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POINT OF VIEW: Stepping Off the Ledge

printing press - pixabay

Hey all, I’m about to step off the ledge. To take the plunge. To dive into the great unknown. I am about to become * gulp * a self publisher. I have two projects already teed up for this year, with more to come if things go well. The first is the long-awaited publication of “The River City Chronicles” in book form – my 102 chapter online serial that ended last October. It’s been a long slog to get to this point for this, my love letter to Sacramento. I just got the preliminary cover art from Kelley York, a … Read more

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POINT OF VIEW: Riding the Writing Roller Coaster

Roller Coaster - Pixabay

I am two weeks away from sending Ithani, the final book in the “Oberon Cycle,” to my beta readers, and I am in full-scale freak out mode. OK, maybe not full scale. I still have all my clothes on. It has proven more challenging than I expected to write the series ender – there are so many loose ends to wrap up, and it’s necessary to both ramp up the volume and to keep tight reins on a story that caps off my first complete trilogy. I got within two chapters of the ending and realized something wasn’t right. I … Read more

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AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: Janelle Reston

Janelle Reston

Welcome to my weekly Author Spotlight. I’ve asked a bunch of my author friends to answer a set of interview questions, and to share their latest work. Today, Janelle Reston – Janelle Reston lives in a northern lake town with her partner and their black cats. Thanks so much, Janelle, for joining me! J. Scott Coatsworth: Do you use a pseudonym? If so, why? If not, why not? Janelle Reston: Yes. I write under several different genres and for different audiences, so I divided them into general groupings and assigned different names (pen names and variations on my legal name) … Read more

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POINT OF VIEW: Days of Despair, Moments of Grace and Beauty

Tulips - pixabay

These are trying times for most of the people I know. Our country is in a shambles. The headlines dominating the news would have been unthinkable just two years ago – a porn star threatening to describe a sitting president’s “junk.” A US senator berating kinds for trying to stop gun violence. An unchained Russia meddling in other countries’ affairs with impunity, changing elections, supporting discord, and killing expatriates on foreign soil. Closer to home, Mark and I have friends dealing with parental loss, cancer, and depression. In the midst of the longest run of economic “prosperity” in decades, we … Read more

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AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: Kim Fielding

Kim Fielding

Welcome to my weekly Author Spotlight. I’ve asked a bunch of my author friends to answer a set of interview questions, and to share their latest work. Today, Kim Fielding – Kim Fielding is the bestselling author of numerous m/m romance novels, novellas, and short stories. Like Kim herself, her work is eclectic, spanning genres such as contemporary, fantasy, paranormal, and historical. Thanks so much, Kim, for joining me! J. Scott Coatsworth: What do you do if you get a brilliant idea at a bad time? Kim Fielding: I get my best ideas at weird times, most especially in the … Read more

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POINT OF VIEW: Making Connections & Hiding Easter Eggs

scott-bunny

As an author, one of my main jobs in my stories is the art of making connections. Connections between characters. Connections between the beginning and end of a story. Connections within a series. As part of this job, I am currently re-reading Skythane and Lander while I write Oberon, so I can make connections between the three books that will give my readers that “aha!” moment when they discover them, and that will help insure continuity between the stories. But there are other kinds of connections that we trade in as writers too. Some are unintentional. These often come out … Read more

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AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: Asta Idonea

Asta Idonea

Welcome to my weekly Author Spotlight. I’ve asked a bunch of my author friends to answer a set of interview questions, and to share their latest work. Today, Asta Idonea – Asta Idonea (aka Nicki J Markus) was born in England but now lives in Adelaide, South Australia. She has loved both reading and writing from a young age and is also a keen linguist, having studied several foreign languages.. Thanks so much, Asta, for joining me! J. Scott Coatsworth: Tell us about a unique or quirky habit of yours. Asta Idonea: I have been known to talk aloud to … Read more

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Point of View: Exclusive Scene from Ithani

Morgan

Hey all… I’m rounding the bend on Ithani and heading for the finish line. This is one of the most difficult books I’ve written yet, but when it all comes together, I think it’s gonna be awesome. 🙂 I thought I’d shake things up a bit and share an advance scene for all the folks out there who love Morgan. Enjoy! Morgan watched the man go. The city below was in ruins, but it would rise again, given time. He was an agent of the Ithani, but for some reason, he felt a bond with these humans—lander and skythane both. … Read more