Category: Fiction

From My Writing Playlist #Music #Writing #Advice

Got a request to recommend a good ‘rock opera’ song. Really it doesn’t get any better than Avantasia and in particular this song! The Great Mystery has everything; chorus, amazing instrumentals, guest performance by metal legend Bob Catley from Magnum… oh yeah! This has to be on my list! When to listen:  I’ll give you a hint, skip to 9:19. Then picture your favorite Disney … Read More From My Writing Playlist #Music #Writing #Advice

From My Writing Playlist #Music #Writing #Advice

Got a request to recommend a good ‘rock opera’ song. Really it doesn’t get any better than Avantasia and in particular this song! The Great Mystery has everything; chorus, amazing instrumentals, guest performance by metal legend Bob Catley from Magnum… oh yeah! This has to be on my list! When to listen:  I’ll give you a hint, skip to 9:19. Then picture your favorite Disney … Read More From My Writing Playlist #Music #Writing #Advice

From My Writing Playlist #Music #Writing #Advice

Avantasia Runaway Train: I’ve been dying to post another Avantasia song. I love this musical collaboration. Each CD is a story written by Edguy’s lead, Tobias Sammet… the Mozart of Modern Metal (Sorry, it’s true). The song is a rollercoaster ride. sad and reflective to upbeat and fast back to reflective. When to listen: This is a brainstorming song. Listen to it before writing when … Read More From My Writing Playlist #Music #Writing #Advice

From My Writing Playlist #Music #Writing #Advice

Avantasia Runaway Train: I’ve been dying to post another Avantasia song. I love this musical collaboration. Each CD is a story written by Edguy’s lead, Tobias Sammet… the Mozart of Modern Metal (Sorry, it’s true). The song is a rollercoaster ride. sad and reflective to upbeat and fast back to reflective. When to listen: This is a brainstorming song. Listen to it before writing when … Read More From My Writing Playlist #Music #Writing #Advice

From My Writing Playlist #Music #Writing #Advice

Oh hell yeah! This song, especially the beginning, is a battle song. No doubt about it. When the choir starts their harmony right at the beginning, close your eyes and picture too massive medieval armies lining up on either sides of a war torn battlefield. They stair each other down as the rain falls around them and lighting breaks the skies above. Readers, Do … Read More From My Writing Playlist #Music #Writing #Advice

From My Writing Playlist #Music #Writing #Advice

Oh hell yeah! This song, especially the beginning, is a battle song. No doubt about it. When the choir starts their harmony right at the beginning, close your eyes and picture too massive medieval armies lining up on either sides of a war torn battlefield. They stair each other down as the rain falls around them and lighting breaks the skies above. Readers, Do … Read More From My Writing Playlist #Music #Writing #Advice

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Another Drakin Question? #Writing #Author #Advice

Hi Jim, I wanted to ask you about An Empire of Ashes. I was curious… how did Nayeli keep her true identity secret from Joaquim? Given the fact that they seemed to have been so intimate for as long as they were, wouldn’t he have figured it out sooner? Thanks, Mike Hi Mike, Good question. Honestly, I wrestled with that one for a while … Read More Another Drakin Question? #Writing #Author #Advice

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Writing a Hook? #Writing #Author #Advice

Hi Jim, I’m currently trying to write a query for publishing agents. Do you have any advice for me on writing a hook? Thanks, Jane Hi Jane, YES! I can help with this, though that isn’t really the way I got published, I do have some experience with this. Still, take my advice with a grain of salt as again, I didn’t get published … Read More Writing a Hook? #Writing #Author #Advice

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Drakin, An Empire of Ashes Sample Chapter #Writing #Fantasy #SciFi

Synopsis: Two hundred years have passed, and the Red War has become a distant memory for most. Dragons and humans now live together in peace… but one powerful woman who has been deranged by her own history unleashes her vengeance on a helpless population. Now, the world’s only hope for survival rests with Kaori, a naïve and wayward princess of the Eastern Empire. Having … Read More Drakin, An Empire of Ashes Sample Chapter #Writing #Fantasy #SciFi

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Qira’s Lineage. A Drakin Question #Fantasy #Dragons #Writing #SciFi

Hi Jim, I was wondering about Qira. According to your book, literally all of the dragons are descended from the original six dragons that landed on Earth. I was curious about which of the elders Qira descended from? Have you ever put any thought into that? Best Lorena Hi Lorena, Yes, I’m planning on adding that into another book, though I’m not sure whether … Read More Qira’s Lineage. A Drakin Question #Fantasy #Dragons #Writing #SciFi

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Drakin, The Orphans of Haven, Sample Chapter #Writing #Fantasy #SciFi

Drakin: The Orphans of Haven Book Synopsis: The Red War may be over, but not all wounds have healed. For Sergeant Radley Zall, the nightmares never end. After years of struggling for survival, he finds himself in a dead end job, deporting wayward dragons to the Exclusion Zone. The horrors of his past have left him a broken man, slowing killing himself in a … Read More Drakin, The Orphans of Haven, Sample Chapter #Writing #Fantasy #SciFi

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Drakin, The Story of Raiya Sample Chapter #Writing #Fantasy #SciFi

  Drakin: The Story of Raiya Book Synopsis: ‘ “Abomination, freak, monster…”  You get used to names like these when you have yellow eyes, horns, and scales, but Raiya could have really cared less. After being forced into exile because of her appearance, Raiya’s mind has been focused on one goal; hunting down the dragon lord that killed her parents. For over thirty years, … Read More Drakin, The Story of Raiya Sample Chapter #Writing #Fantasy #SciFi