Perseverance is an indispensable part of being a writer. Knowing when to give up, to admit failure, change course, is an indispensable part of being a human. At least, a smart, sane human. But do “real” writers ever give up? (Not to mention, are they ever really “sane”?) If you frequent writers’ circles, you will [...]
Analyzing what you like to read is a lot like researching why roses smell good or sugar tastes sweet. At some point, your findings kill the enjoyment. That being said, I enjoy books with “textual density.” That’s the phrase I stumbled across in a recent book review. In the latest Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine, [...]
My novella, Winterland, is officially complete. Yay! I’m very, very pleased with it. Had a lot of fun writing it, too. I received some terrific advice from beta readers Jill Domschot and Lewinna Solwing. Thanks, ladies! When I initially pitched the idea to my publisher, I knew the concept was just too far “out there.” [...]
The worst part of message-driven fiction may not be any particular message, as much as the effect that reading such fiction has upon its readers. Like a literary version of “Where’s Waldo?” the reading experience is reduced to a search for “clues” rather than aesthetic enjoyment. To put it bluntly, message-driven fiction potentially dumbs down [...]
Pastors easily lose sight of the trees, for the forest. That’s the conclusion I’ve come to after having been a full-time staff pastor for over a decade and actively involved in churches for over 30 years. But f you’re expecting a beat-down on Christian ministers, you came to the wrong place. I honor the office, [...]
I was a little surprised by the response to my last post in which I solicited reader questions using a video blog (vlog). The comments drifted away from reader questions into opinions about vlogs and why people do or don’t like them. Interesting. Here I thought that vlogging was just another tool in the social [...]
For the record: I am not being paid by anyone to make this list and promote their book. These selections are entirely my own. I know I missed some good covers and would love for you to point them out. In all honesty, I found the pickings slim the last few months. There are SO [...]
MIKE: Dan, what was your initial reaction after hearing of the Stoker nomination? It had to have been exciting and a little bit scary. Did you see it as a potential career break? Were you nervous, skeptical? And how do you see it now? DAN: Wow, yea, I was honored to see Solomon’s Grave make [...]
The first indication I had that Dan Keohane might be a pretty good writer was when I discovered his inclusion in the Honorable Mentions of The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror anthology, 17th edition. After that, it was Cemetery Dance. Then, Apex Digest. Finally, as an editor for Coach’s Midnight Diner, we named Dan one [...]
