We’ve all heard the advice to writers to “murder your darlings”. While I’ve been killing characters in entertainingly gruesome ways, the advice relates to prose. I’ve recently went through an extensive exercise of tightening my prose (for a particular submission), and thought I’d share my experience and lessons I’ve learned — both good and bad, […]
News / Blog
Book Review: Ovid, by David Wishart
You who are reading these lines will be shocked to know that I am, in fact, a Romanophile. (Well, shocked if you haven’t read my reviews of Lindsey Davis, Ruth Downie, Steven Saylor, and my constant blogging on Roman trivia…) Anyway. This book has been on my TBR for a long while, and my only […]
Screenwriting
In my continual quest to improve my writing, I’ve taken a look at screenwriting. (It has nothing to do with a possible deal for a movie adaptation of Murder In Absentia, about which I’m legally not allowed to talk just yet). Screenwriting is an interesting medium of storytelling, one with both similarities and differences to […]
Book Series Review: Gordianus the Finder (Roma Sub Rosa), by Steven Saylor
I came across Steven Saylor’s work when my Kindle suggested Roman Blood (I just finished Lindsey Davis’ Falco at the time). I delved right in, and loved it! I’ve just finished the latest installment (Throne of Caesar). I’ve mentioned this series a lot in the past but never reviewed it, so I’m now rectifying this […]
Bricks and Mortar
Some exciting news about real life, as well as reflections (because February). First, another bookstore in Sydney is now carrying my books. Berkelouw Hornsby, part of the Berkelouw chain that has been around since 1812. There is no denying the importance of brick-and-mortar bookshops. The ebooks share fluctuates and people are quick to cry the […]
Odd Media
Following the release of In Numina, there naturally came a spate of interviews and media appearances. From the usual questions about inspirations behind my writing, to an interview about me as a reader (and reviewer), and far out to an odd-ball interview with Felix my cat, they are all here for your edification and amusement. […]
Book Review: Nine Perfect Strangers, by Liane Moriarty
Rather uncharacteristically, I read this international best seller soon after its release (following a binge of childhood-era fantasy, cause hey! squirrel!). I was drawn by several factors: Aussie author (a neighbour, one suburb over), worldwide success, and — not in the least — Moriarty’s hilarious author’s bio. I wasn’t entirely sure what I was getting […]
Amazon is Evil. Authors are Starving. We’re All Gonna Die! (A rant)
I’ve come across this article, and I’d like to call bullshit: The Disastrous Decline in Author Incomes Isn’t Just Amazon’s Fault, which in turn is based on this survey: Authors Guild Survey Shows Drastic 42 Percent Decline in Authors Earnings in Last Decade. Go ahead. Go read it (at least the first link) and come back, […]
Encouragement
Last year, I’ve posted my review of Wizard of Earthsea around the net, and this happened: This was on BookBub. Ms Le Guin (the author of Earthsea) was an accomplished and prolific Sci-Fi & Fantasy author and an outspoken advocate on social issues, whose books deeply influenced my adolescence. So, naturally, this was all very […]
Writers of the Future
Writers of the Future is a respected Science Fiction and Fantasy short-story contest for new authors, that has been running since the mid 1980’s. It’s free and open to authors who have not been professionally published. Some very well known authors in SF&F have started their way with wins there (Patrick Rothfuss, anyone?), and the […]
FELIX THE FOX MYSTERIES 