Features

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AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: Jeffrey Bardwell

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Jeffrey Bardwell

Today, Jeffrey Bardwell – Jeffrey Bardwell writes epic fantasy with elements of darkness, steampunk, and romance set in the Metal vs. Magic Universe.. Thanks so much, Jeffrey, for joining me! J. Scott Coatsworth: What was your first published work? Tell me a little about it.  Jeffrey Bardwell: My first published work under the name Jeffrey Bardwell was in April 2017: an epic fantasy novel called Broken Wizards. Let the broken puns commence. The plot had holes you could lead a cavalry regiment through, I tossed around exclamation points like confetti, and I stretched the story too thin chasing that epic length. … Read more

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POINT OF VIEW: Fifteen Days of Immersion

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immersion - pixabay

Those who read my column regularly know I am madly working to finish “Dropnauts: Redemption Book One” in time for PitchWars. I just got my editor notes back on Thursday, and now have about two weeks to whip the whole thing into shape. The news from the editor is mixed. He functioned as my beta reader this time around as the time table was too compressed to manage both, so the manuscript was at a bit rougher stage than I would have preferred. He loved the story! That alone made me dance and throw my hands in the air like … Read more

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AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT/GIVEAWAY: Kaylena Radcliff

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Kaylena Radcliff

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, Kaylena Radcliff – Kaylena Radcliff is a magazine editor, pastor’s wife, mother, and indefatigable world builder. As such, she subsists almost entirely on coffee and prayer. GIVEAWAY: Comment on this post below for a chance to win an eBook copy of “Mouse.” Thanks so much, Kaylena, for joining me! J. Scott Coatsworth: When did you know you wanted to write, and when did you discover that you were good at it? Kaylena … Read more

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POINT OF VIEW: Working the Crowd

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Sac Pride QSAC Booth

We just wrapped up a warm Sacramento day at Rainbowfest – an annual LGBTQ+ festival in Lavender Heights (which strangely is very flat) – with our local author group, the “Queer Sacramento Authors’ Collective” (QSAC). I’ve learned a few things doing these kinds of events, and thought I’d share some of my tips with you for getting the most out of them, especially in your interactions with your booth/table visitors. Bring Lots of Books: If your table has just a few individual books, folks are generally less likely to stop by to see what you offer. I bring 5-10 copies … Read more

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AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: David Bridger

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David Bridger

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, David Bridger – David Bridger settled in England’s West Country after twenty years of ocean-based mischief, during which he worked as a lifeguard, a sailor, an intelligence gatherer, and an investigator. Now he writes science fiction and fantasy novels. Sometimes they’re informed by his experiences out on the crinkly blue. Thanks so much, David, for joining me! J. Scott Coatsworth: How would you describe your writing style/genre?  David Bridger: Literary science fiction … Read more

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POINT OF VIEW: Getting a Little Perspective

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perspective - pixabay

Oh how pride goeth before the fall. Sometimes when you think you have this whole writer gig figured out, life steps in to give you a hard slap across the cheek. A few weeks ago, I ran across a review that was so negative it might have stopped my nascent writing career in its tracks if I had seen it when it was first published, back in 2015. I patted myself on the back for being so much more evolved these days, both in writing skill and in my reaction to my sometimes bad reviews. I’d even half-convinced myself that … Read more

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Rainbow Awards Honorable Mentions!

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I’m thrilled to have not one but three honorable mention notices from the Rainbow Awards (which means I *could* be in contention for a win. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The first is for River City: “I absolutely loved The River City Chronicles. The author acknowledges Armistead Maupin in the Foreword, but truthfully, I loved this book way more than Maupin. I figured out fairly early on where some of the plot points were headed, but it didn’t matter. It was just lovely to be immersed in this world. If only this was ‘book 1’ then I could … Read more

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AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: Belinda McBride

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Belinda McBride

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, Belinda McBride – Belinda is an award-winning, top selling author of erotic romance, speculative fiction and LGBTQ romance. She lives in far Northern California with her family and a pack of Siberian Huskies.  Thanks so much, Belinda, for joining me! JSC: If you could sit down with one other writer, living or dead, who would you choose, and what would you ask them?  Bel: Gosh, that’s a hard one. I’ve been lucky … Read more

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INTERVIEW: Briandaniel Oglesby

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Briandaniel Oglesby

I met Briandaniel a few weeks ago at the annual Playwrights Revolution – a staged reading of four plays that Sacamento’s Capital Stage puts on every summer. Brian’s play “Basement Demons and Trailer Saints” stood out, not just because of the stellar cast of actors who put it on in less than a day, but for the fascinating writing and super-LGBTQ+ group of characters he’d created. So afterwards I screwed up my courage and went to talk to him, hopeful that I could get him to do an interview for QSF (which I will also share on my own blog). … Read more