This originally appeared on my old blog, The Bastardized Version. Recently, especially after yesterday’s post where we narrowly averted a self-publishing kerfuffle, I’ve been thinking about why artists keep striving despite the odds and I went back to read it. And, I must say, I was actually moved by something…

File this post under: FANTASY. And, per comments, TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING So, going by the title of this post, I can say right away that if you’re still unpublished you probably have a dayjob and there’s a good possibility that you have health benefits. So you got that going for you…

There’s all stripes of writing advice out there and, surprisingly, almost all of it is good. As a writer, much of the journey is discovering what works for you and what doesn’t. The only way to come to understand what works for you is through completion. If you’re not finishing things, then…

It’s true. I’ve been straddling the fence. Hedging my bets, as it were. Last April, I left my job to pursue freelance visual work and focus more on writing. Over these last 10 months, there have been some up and down times, that’s for sure. During this period, it’s become…

I love short stories. Of all things to read, I’d rather sit down with a great anthology or collection than anything else because a well-wrought short story is like a wonderful meal. Also, I appreciate the artistry that goes into the best stories. In my humble opinion, it’s far harder…

Back in the mid-to-late nineties, I stopped reading Stephen King because I couldn’t get over the fact that his protagonists were always novelists. I don’t know why but that just seriously irked me for some reason. Salem’s Lot, okay. IT…all right. The Dark Half? Different Seasons? The Shining? Sheesh, man, why…

I had a great weekend, enjoyed working on my book, communing with nature, listening to geese babble, watching the lake. I’m thankful I’m working with professionals.  

I’m back from the WFC2011, tired, a little sunburnt, considerably poorer. Yet so glad I attended. The weekend was full of strange serendipitous events and happenings, or maybe it just appeared that way to me. I went into the event with an open mind, wanting to learn, to talk with…

Yesterday, I appeared on AUTHOR Magazine in an audio interview with Brian Mercer. In the interview, I talk about writing, what does and doesn’t work for me as a writer, how I landed my agent, Stacia Decker, my process, my philosophy, and a lot of other writerly stuff. It’s hard…

Early on, I needed something to promote SOUTHERN GODS, so I came up with this. It isn’t nearly as evocative as Night Shade’s cover, but it does have some high points. Over at Stomping on Yeti, lots of folks express their love for it.