Some of you may remember last year’s Read-to-Win event on the Homeschooled Authors website. It was a blast, with featured books, prizes, and interviews to help you get to know your favorite homeschooled authors better. Well, this year we’re gearing up for the event again, with a few tweaks! I’m excited to be featuring Implant, my young adult dystopia novel,…
Blog
How Else are You Supposed to Hold Up Your Books?
One of my favorite movies ever is The Secret Life of Walter Mitty–the new one, with Ben Stiller. (I have the ticket stub in my wallet still to remind me to get out there and stop dreaming and start living, but that’s neither here nor there.) Aside from being incredibly inspiring, it’s just brilliantly executed. The storytelling is excellent. But…
Yes, But Why?
Show, don’t tell. It’s been hammered into our brains through every English class, creative writing course, and book for aspiring novelists. Always they tell us “show, don’t tell” until we can’t unhear or forget the words. Until they become mere sounds and we discount them due to familiarity. Like when someone says “eat healthy” or “Jesus loves you.” Sometimes we…
Remind Me Later
I type happily away on my computer, writing my current novel, engrossed in a scene of drama, betrayal, fear, doubt, and growing tension — all ready to swallow my character up in a maw of darkness, or give way in a moment of light. The climax approaches — the stakes are beyond the stratosphere — he’s giving in — he’s…
It’s Not Easy
About half the time I’m driving–to work, to church, traveling, or just running errands–I like to listen to podcasts, lectures, sermons, audiobooks, etc. I like to feel I’m being productive, to not just drive but also to try to improve my mind. The other half of the time, I need to unwind and I like to play music. Usually Pandora…
I Love, Therefore I Am
Those of you who know me well know that I dislike talking to people much of the time. Especially people I don’t know. I’m shy, I feel awkward, I get tongue-tied, and I’m much too easily embarrassed. I’m also a very private person (hence the enormous lack of personal posts on this blog). There are those things I’m perfectly comfortable…
Genesis
In the beginning was the Word. That’s the opening of the biblical book of John in the New Testament. But it’s also the truth regarding one of my favorite forms of storytelling–filmmaking. I recently attended the third annual Christian Worldview Film Festival in San Antonio, Texas. I’ve been attending Christian film festivals since 2007, and I’ve seen the world of…
Printer Ink is Expensive
New month, new project. I was finally able to wrap up my work on Firmament: Gestern, book five in the series, last month, and now I’m ready to move ahead with publishing the fourth! I”m extra excited about this one. First, because it’s a plotline I’ve wanted to use for years and I think people are really going to enjoy…
Star Trek Fanfic — Once Upon a Time
Since it’s been forever since I shared one of my fanfics with you, I take a moment to share another story from the academy days saga with you. Enjoy the absurdity! Once Upon a Time or Of Kingdoms and Haircuts “Once upon a time, in a magical kingdom far, far away, there was a wealthy, brave, talented, noble, intelligent, daring,…
I’m Hungry
I was talking to a friend yesterday, a musician, and he was excitedly filling me in on some gigs he’d been able to play recently. At one point, we were talking about the joy of being able to make money doing what you love. He said, “You know, people try to say ‘It’s not about the money, it’s just about…