Random thoughts that forms my blog.
Hanover Book Expo 2021 Wrap-up
I made it to the Expo yesterday. Though less prepared and more harried than I had wanted to be. I had ordered t-shirts to sell along with my books, but they did not arrive in time, despite the express delivery and promise of being delivered earlier in the week (I still don’t have them). Also, the night before the Expo, I nicked myself while cleaning a kitchen knife (I’m ok, folks!), which ate into the time I had left to pack and practice. In the morning, with very little time left to get to my destination, I wanted a bite of something and stopped to get a donut, a blueberry muffin (to cancel out the donut), and a coffee. But once I got through the door of the Expo, I was told I could help myself to donuts and coffee! Just my luck.
Continue reading “Hanover Book Expo 2021 Wrap-up”Hanover Book Expo 2021
Coming soon is the Hanover Book Expo. I’m looking forward to attending, meeting fellow authors, and connect with new readers of Shadows Within!
I will also be speaking.
Date: November 13, 10am-2pm.
I’ll see you there!
Book 2 of The Shadowless Update
I have momentum to finish another round of editing by early next month. This round is focused on the beginning chapters. I had to take a different approach than the initial draft. Nothing was wasted. I’m excited by this new version which not only adds more tension from the start but also puts something that has been a question I’ve had for many years. And it’s addressed in the beginning.
The question is, how does a person go up to a stranger and bite them? Think about it–a decent person has been made a vampire and now must feed on human blood, how does that person go about it? It’s not hypothetical to our protagonist Reed Williams who must do just that.
Do you have a strategy? What would you do?
Vampire Haiku: A Quick Bite of Dracula
Inspired by my recent Working Title podcast with poet Hope Whitby and in honor of National Poetry Month, I thought I’d challenge myself to write some haikus this month.
But I need focus. What can I base these brief poems on? Vampires, certainly. Hmm. Guess I should start with Dracula. Warmer. Ah-ha! How about a haiku summarizing each chapter of the eponymous novel?
So that’s what I will be posted below. Each day I will add a haiku for the next chapter. Let’s see how it goes.
Continue reading “Vampire Haiku: A Quick Bite of Dracula”Attending the 2019 James River Writers Conference
Thoroughly enjoying the conference this year, which is no surprise. It’s my favorite time of year on my literary calendar. The best part is meeting wonderful, creative, supportive fellow writers.
Looks like Shadows Within is in good company!
The Etymologicon
The longest grammatically correct English sentence using the same word is:
“Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.”*
This, according to Mark Forsyth in his book, The Etymologicon, which I have read with delight.
Continue reading “The Etymologicon”Happy New Year 2019
How are we already in the final year of the decade? Well here’s to a great 2019.
I’ve re-read my 2018 New Year post and the goals therein. How’d I do? Continue reading “Happy New Year 2019”
ASMR Vampire
I recently searched “vampire” on YouTube and found this video. I quite enjoyed it and wanted to share. Lots of candles. Hope she has a fireproof lair.
My First Author Signing October 20
Perfect for the Halloween season, Book People has graciously offered to host my first book signing for Shadows Within. It will take place on Saturday, October 20, 1-3 p.m. More details on Book People’s website.
In Shadows Within, Reed Williams and his bride honeymoon in Paris where they are attacked. She’s killed while he survives to deal with his grief and confront the vampires who want his soul.
I will be speaking on vampires and how Shadows Within both honors the traditional genre tropes while establishing its own conventions.
I hope to see you there!
My First Writers Panel Appearance
How could I do this? What did I get myself into? I’m going to either not having anything to say, or I’m going to sound like an idiot.
Those are some of my thoughts leading up to my first appearance as a panelist last month. (By the way, I don’t know why it’s taken so long to write about that evening. Thanks to my friend Mark for prompting me to do so.) It took place at Firehouse Theatre on the evening of Wednesday, May 30. The James River Writers talk was titled, “What I Wish I Knew Before My First Book.”
