fantasy – Forever Mountain Publishing

A world of your own (Part 1)

As writers, we’re told “Write what you know.” That can be interpreted several ways. Does it mean write based on your experience? Yes. Does it mean you can only write characters exactly like you? I hope not… (Talk about a ‘send in the clones’ situation…) Does it mean we have to write things in theContinue reading “A world of your own (Part 1)”

DM and Player, switching gears…

Two weeks ago, I wrote about a live gaming event I took part in. Last Saturday, in my group’s virtual game, we had another unusual event. I took off the mantle of Dungeon Master (DM) and I’m running a character as a player. I needed a break. One of the others wanted to DM forContinue reading “DM and Player, switching gears…”

And then there were three…?

This month I started editing Identity and Birthright a sequel to Names and Secrets, the book I submitted for publication in October. This week I made a hard decision about the book: I’m splitting it into two manuscripts. During the editing of Names and Secrets, I made the hard choice to leave several chapters onContinue reading “And then there were three…?”

It can be done!

This week I submitted my book Names and Secrets for publication. The first draft was written as a NANOWRIMO project last November, meaning the total time from first word to last gasp was 11 ½ months. So dear reader, you really can create a book in less than a year. Now, the time from publisherContinue reading “It can be done!”

Fox Boy

I’ve already said I’m doing a sequel for NANOWRIMO this year. This week I finished the submission draft of the first book! And I’m working on a non-fiction project, which has just gotten restructured (for the second time…). I’m dazed and confused at the moment. So, instead of trying to hammer together something pithy andContinue reading “Fox Boy”

Improving your stories (Part 3)

Well dear reader, as promised this week I’m resenting a revised version of my story Life, Death, and Mr. Boggs. I won’t claim that the new version is perfect (After NANO, when I’ve worked on my world some more, I’ll probably want to change it again). But I think this version is a lot better.Continue reading “Improving your stories (Part 3)”

Improving your stories… (Part 2)

In the spirit of show don’t tell, I put up one of my stories here on the blog last week with a promise that I would put up both my list of things to work on and a rewritten version of the story. This week I’m presenting my ‘fix it’ list and talking about someContinue reading “Improving your stories… (Part 2)”

Racist Orcs?

This week I ran into something weird. People proclaiming that orcs (creatures in fantasy stories and games) are racist. My initial response was “Of course orcs are racist! They’re orcs!” Being racist is a known feature of orc culture in every fantasy game and world I’ve ever encountered. But… It turns out the writers inContinue reading “Racist Orcs?”