I ran across some old picture files from a trip I took to England and Ireland back in 2003.  One of the highlight of that trip was visiting Blarney Castle.  It is the first medieval castle that I ever visited and it was fascinating to me.  I remember climbing the stone spiral stairs and feeling […]

Now when someone tells me I have no class, I have an answer for them.  I start a copyediting certificate program tomorrow.  First class is a grammar lab, which I’m sure will be helpful. I’ve been thinking about getting into the editing side of the business for some time.  I’ve daydreamed about sponsoring an anthology, […]

Look up twit on dictionary.com and you get the following definition: to taunt, tease, ridicule, etc., with reference to anything embarrassing; gibe at. Synonyms: jeer at, mock, insult, deride. to reproach or upbraid. Synonyms: chide, scold, rebuke, criticize, revile, castigate. It seems a pretty accurate description of what appears to go on at Twitter.  I […]

I’ve always been a contemplator.  I would say a thinker, but it bring visions of me sitting naked on a stone, chin-to-fist, and nobody wants to see that.  Not to mention, I’m guessing that stone is pretty damn cold.  So I use the term contemplator, and I think it is more accurate anyway.  I like […]

Stenson Blues, My second book in the Kingdom of Haven series, is now available at Park Road Books.  Park Road Books is an independent bookstore in Charlotte.  They host several book clubs and are constantly hosting author events.  They are supportive of local authors. I encourage any avid reader in the Charlotte area to stop […]

Do you find it difficult to make friends online? I know I do.  Actually, being an introvert, I have never been the outgoing type that makes a passel of friends.  It has never really bothered me either, but as a writer it does hamper me.  I think that having a good network of writer friends […]

We are given advice in all aspects of our lives.  Career advice, life advice, marriage advice, writing advice—everyone has an opinion and most are willing to share it.  How much of that advice do you follow?  Any of it worth listening to, or repeating? I have found one piece of advice to be useful in […]

When does the story make up for the writing, or vice versa?  This question comes to my mind sometimes when I am critiquing other writers.  Hopefully, published writing has passed this hurdle in the editing process (but not always).  One author may have an intriguing story line that really piques my interest, but the writing […]

I’m taking a basic editing course with my wife and some of the material got me wondering about what writing books I have on my shelves.  So I had to go look and have listed them below: The Chicago Manual of Style—14th Edition The St. Martin’s Guide to Writing The Writer’s Handbook—2002 Literature and the […]

Here I am at my latest book signing.  Thanks to everyone who came out to buy a book or talk to me.  Yes, this is my happy face.  Actually, posing for the picture was annoying, but I did smile when people showed up.  Just a note to anyone that sees an author at a bookstore:  […]