Yesterday, I mourned. Today, I wake up another day to fight. I used to think that stories were just that. Dragons and magic, tech and battles, or just about personal demons. But, even the short erotica I published, Adoration, had a theme of empowerment for women, of not accepting a mediocre existence. Writers have anContinue reading “A Dedication to RBG”
Category Archives: writing
Announcement: Pre-order Tam Lin: A Modern, Queer Retelling (featuring sneak peak excerpt)
Since Tam Lin is traditionally a Halloween story Tam Lin: A Modern, Queer Retelling will be released October 1st. However, I wanted to celebrate Bisexual Visibility Month, by offering a story with bisexual characters written by a bisexual author (yours truly), by setting up a pre-order . Available for Pre-order here:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HX91MYD Here is an exclusiveContinue reading “Announcement: Pre-order Tam Lin: A Modern, Queer Retelling (featuring sneak peak excerpt)”
Creating Character Boards and Why They’re Useful Visuals
In preparation for NaNoWriMo, I’m doing character profiles for the story I plan to write Dot and Al’s Paranormal Detective Agency. Character profiles are part of my plotting process. It’s where I create backstory and discover motivation long before I know what’s going to happen. I think this is key to creating compelling characters. IContinue reading “Creating Character Boards and Why They’re Useful Visuals”
View from My Writing Desk
This is the current view from my writing desk. An overcast sky in September isn’t out of the ordinary in the Seattle suburbs, but this is smoke from the wildfires ravaging Oregon and California. (We’re not downwind of the ones razing Washington. Yet.) Needless to say, our air quality is in the crapper. So, IContinue reading “View from My Writing Desk”
Troublesome Tropes in Urban Fantasy, Romance, and Paranormal Erotica and How to Subvert Them
Alpha Male/Rich Asshole: The concept that a man who is power-hungry, aggressive, violent, stalkerish, possessive and territorially jealous as a romantic lead is worrisome. It not only promotes toxic masculinity, but might encourage readers to seek abusive or codependent relationships. It’s not just toxic for individuals, it’s toxic for humanity in general. We live inContinue reading “Troublesome Tropes in Urban Fantasy, Romance, and Paranormal Erotica and How to Subvert Them”
Research: The Devil is in the Details
When you write a novel, you’re going to run into research. Whether it be about diet or hygiene of a certain era or mythology and religious texts, doing your research will add a layer of depth to your world building. Hopefully, you won’t go into detail to the point of boring just to show howContinue reading “Research: The Devil is in the Details”
Excerpt from Eastside Faerie: A (Sub) Urban Fantasy II
While I query Eastside Hedge Witch: A (Sub) Urban Fantasy, I thought I’d start other projects just in case it tanks. But, the story and characters drew me back in. The first book, though it served the purpose thematically of proving Miriam should not run from her problems and accept herself and her magic, wasContinue reading “Excerpt from Eastside Faerie: A (Sub) Urban Fantasy II”
Writer Talk: Why Isn’t My Story Selling?
I’ve been alpha and/or beta reading manuscripts for about four years. I read a mix of about fifty to sixty traditionally and indie published novels a year for pleasure. What do some indie novels have in common with not-yet-polished drafts I alpha and beta read? Bad beginnings. Info dumps. Lack of developmental editing. The wayContinue reading “Writer Talk: Why Isn’t My Story Selling?”
Eastside Hedge Witch: A (Sub)urban Fantasy – Excerpt from Chapter One
I’m writing a paranormal women’s fiction, or suburban fantasy called, Eastside Hedgewitch. The project idea came to me when I was blue over my decision to shelve Scavengers of the Starsea. I dropped the latter project because the POV characters were all of Afro-Latinx descent. I love the story and started writing it because myContinue reading “Eastside Hedge Witch: A (Sub)urban Fantasy – Excerpt from Chapter One”
Another Draft Finished
I finished the rough draft of Tam Lin: A Modern, Queer Retelling last night and will think of a less on the nose title soon. In the meantime, I’ll send the draft off to alpha readers. They’ll look for things like pacing, tension, seek plot holes, and analyze the character arc. I ended the storyContinue reading “Another Draft Finished”
