fiction

The reader as co-conspirator

Independent novel review: Head of Words Sometimes, you see where a novel is going and guess the surprise twist well before getting to it. Sometimes, if the writer is really good, it doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of the novel.In the case of Head of Words, I felt like a co-conspirator with author Chris […]

Progress report: One Shade of Red

 Image: Creative Commons  I have learned a few things in the year since I published my first novel, The Bones of the Earth — even some things about publishing books. I tried to apply them when publishing my second book, One Shade of Red. I’ve known the importance of promotion and advertising any […]

LIFT OFF! One Shade of Red available TODAY

It’s out! My second novel, One Shade of Red, is now available on Amazon and Smashwords! And to celebrate, I’ve put it on sale: just 99 cents TODAY ONLY! One Shade of Red is my parody of the biggest bestseller ever, Fifty Shades of Grey. Whether you liked or hated that book, you’ll get a […]

One Shade of Red It’s nearly done! My spoof of Fifty Shades of Grey is nearly out. What began as a lark for National Novel Writing Month in November is nearing the final stages of publishing. I’ve written, re-written and edited it myself, shown portions to established authors in the field, and had it edited […]

A fun thriller Some books are just plain fun to read — like Frederick Lee Brooke’s Doing Max Vinyl.This is a book that succeeds on several levels. First, it’s a perfectly crafted crime-thriller with a believable, sympathetic protagonist in Annie Ogden and a watertight plot. Second, all the characters are drawn from real life. Third, […]

Christine Nolfi: a professional writer confident about her style

In my pursuit of the meaning and importance of writing style, this week I am turning to veteran Christine Nolfi, best-selling author of Second-Chance Grill, The Tree of Everlasting Knowledge and Treasure Me. Christine is also a founder of BestSelling Reads, a cooperative promotional group of writers of “new fiction.”Christine has definite views on the […]

Steven Montano: shaking up the genres

An independent author interview Most authors strive to stay within a genre, occasionally mixing horror with romance or science fiction with mystery and throwing in a love interest for good measure. I’ve never before come across an author who aggressively tosses as many different genres into the mix as Steven Montano, whose Blood Skies series […]