Tales from the Raven

I just flipped a coin to decide between the two titles still in the running for this novel.  Heads, Night Fire; Tails, Shadow Dance. Flip, flip, flip Catch–Tails.  Shadow Dance it is. Isn’t it beautiful the comfort one can derive from such sophisticated scientific methods of problem solving? I’m enjoying the writing of Shadow Dance very [...]

The fat house, as we call it, had begun to feel rather like a ball and chain.  We’ve been making double payments since the first of May, and of course double utilities, double yard work, double HOA, double cleaning…I swear, if it’d gone on much longer, we’d no doubt be seeing double! Okay, so perhaps that was unforgivable.  Under [...]

I was about to launch myself at another wall that was crying out for new paint, but my usual painting clothes were in to be washed. Catch up laundry…get the walls painted.  No contest there. I pulled out a pair of jeans with no knees and an old shirt I’ve never liked, and got to work. [...]

This morning I’m finding it amusing that October is supposed to be such a spooky month.  Later in the month, on a dark night with blackened leaves swirling and an off-yellow moon I may concede the eerie factor, but this morning that world has nothing to do with October. Blue skies, radiant sun slanting onto [...]

I just got word from Eric Reynolds that Ruins Extraterrestrial, an anthology in which I have a story, will be arriving in brick and mortar big chain stores around the country!  This is very exciting news, as I’ve had so many family members and friends wanting to know where they can buy a copy…and loathe to do it [...]

You know we’re off on a wild ride when I misspelled ‘down’ in the title, before tabbing to the text, and am posting after midnight so the date will be off, but here we go: I got my (forwarded) letter from WOTF today.  It congratulated me on my Honorable Mention for Fist of the Black [...]

What does it mean when we say we’re philosophical about something?  Usually it’s applied to situations in which the persons emotional equilibrium is not easily disturbed.  Sometimes we apply it to surprising developments of a positive nature, such as when someone inherits a great deal of money, or gets a fat book contract, but seems to view [...]

We’re just beginning to see some foliage change, and that combined with the beautiful and crisp weather is making it difficult for anyone so unfortunate as to be stuck inside.  I’m getting out some, but never enough, so I’m lucky that my novel begins in the fall, with Halloween preparations.  This way I can live [...]