Swords, Specters, & Stuff
Welcome to My World
I started this blog in January 2012 for one simple reason: I love to write. I named it “Swords, Specters, & Stuff” because I especially love to write about writing, about books and movies in my favorite genres, about authors that mean a great deal to me. But there’s more to it than that, which is why I included “Stuff” in the title. It is “Stuff” that gives me carte blanche to write about anything, which is why you’ll see stories about special trips to Cooperstown, Sedona, and other places; about getting older; about baseball; about the otherworldly way in which I met my soul mate; about the loss of good friends, and so much more. Enjoy! And feel free to leave a comment.
Coaching Writers: Why I Do What I Do
I first ran the following thoughts in one of my early newsletters. They are still relevant today. It's no secret that breaking into book publishing is a difficult endeavor. Hey folks, this is the entertainment business, you know? Even if you’re lucky enough to find an...
Write On, Oceanside!
I live in Oceanside, California, which is kind of weird, because my house is nowhere near the side of the ocean. It’s at least, oh, three or four miles, as the crow flies (dumb saying). We have two gates in and out of our complex, and if you go out one of them you’re...
A Tonto And Lone Ranger Story
Yeah, I know: most people say “The Lone Ranger and Tonto” rather than the other way around, but to me the Native American always comes first. I got to thinking about them recently for an obvious reason: the recently released Disney film, The Lone Ranger. No Tonto in...
Writerly Energy
Writing is, for the most part, a solitary avocation. I know that when I write my books I’m confined to my guy cave for endless hours at a time each day. So on those rare occasions when writers let themselves out into the real world and fill up a room or two at some...
Guest Post: Publishing And Dirtbaggery
Lynn Price is the editorial director of Behler Publications, a successful boutique publisher. She is one of the most knowledgeable people that I know in the business and is passionate about the ethics of the publishing industry. Her book, The Writer’s Essential Tackle...
Do Writers Connect With Their Characters?
The answer to that is a great big YES. At least I do. I’ve been thinking about that a lot in recent months for a specific reason. Let me explain. I just reissued one of my long-ago adventure fantasy novels, The Beasts of Zammar, the fourth book in the Ro-lan series....
The Title Of My New Book Is…“Untitled”
What? No, not me. Before I ever write word one of a new novel I must have a title. More on that in a moment. During my quarter-century or so as a writing coach and editor I’ve had many fiction—and even non-fiction—manuscripts come to me without titles…books that the...
Guilty Pleasures: An American Werewolf In London
Pardon the adverbs, but this 1981 film could be considered “humorously gross” or “grossly humorous.” Either way, An American Werewolf In London has more than enough gore and laughs to entertain during its 90+ minutes of run time. And now I find out, via research, that...
The Haunted Mesa
Holy cow, a semi-retired guy isn’t supposed to be this busy…is he? I’ll soon be evaluating a manuscript for a Buddhist monk (a novel!), and doing a re-read of a 176,000-word epic fantasy novel. I’m writing a new ending for my fourth and final Ro-lan novel (more on...
Short And Sweet
Just got back from a super trip to New York City, my old hometown—though these days I go as a tourist. I made a great discovery there for those who find fascination with Native American culture, which I’ll detail in a future post. For now, in my jetlagged state I’m...
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