Published in Writers’ Blokke·PinnedWhy I Chose to Self-PublishIt seems like every time I hop onto social media or some other corner of The Writer Internet (patent pending), I see some version of the traditional-versus-self-publishing debate. …Writing4 min read
Published in Writers’ Blokke·PinnedI Wish I Knew Then What I Know Now…It’s been quite the journey since Bounty went live on Amazon in 2015. I call it a journey because of how much I’ve learned in the six years I’ve been able to add the word published in front of author. Not just about the craft of writing, of storytelling itself…Self Publishing7 min read
PinnedCreativity at a CrossroadsOn June 1, 2015, I became a published author. That’s when my debut novel, the superhero mystery Bounty, went live on Amazon. Six months later, I hit Publish on the follow-up, Blood Ties. …Writing5 min read
Jun 20Consider This My Pride Month PostFar be it for me to be all “buy stuff!” during Pride Month. Because there are far too many companies out there who just make their logo all rainbow-fied on June 1 and pander their asses off to get the less straight among us to part with our money. (I…Pride Month3 min read
Apr 16Does a Day Job Help Your Writing?Admit it, you instantly said, “No.” Yes, you did. I heard you. Okay, I didn’t hear you. But that’s because I also said no out of pure instinct. Think about it: if you have a day job, chances are, you’re dedicating eight hours of your day to that. More than…Writing4 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Apr 1Member-onlyThe Theory of CreativityCreativity fascinates me. Not just the process — though obviously, that also holds a fair amount of appeal to me — but the theory of it. Some will argue that emotions are what set us, humans, apart from the rest of the animal kingdom, but we’re now seeing that animals…Writers Blokke5 min read
Mar 5Yes, I Write About Cops in the BLM EraWell, let’s see how many followers this post costs me… I published Behind the Badge, the third book in the Jill Andersen series, in 2016. Not only was it a consequential book in terms of the overall series arc, but it also marked the first time I wrote about the…Writing5 min read
Feb 20My Favorite Self- and Independently-Published BooksAnyone who’s followed me for any length of time knows I’m a strong supporter of self- and independently-published authors. Not just because I’m self-published myself, but because so many of my favorite books over the past several years have come from indie authors. …Writing5 min read
Published in Writers’ Blokke·Feb 4Richard Castle and the Motivational Power of SpiteRichard Castle is a New York Times bestselling author, responsible for such memorable characters as Derrick Storm and Nikki Heat. Richard Castle is ruggedly handsome (in his own mind, at least). Looks an awful lot like that actor from the short-lived space cowboy show. …Writing5 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Jan 22Tabletop Roleplaying: the Gateway to CreativityI don’t roleplay anymore, but I’ve still got a shelf full of White Wolf sourcebooks. Good thing, too. Those things were expensive. When I was in college, my circle of friends was big into tabletop roleplaying, and eventually, I got roped into the festivities. I dabbled in Dungeons & Dragons…Writing4 min read