We attended a virtual writing conference this weekend: The South Carolina Writer’s Association. Didn’t pitch anything because none of the agents or editors was looking for science fiction, but the sessions were fun. The keynote speaker was Patti Callahan Henry, NY Times bestselling author, who spoke on “The Soul of Story.” She says we’re hardwired…
We took a little day trip up into the mountains to see a couple of old bridges. One’s a stone bridge supposedly designed by the same man who designed the White House and the other is the only functional covered bridge in the state. Running water and old bridges inspire me and I love just…
OK, sure… it’s YA and fantasy. But I know the author personally and I enjoyed the trilogy. Plus, there are giraffes … how could you go wrong? Princess Adana of Moniah is sent away to the neighboring kingdom of Elwar to learn to be a “lady.” As a Watcher, one of an elite band of…
Once again, it is time for our Insecure Writer’s Support Group post! Everybody has moments of insecurity, myself included. The question is what to do about those feelings? I’ve been submitting short stories to various anthologies lately (including our own “Dark Matter,” for which my story was not selected). Rejections are painful and they make…
Did you know Earthbeat has Pinterest boards? Check them out under Earthbeat and Darksyde Enterprises. Earthbeat’s board contains photos and images of spacecraft and futuristic vistas, along with some alien cartoons I found humorous. I try to update it fairly regularly (when I’m not writing the novel or a short story). Darksyde Enterprises is more…
I don’t just read sci-fi and fantasy. I also love a good mystery story. This year I’m reading a new (to me) series about the chief inspector of the Quebec homicide division. His name is Inspector Gamache and I’m enjoying his stories very much. The author is Louise Penny and I think there are around…
As a writer, I like to read within my genre, both to see what’s trending and also to see what sorts of writers I’ll be facing on the market. I also just like sci-fi stories, of course, otherwise I wouldn’t be writing them. What are some pros of reading within your genre as an author?…
Happy Holidays to all and a Happy New Year! December and January are when we hold our Winter celebrations – whichever you prefer to celebrate. We shut out the cold and turn to the warmth of friends and family. We eat special foods and light up the darkness and forget the weather for a few…
It’s that time of year again — time to think about the perfect gift for your writer friend or family member. Not to worry, though. Here are XX great ideas for your author. And you’ve still got nearly a week to pick them up! The Writer Emergency Pack ($14) – 26 illustrated idea cards and…
For my sixtieth birthday (that can’t be right!), I spent a long weekend in New Orleans. COVID-19 has changed the landscape nearly as much as Hurricane Katrina: no open jazz clubs, no bus tours of the city, far fewer walking tours and everyone on edge about wearing your mask at all times. However, The Traveling…