“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” - William Arthur Ward I wish you all a safe and delightful day, whether you spend it with family, friends, or just with yourself—and though it’s sometimes easy to … [Read more...]

Dudes, I’m tired.  And I want cheesecake.  Maybe something to detangle my hair.  More later.  When I’m done writing.  Ha.  Haha. … [Read more...]

HOLIDAYS ARE HELL is #21 on the New York Times list.  Man, oh, man.  All you readers rock. … [Read more...]

Keep those questions coming, if you’ve got them. Mitch asks:  What have you been reading lately? Do you read every day, or just try to cram in what you can when you can? I wish I could say that I’ve been reading a lot lately, but honestly, I haven’t had … [Read more...]

“The more you’re able to project your own world upon the work, the more power it has.” - Peter Chung Talk about sacrificing for your art—this, from Chinese film director, Zhang Yimou: Q:  There is a famous story about how you bought your first … [Read more...]

I am the luckiest chick in the world.  Holy Macaroni.  Look at this cover.  It is not the final cover art, but it is a very, very, good idea of what my 8th Dirk & Steele novel will look like.  The Wild Road will be released in August 2008.  For a … [Read more...]

Bizarre fact of the day:  Typing is like playing the piano, the more you do it, the better you get.  And as with most pianists, it does help to keep your nails short.  At least, it helps me. I like having long nails, but when it gets to crunch time and I need to … [Read more...]

There’s nothing to writing.  All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.  ~ Walter Wellesley “Red” Smith *** A great line from Anne Enright, one that made me smile: A book needs more than one idea - it is when two ideas collide … [Read more...]

Mini break-through this morning.  Hallelujah!  Here are two interesting links on the writing process - the first from Jay Lake:  Write first drafts more slowly. This cuts my raw throughput almost in half, though I’m still quite fast by most rational … [Read more...]

I tell you, this writing gig is hard work.  I felt better today, however, when I saw this on Neil Gaiman’s blog: I’m in Chapter Five of ODD.... I think this is good, although I have just realised I have no idea what happens next and that the plot I thought I … [Read more...]