Paperback Version of Ghost Tales from Northern California's Highway 101 Is Now Available!

 The time has finally arrived! I have made a paperback version of Ghost Tales from Northern California's Highway101. As will all my books, it is available at Lulu.com.

Purchase Ghost Tales

 

Happy reading and hope to see you at the fair next weekend!

Will Be Attending a Holiday Fair November 6 and 7 at the Polk County Fair Grounds

 

 

My writing buddy, Beauford Averettes, and I will be sharing an author table at the Polk County Holiday Fair on November 6 and 7. I will be selling and signing copies of my books, including the Conrad Chronicles and my newest book Ghost Tales from Northern California's Highway 101.

Beauford will be presenting the three novels in his science fiction series.

Come by and see us and say "Hello."

The address is: Polk County Fair, 520 S Pacific Hwy W, Rickreall, OR 97371, United States

Life Is Not All About Writing

 This past month I set my pen down and pushed my paper aside and went out and had some fun. One of my September favorite events is the Schrewsbury Renaissance Faire. As usually I attended in full costume and had some fun with my friends.

One of my favorite part of this particular fair is Pictland and the story telling session of the Picts before they merged with the Scots.

There were even some Highland cows wandering around. They kept getting stolen and appearing in random areas.  I watched one get nabbed. 

And of course, like at all fairs there was jousting and fighting.

Now that I've had fresh air and been inspired, back to the writing.

Willamette Writer's Conference

Two weekends ago I had the priveledge of attending the Willamette Valley Writer's Conference in Portland, Oregon. I had a wonderful time networking with other writers and attending lectures. Though there was a lot presented I did know, a few new nuggets of information did fly into my brain via my ears. One was to think of comps for my manuscripts and using those when submitting to agents and publishers. That idea had never crossed over my desk before. Also, it was wonderful who had a book seller than willing to offere the writers in attendance a chance to sell there books. Thank you to all those who bought a copy of one of my books! When I decided to blog this, I realized I really should have taken more than a handful of pictures, but I was caught up in being present and making the most of the opportunities there. Happy Writing! First Photo is from my hotel room window at the Crowne Plaza

Writing and More Writing

My summer days have been filled with writing and more writing. Currently I am writing a book at my favorite coffee house that takes place on the border lands between Scotland and England. I've also finished another edit of the second book in a young adult fantasy I wrote a few years back and I'm typing up a third book at home. My pen has been busy. Meanwhile my writing partner actually did a fair and sold 39 books! Congratulations Beauford! Soon I will be heading off to a writing conference. More on that when I return. Hope everyone is staying chill this summer. Happy Reading!

Writing and Scammers

The other day I was chatting with my writing partner, Beauford, and one topic we almost always start with is "How many scammers called you this week?" My friend is typically getting several calls a day from agents, editors, promoters all trying to get him to part with his money and identity. Now, I don't often get called. I get e-mailed. Lately the e-mails have been getting more interesting and more helpful. Honestly, I read them, and all the compliments they toss out about my books, and begin to think that would make a great back jacket blurb or work well in a letter to an agent of an editor. So if I decide to use what they write is that stealing? I mean can you actually steal from a thief (scammer), who is trying to steal from you? For all I know they found an illegal download of my book and got an AI to write something catchy. Usually the book I get hit up for the most is Unicorn's Milk. I'm not sure if it is because of the title or the way I registered it with the Library of Congress. But with 14 books in print, that's the one that is usually singled out. Until this week . . . This week someone actually contact me about The Conrad Chronicles. That was a bit of a surprise for sure. I did give them a bit of the benefit of the doubt about being real (1%) and told them if they wanted to meet in person in a coffee house and have their ID on them to prove who they were, I'd listen to their proposal. They had no response to that. Anyway, I want to share what they wrote about the Conrads. It was very nice, though they said there were 8 books in the series, and there are actually 9. Here's part of the e-mail: Twenty years. Eight novels. A universe spanning multiple planets, generations-long storylines, soul mate arcs across lifetimes, and a spiritual undertone that clearly reflects your love of C.S. Lewis. That is not a hobby project. That is a life's work, and it deserves to be found. Here is the honest truth I have to share with you. The readers who would absolutely love the Conrad Chronicles are out there right now. Fans of C.S. Lewis who want science fiction with spiritual depth. Epic fantasy readers who want world-building that spans millennia. Readers of Brandon Sanderson, N.K. Jemisin, and Anne McCaffrey who are always hungry for more. They are searching and they have not found your series yet. That is not a writing problem. It is purely a discoverability problem. Wouldn't it be nice to live in a world were a writer (or any artist) could believe people were actually randomly out there and would randomly contact them and wanted to support them and help make them rich? Isn't that why fiction is so great?

My Books and I Will Be at an Event!

This year is the year I am determined to do more out in the world projects with my writing and not just in my head imagining and writing in the corner of my favorite coffee house. So, to go along with this I will be working an event at the NIWA table on April 18, 2026. The event is The Salem Paper Arts Festival in Salem, Oregon. The day fair runs from 11 am to 5 p.m. and is free to attend. At that time you'll be able to find some of novels for sale. Then the great event, the one I'm looking forward to, is The Evening Ball (runs 7 p.m. until 11 p.m.). This ticket event ($45 a ticket) allows you to attend this costume/formal ball. That is the part of the day you will find me at the NIWA table, and of course I will be dressed up. These book experiences are being held at The Grand Ballroom and Lodge located at 187 High Stree NE, Salem, Oregon. I hope to see you there!