Author
This month we're unveiling the topic of Character Backstories, why they're important, and how we manage to get the information onto the page without a snooze-worthy info-dump. Because nobody likes an info-dump. Even if it's told in a snarky voice in the narrative, readers recognize an info-dump when they see one. So... how do I … Continue reading Character Backstories – March Round Robin 2023
Alright, so we all know I loved the first book in the Crescent City series. I got it for Christmas and lived in that book for three days, so it should come as no surprise that I picked up the second book in the series, House of Sky and Breath. Now, I don't give spoilers … Continue reading Book Review – House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J Maas
I have a plan and it's a good plan. Or at least I think it is a good plan. Ask me again when all this is over. So here's the plan... Last Child of Winter is nearly complete. It turned out longer than I intended, which I think is probably good because it means I … Continue reading Where I Pretend I Know What I’m Doing…
We are coming up on the holidays and I am about to take a step back from Blogging so that I can concentrate on family and reading and winding down, so this will be my last real post of the year. That means I get to talk about all the amazing things I managed to … Continue reading 2022’s Yearly Wrap-Up
I hope everyone is having a lovely Thanksgiving weekend here in America. The past few years have been rough. The effects of COVID are long-reaching, from losing loved ones to losing jobs, and the world is still limping along, trying to find its feet again. It's better this year for many of us. I am … Continue reading Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!
Since Paw Prints on the Wall has been released and continues to do well - thank you again to everyone who has purchased my novel - it is now my job to pick up the next project and continue working on it. Or, well, that's been my job the whole time. I never really stopped … Continue reading Writing in Different Genres
As of October 28th, Darkside of Bright has a completed first draft. Calculating how long this took, it was about 4 months of work start to finish, which isn't bad at all. There are things I am still debating changing but for now, it is going into a virtual corner to sit and simmer while … Continue reading Bring On The New
(A brief peek into this odd-ball brain of mine since the beginning of the current work in progress.) Me: Alright! It's an urban fantasy about a marital counselor to the supernatural. Werewolves, vampires, and all those magical creatures! It'll be great. Internal Editor: You can't be serious. Urban Fantasy is full of women in tight … Continue reading Arguments with my Internal Editor
I love high stakes stories. I love when the heroes have to battle against all odds and sacrifice all of themselves to reach the end goal. And I love when that end goal is "life as we know it" or Armageddon. And I love the hero who is plucky and normal but housing some extraordinary … Continue reading Abandoning or Embracing Cliché’s
As of this evening my novelette "Torven" has a completed rough draft. Given its very small length (16006 words) I have been toying around with the idea of giving it away for free or really, really cheap (after it's gone through a rigorous editing) which has led me to the normal marketing spiel/debate. I've been … Continue reading Writing and Business and the In-Between
AJMaguire 