but that isn’t so. Sometimes you meet the most interesting people around the dinner table.
Read MoreI’ll be attending writer’s conferences in both August and September.
On Monday, August 4th, I’m heading south to Portland for the Oregon Christian Writer’s Summer Conference. This four-day event is jam-packed with nearly 30 workshops, more than a dozen coaching classes, and opportunities to network with many publishers, agents, and fellow writers. I’ll be blogging, tweeting, and posting to Facebook each day of the conference.
Read MoreOne of the hardest tasks for a mid-list or indie author is just getting noticed.
In this digital age, there are more authors writing more stories than ever before. So, no matter how interesting and entertaining my stories might be, it is difficult to spread the word and find readers.
Read MoreI recently met Sandy Crowell as she led a meeting of the Southwest Washington Writers.
This group of local writers is planning a one-day conference for September. She and the others in the group seemed nice so, at the end of the meeting, I volunteered to help.
Read MoreOne of my beta-readers, DeLynn, is a longtime family friend.
Life has taken her away from the area where I live; however, when she came back, to visit family and friends over the 4th of July, we visited.
Read MoreI meet with other writers from my area every week.
These writers have been meeting for nearly twenty years. I’ve only met with them for ten. The only time I don’t attend is when I’m out of state.
Read MoreI’m late posting this because I’ve been so busy, but I need to make the announcement.
I’ve retired.
No, I don’t spend the day in a hammock (well, not all of it) and I haven’t quit writing.
Read MoreWork began Titan Encounter audiobook in early March and now it is done.
We started by having Micah Hansen design a cover and moved on to listening to auditions. It didn’t take long to select actor Jeffrey Fellin to produce and narrate the novel. Jeffrey has extensive experience in both film and theater and the right voice for the book.
Read MoreKyle Pratt meets Kyle Pratt in Eek Alaska.
A week ago Loni, the Eek School secretary, said, “I just met someone with your name.”
“My first name, Kyle?”
“No your whole name, Kyle Pratt,” she replied.
Read MoreWhen you live in a rural Alaskan village the post office becomes a lifeline.
Eek is hundreds of miles off the Alaska road system. There is only one dirt road in the village. It runs from the airport through the village to an old airport on the other side. It doesn’t connect to any other road. This rough and often muddy lane is used by ATVs, snowmobiles, and as a walking path.
Read MoreOne definition of irony is an event that “seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often amusing as a result.”
With that in mind, I submit this picture.
Read More
