[Deleted long blog post. Then distilled it down to the important beats]. It is with joy in my heart but tears in my eyes that I share the cover for Gemstones, Elves, and Other Insidious Magic (Dowser 9). And yes, it is the last book – for the foreseeable future – in the Dowser Series. And the […]
Category: writing
Writing the first draft of a book often feels like having a tug-a-war with your own brain, just to force words to appear on the page. Factor in coaxing and cajoling the muse to stick with you through the first 60k or 70k or 80k, and it is as if you’re at war with certain […]
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Brainstorming book titles
It’s Thanksgiving Monday. Michael is stripping the turkey so we can make stock. And, while I have his captive attention, I’m brainstorming book titles for the Amplifier Series* – I’m exceeding lucky to be married to a songwriter who excels in condensing complex ideas down into evocative but short phrases. We’ve been having trouble with […]
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MCD Fall 2018
Posting my fall schedule/upcoming releases, etc so I have it all in one place instead of just occasionally mentioning it whenever I’m asked in various places online. Yes, I’m attempting to be organized!! If you have any spoiler-free questions, let me know in the comments and I will endeavour to answer them and/or add the […]
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Writer meltdown #3476
I just wrote a very long, very angsty blog post. Got a bit weepy. Deleted the post. Short version: First drafts are hard. And I have a terrible habit of piling every single, nagging concern/fear/issue I have with my writing/career/future into a difficult-to-drag-around massive-bundle-of-angst. As we all do, I suspect. Michael talked me down. Again. […]
I took a moment this morning to review what I’d written of the Amplifier prequel so far before diving back in, coming up with one overwhelming conclusion: Emma (aka the Amplifier, aka Socks, aka AMP5) is a real bad ass. It isn’t something that she grows into (a la the Dowser) or something she’s never […]
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Writing is like vomiting
Interior kitchen. White glossy cabinets. Concrete counters. Approx. 10:30am. A Milk Cafe is running, whirling and heating skim milk destined to be a hot chocolate. Me (measuring out chocolate): I’m just so scattered brained today. Which, for some reason, is always the case the day after a really successful writing session. I mean, obviously, I’ll […]
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The muse and me, a conversation.
Me (yesterday afternoon): the third draft of Dowser 9 is done! The muse (late last night): Hmm … what about [insert unresolved minor plot point]. Me: Now is not the time to worry about that. I’m trying to fall asleep. Scott (aka the editor) will flag it if it’s an issue. The muse: it is […]
Living on the west coast of Canada means that I often wake up to find that a few voracious readers (in other timezones) have already consumed a new release while I slept, and Graveyards, Visions, and Other Things that Byte (Dowser 8.5) hasn’t been an exception. I’m so, so glad that so many of you […]
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Dowser 8.5: Who is Freddie?
“Who is Freddie?” Liam asked, folding his arms and glancing sternly between Jasmine and me. “A shadow leech.” “What the hell is a shadow leech?” “Freddie.” Liam swore under his breath. I stifled a smirk. –Mory, Graveyards, Visions, and Other Things that Byte (Dowser 8.5) COMING AUGUST 23, 2018 PREORDER NOW AMAZON – iBOOKS – […]