Araceli’s Stars
Reading Time: 2 minutesTattoos. High-fantasy identities. Zeppelins. Magic. Diversity and Inclusion. Oppression. Hope.
Harder Science Fiction
Reading Time: 5 minutesWe read the top three books on Amazon’s list of best-selling sci-fi books. Today’s list includes a mysterious run-down English cottage, sea pirates, and a dystopian future.
This week’s top writing advice from around the web for Oct. 10
Reading Time: 7 minutesI subscribe to dozens of writing advice sites and YouTube channels and lovingly pick the best posts from this previous week for your edification.
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From Out a Full-Orbed Moon
Reading Time: 9 minutesThe ghost of Edgar Allan Poe gets more than he bargained for.
Free Friday: Today’s top free Amazon sci-fi and fantasy books for Oct. 8, 2021
Reading Time: 15 minutesWe read the first chapters of the top ten free spec fic books on Amazon. Today’s list includes a creepy cult, werewolves, witches, and lots of dragons.
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The Thirteen Quixotic Temples of Light and Darkness
Reading Time: 30 minutesA young woman purchases a set of beads from an old crone and the adventure of her life begins.
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This week’s top writing advice from around the web for Oct. 3
Reading Time: 9 minutesI subscribe to dozens of writing advice sites and YouTube channels and lovingly pick the best posts from this previous week for your edification.
This week’s top writing advice from around the web for Oct. 3 Read More »
How to set up a new author website with DreamHost in 15 minutes
Reading Time: 9 minutesI compare the top website hosting providers, and take you through setting up a Wordpress website with my top recommendation, DreamHost.
How to set up a new author website with DreamHost in 15 minutes Read More »
Free Friday: Today’s top free Amazon sci-fi and fantasy books for Oct. 1, 2021
Reading Time: 16 minutesWe read the first chapters of the top ten free spec fic books on Amazon. Today’s list includes the daughter of Morgan le Fae, alien lovers, post-apocalyptic creepiness, lesbian space pirates, a crime-solving witch, and a crime-solving vampire.
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4 Ghostly Novels to Spark Your Halloween Mood
Reading Time: 4 minutesHere are four ghost stories that will thrill and chill you as Halloween approaches.
Deify
Reading Time: 4 minutesGrace is a cult survivor who is called to identify the body of her former cult’s leader and captor.
Rival fantasies: Dungeons & Dragons players and their religious critics actually have a lot in common
Reading Time: 6 minutesWhat would lead someone to claim that a fantasy role-playing game like Dungeons and Dragons was a recruiting tool for satan?
FRIENDSHIP
Reading Time: 10 minutesA lonely alien seeks friendship and fulfillment at an Alaska farmers market.
Quantum Forever
Reading Time: 3 minutesA particle traveling from the beginning of time to the end and back contemplates the balance between hope and fate. Though powerless to control its direction, the particle still has choices.
This week’s top writing advice from around the web for Sep. 26
Reading Time: 10 minutesI subscribe to dozens of writing advice sites and YouTube channels and lovingly pick the best posts from this previous week for your edification.
This week’s top writing advice from around the web for Sep. 26 Read More »
Free Friday: Today’s top free Amazon sci-fi and fantasy books for Sep. 24, 2021
Reading Time: 13 minutesWe read the first chapters of the top ten free spec fic books on Amazon. Today’s list includes magical academies, vampires, sexy shapeshifters, and a clone of Jack Reacher.
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Urban fantasy novels: why they matter and which ones to read first
Reading Time: 4 minutesThe cultural relevance of urban fantasy can be traced back to the time period of its birth — the early nineteenth century — where many were struggling to respond to industrial change and a new economic system.
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Website basics: How to create a row of books
Reading Time: 25 minutes5 ways to add a row of book covers to your Wordpress website.
This week’s top writing advice from around the web for Sep. 19
Reading Time: 14 minutesI subscribe to dozens of writing advice sites and YouTube channels and lovingly pick the best posts from this previous week for your edification.
This week’s top writing advice from around the web for Sep. 19 Read More »
Scientists created holograms you can touch – you could soon shake a virtual hand
Reading Time: 4 minutesThese holograms, created with mirrors and jets of air, could be the first steps towards a Star Trek-style holodeck.
Scientists created holograms you can touch – you could soon shake a virtual hand Read More »
Free Friday: Today’s top free Amazon sci-fi and fantasy books for Sep. 17, 2021
Reading Time: 15 minutesWe read the first chapters of the top ten free spec fic books on Amazon. Today’s list includes magical academies, space colonies, witches, and, yup, some sexy shapeshifters.
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Three Centuries. Same Radio.
Reading Time: 3 minutesWhen reaching out to the stars above, the space beyond or the ether, we allocate disproportionate energy into preparing to cast the nets over catching the fish. What do we do with it?
Six Dragons That You Would — And Would Not — Want to Take Home With You
Reading Time: 5 minutesA must-read article for anyone looking to adopt a new dragon.
Six Dragons That You Would — And Would Not — Want to Take Home With You Read More »
Fall submission cycle opens October 1
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe fall submission cycle for original speculative fiction begins on October 1 and closes at midnight on October 31.
