by mike | Aug 2, 2012 | Books, California, Native Americans, Research, Science Fiction, Writing |
Those of us who write novels have a great platform for saying pretty much anything we want. The characters we create often reflect our likes, our dislikes, our politics, our worldviews, and many other things. And there is nothing wrong with venting our spleens through...
by mike | Jul 19, 2012 | Books, Magical realism, Movies |
The word “quixotic” has its roots in—what else?—Don Quixote, the subject of my last post. By definition the word means, “Foolishly impractical, especially in the pursuit of ideals; marked by rash, lofty romantic ideas or extravagantly chivalrous action.” Yep, that...
by mike | Jul 16, 2012 | Books, Writing |
It may surprise you to know that my favorite literary character is not John Carter of Mars, or Conan the Barbarian, or even Frodo Baggins. That distinction goes to a rather odd, middle-aged, seventeenth century Spaniard named Alonso Quijano. If that name doesn’t ring...
by mike | Jul 9, 2012 | Books, Bookstores, California, Mystery Novels, Writing |
Jeff Sherratt is a Newport Beach, CA mystery writer with three published novels among his credits. Jeff is also my friend. In recent years the younger (and even older) generation has overused the slang word “bro” to the point of meaninglessness, even referring to...
by mike | Jul 3, 2012 | Adventure fantasy, Books, Guilty Pleasures, Horror, Horror Movies, Movies, Sword & Sorcery |
I gotta say, when it comes to guilty-pleasure horror movies I’m a sucker for anything BIG. Give me giant arachnids, rats, bugs of any kind, reptiles, dogs, cats, lions, tigers, and bears—even Fifty-Foot Women or Amazing Colossal Men—and I’m as happy as a clam. (Good...
by mike | Jun 22, 2012 | Adventure fantasy, Books, Horror, Movies, Romance, Sword & Planet, Writing |
Did you expect to see the word “profit” in that title? Not likely. Let me share some thoughts from what I’ve experienced over the past gazillion years and nearly thirty novels written. When I made the commitment to start writing novels a long, long time ago I began...