May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in this post I'm going to unpack some beats/themes that can help writers portray mental illness authentically in their stories. I am not a medical professional, or an expert reader in this area—I don't seek out books that tackle mental illness, and this post isn't meant as a … Continue reading Mental Health Toolbox for Fiction Characters →

Last night I finally watched It Comes At Night, an apocalyptic horror about the lengths a family will go to survive together. The story is hyper-focused on that premise. For example, the cause of the apocalypse remains mysterious—an inexplicable illness that we perceive through symptoms and the characters’ fearful behavior, never through an origin, or … Continue reading On The Benefits of a Lack of Explanation →

Part One: The Chosen Spot Upstate, NY is odd. As a community, we're more Southern than many parts of the modern South. Conservative, outdoorsy, and prone to regretful displays of the Confederate flag. On the other hand, we are brittle from icy winters; we are viciously passive-aggressive. Our small towns are largely White and WASPy. … Continue reading Book Inspirations! #2 Do The White Thing →

As inspired by the Facebook challenge, I will post about books that have inspired me. This one leans memoir. Enjoy!   I read A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius in 11th grade, which was a formative year for my development as a reader. In English class we studied classics in-depth and learned how to write … Continue reading Book Inspirations! #1 AHWOSG →

Writing may seem like a lonely enterprise. In fact, I have become more introverted over the last year since I changed day jobs and started to focus on writing. On the whole, practicing writing means lots and lots of thinking. I'll spend days working out all the implications of a character's decision, let alone the … Continue reading Gratitude →

After some encouragement from my loving wife, I updated the book titles for the trilogy. I know publishers are wont to change a title, so these are all placeholders. But a name is important. Now, if only I could settle on a title for the whole trilogy!

Wow. I am humbled, honored, grateful. Thank you to everyone who has read THE HOLY SHURIKEN so far. I appreciate your feedback. I couldn't do this without you. This post goes out to the readers, for all their kind (or critical) words.   (Really, thank you.)

Let's call it 'Draft 2.2'. I am halfway through re-reading the book, using an oft-recommended method -- I am reading my book aloud, to myself. In practice, this is as dorky as it sounds. In public, I cover both sides of my face with my hands and mutter so only I can hear. Weird. Here's … Continue reading A Pleasant Surprise →

I am rewriting a pivotal moment for the protagonist in The Holy Shuriken. I have to justify her making an extreme decision. The build-up is all there, and the action, when executed, is pretty satisfying. But it's lacking interiority. I reached the plot point, but I didn't earn it. Anyway, here's a fun sentence I … Continue reading Kill Your Darlings →

My daughter Margaret was my primary inspiration to write The Holy Shuriken. In eight days she turns five years old. It's a big milestone. She'll start school in the Fall. Micro soccer on Saturdays. More and more signs of independence. I maximize cuddle time while I still can. She's sweet, funny, clever. Quite the little … Continue reading Kids Say The Wisest Things →