‘Dark Souls’ videogame: Themes of ruin harken to images popularized by European Romantics two centuries ago
Reading Time: 5 minutesThe Dark Souls videogame shares many elements with the literature of British artists in the Romantic era such as Lord Byron and others from the early 1800s.
Hyacinth
Reading Time: 3 minutesThe allure of prospecting a deserted Mars becomes so compelling that nothing else matters. Not even love.
Andy Weir, Jim Butcher win at the Dragon Awards
Reading Time: < 1 minuteThe votes for the annual Dragon Awards are in, and Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary won for best sci-fi novel, and Jim Butcher’s Battle Ground for best fantasy novel.
This week’s top writing advice from around the web for Sep. 12
Reading Time: 17 minutesI subscribe to dozens of writing advice sites and YouTube channels and lovingly pick the best posts from this previous week for your edification.
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5 Magic Schools You Would Want to Attend–And 5 to Avoid
Reading Time: 8 minutesWould you really want to go to magic school? Here are some magic schools you would — or would not — want to attend.
5 Magic Schools You Would Want to Attend–And 5 to Avoid Read More »
Time to announce your NaNoWriMo project
Reading Time: < 1 minuteIf you’re planning to write a novel during this year’s National Novel Writing Month, you can announce it now.
Free Friday: Today’s top free Amazon sci-fi and fantasy books for Sep. 10, 2021
Reading Time: 14 minutesWe read the first chapters of the top ten free spec fic books on Amazon. Today’s list includes magical academies, space colonies, witches, and, yup, some sexy shapeshifters.
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The Wolf of the Woods
Reading Time: 10 minutesWhen Dominic saved his sister from a monster, he didn’t anticipate he would become one too. Now, he might be the most dangerous creature in the woods and if he doesn’t get help, he could hurt the people he loves.
Free sci-fi and fantasy stories on Amazon
Reading Time: 7 minutesYou can find a lot of free sci-fi and fantasy short stories on Amazon — but the free promotions go fast. Get these books now.
Free author website: initial setup
Reading Time: 17 minutesI show you how to create a free author site that looks like that of the big names in the industry.
One Thousand Buddhas: But Who’s Counting
Reading Time: 17 minutesArmed with a magic talisman, Nathan must find the next Buddha – a thirteen-year-old boy in Chicago – before humanity is plunged into extinction.
Ollie and the Stickman
Reading Time: 16 minutesWhen Olivia gets bored in class and doodles a stickman on her arm, she has no idea what she’s in for. When it is brought to life by a rival girl, everything changes.
This week’s top writing advice from around the web for Sep. 5
Reading Time: 9 minutesI subscribe to dozens of writing advice sites and lovingly pick the best posts from this previous week for your edification.
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Why I’m blogging my next book
Reading Time: 5 minutesI’m blogging my next book. Every weekday, I post a new installment. It’s all part of my mission to find a writing process that works for me.
Free Friday: Today’s top free Amazon sci-fi and fantasy books for Sep. 3, 2021
Reading Time: 16 minutesWe read the first chapters of the top ten free spec fic books on Amazon. Today’s list includes a witches, vampires, EMP attacks, aliens, and, of course, plenty of sexy shapeshifters.
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Setting up an author website: Before you start
Reading Time: 11 minutesWhether you are planning to follow my tutorial to create a free but expensive-looking author website, or hire a developer to build one for you, you will need to create some content before you get started. Here’s what you’ll need.
Apocalyptic films have lulled us into a false sense of security about climate change
Reading Time: 4 minutesRehearsing the end of the world through film may have desensitized us, lulling us into a false sense of security that all will end well — and that we are immortal.
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Osprey
Reading Time: 6 minutesThe New Gods were cast out two hundred and sixty-two years ago when humanity enacted the Great Blackout. We had already lost almost everything. Rumors have persisted ever since that they would find a way to return and finish what they started.
Dancing With Etta
Reading Time: 6 minutesA puppet suddenly appears in a woman’s house, and though it is confined to the house only, it follows her like a shadow.
This week’s top writing advice from around the web for Aug. 29
Reading Time: 10 minutesI subscribe to dozens of writing advice sites and lovingly pick the best posts from this previous week for your edification.
This week’s top writing advice from around the web for Aug. 29 Read More »
Six steps to becoming a writer, or, how to write a book one sentence a day
Reading Time: 4 minutesWe interviewed best-selling sci-fi author Steven Barnes about how to become a successful writer, and he delivered.
Six steps to becoming a writer, or, how to write a book one sentence a day Read More »
Do the Jedi Abide?
Reading Time: 2 minutesHow Dude are the Jedi? Do the Jedi abide? The short answer is yes, from a certain point of view.
Free Friday: Today’s top free Amazon sci-fi and fantasy books for Aug. 27, 2021
Reading Time: 13 minutesWe read the first chapters of the top ten free spec fic books on Amazon. Today’s list includes a witches, vampires, dystopian futures, and, of course, the usual weekly crop of sexy shapeshifters.
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Limb Regeneration Therapy
Reading Time: 3 minutesWill this be the doctor who finally takes on Aki’s limb regeneration? It’s the sixth alien specialist and hope is slowly vanishing from his eyes.
This World of Strange Design
Reading Time: 4 minutesBuilding a planet used to be harder. There was a real art to it. It required raw talent polished to a diamond’s edge.