I’ve been reading the new John Scalzi book Starter Villains this week. It’s a lot of fun. Don’t have an image of it because the blasted laptop is in the shop and I’m trying to post using my iPad instead! Starter Villains is about a man who’s coasting through life as a substitute teacher when…
We’re back on the coast for a week, though this year not all of us could join the crowd. We do have two new additions: Jer and Bethany, though Bethany couldn’t get off work until today. She should arrive later this evening. Patrick had to wait until Monday morning to drive down, but he arrived…
It’s First Wednesday, so time for another Insecure Writer’s Support Group post! September 6 question: The IWSG celebrates 12 years today! When did you discover the IWSG, how do you connect, and how has it helped you? I first discovered Insecure Writer’s Support Group about 2 years ago (has it really been that long?) when I submitted…
OK I’ll admit it. I’ve never read Bob’s sci-fi stories, even though we’re in a writing group together & I consider him a friend. However, I’m remedying this by starting with The Dust of Stars. This is the first in a series, so if I really like it, there are others I can snag to…
I’ve recently found some streaming channels (contained on something called Frndly TV for $6 a month) that show classic sci-fi shows like Star Trek. Of course, I’ve seen every episode of TOS and TNG so often I can usually quote lines along with the actors, but they’re fun to listen to as I work on…
I’ve started the Thunder and Lightning series (Red Thunder, Red Lightning, Rolling Thunder, and Dark Lightning) by John Varley. So far, I’m enjoying the read. It does remind me of Robert Heinlein, as advertised, with most of the emphasis on character development and teenagers coming into maturity. In the first book, an eccentric Cajun backwoodsman…
It’s First Wednesday, so time for another Insecure Writer’s Support Group post! August 2 question: Have you ever written something that afterwards you felt conflicted about? If so, did you let it stay how it was, take it out, or rewrite it? I almost always feel conflicted about something in my writing! I worry that…
OK I have finished reading the trilogy that I started a while ago. I don’t usually bother reviewing anything on the website but in this case, I’m going to make an exception. I have given all 3 books a 5-star rating on Goodreads & Amazon. I didn’t bother with a review because the author already…
It’s First Wednesday, which means it’s time for our monthly Insecure Writer’s Support Group blog! July 5 question – 99% of my story ideas come from dreams. Where do yours predominantly come from? I do occasionally have a dream that leads directly to a story, but most of my ideas come from paying attention to…
Since I have an AI character in my book, a friend recommended this book to me. It’s by Ann Leckie and is the only novel so far to have won the Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke awards – and it was her first novel! It’s the story of one “ancillary” body left from an…