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.
When I began writing The Long Way Home I planned on it being a novelette of about 8,000 words.
Sometimes a story has a mind of its own. The completed manuscript turned into a 21,000-word novella. As with Nightmare in Slow Motion, readers of the Strengthen What Remains novels have seen part of the story, and many have asked me to fill in the blanks.
Read MoreMy friend Debby Lee is changing.
Many writers are shy, solitary, individuals that like nothing more than writing their stories and sending them off to agents and publishers. When I first met Debby I saw that reticence in her.
Read MoreSomeone once said, “There is no such thing as bad publicity.” I’m not sure that’s true, but in this case, I was very happy to see my name mentioned several times in The Chronicle, my local paper. A friend of mine, Julie McDonald Zander, writes a column for the newspaper and recently called me. Her first questions were when and why I started self-publishing. I told her I started my business in August of 2013, but I prefer the term indie-publishing.
Read MoreA friend of mine sent me a picture, and that gave me an idea.
My wife usually gets a worried look when I have ideas, but I think this is a good one. My friend, Jennifer, took a picture of her husband reading my book, Braving the Storms. An idea came to me as I looked at the picture.
Read MoreHow many people does it take to create a novel?
Recently I watched X-Men Apocalypse with one of my sons. At the end of the action, we waited to see if there were any post-credit scenes (there is). As we watched the endless scroll of credits we discussed how many people were involved in the production of my last novel, Braving the Storms.
Read MoreWattpad and Smashwords are coordinating the promotion of thriller genre books. Smashwords founder, Mark Coker, selected the books and they are featured on Wattpad. Through Many Fires was chosen to be included and will be serialized on Wattpad over the next couple of months.
Read MoreMy friend and mentor, Joyce Scott is visiting southwest Washington State. Joyce is the author of six books that range in genre from historical fiction to fantasy and murder mysteries. Today she travels with her husband in an RV, but several years ago she lived in Chehalis. Before she moved from the area she and I were in The Inklings critique group.
Read MoreA minor earthquake at 8:32 a.m. on Sunday, May 18, 1980, caused the bulging and weakened northside of Mount St. Helens to collapse into the largest landslide ever recorded. The gas, steam, lava, and pulverized rock that it exposed, exploded toward Spirit Lake. Then a column of ash rose 80,000 feet into the air and I witnessed much of it.
Read MoreThe final book in the Strengthen What Remains series, at least for now. is the 20,000-word novella, The Long Way Home. The story will be released on July 15th, but is available for preorder on Amazon and Smashwords, and will soon be available on Nook and Kobo.
Read MoreIn a recent blogpost titled, Excited for Friends, I described how my friend Debby Lee contracted through her agent Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency to write a 20,000 novella for a Barbour Publishing anthology. Barbour needed more writers for the project so Debby suggested our mutual friend Barbara Blakey…
Read MoreMy latest release can best be described as a “sidequel.”
Sidequel isn’t a real word, not yet anyway, but it’s the best way to describe Nightmare in Slow Motion, my just-released 12,000-word novelette in the Strengthen What Remains series. This story unfolds at the same time, or alongside, the first chapters of Through Many Fires.
Read MoreThis is a short clip of real-life wife and husband Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz reading a children’s book on their 1950’s television show, I Love Lucy. While they perform the skit for its comedic value, it shows one of the many idiosyncrasies of the English language that as a writer drives me crazy.
Read MoreThe greening of the farm-inspired me.
As many of you know, I live on a small farm and spring is always a very special time. After a cold and wet (Pacific Northwest) winter, it is time to get outside and repair fences, gates, and the broken hen house door.
Read MoreI have a wonderful life.
Yes, I made some good life choices, but I also know that the grace of God has shined in my life. I am fortunate to have been born here in America and at this time. I thank God that I met and married my wonderful wife and that I can do what I love for a living.
Read MoreI recently received great news about two of my writer friends.
My friend Debby Lee was recently contacted by her agent about writing a 20,000 novella for a Barbour Publishing anthology. Barbour needed more writers for the project so Debby suggested our mutual friend Barbara Blakey.
Read MoreI have begun studying for my amateur radio or “ham” license. Well, I’m still studying the book and working with my mentor Lorin Moline and his wife Veda.
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