A Long Road Chapter 6 Ficbit – By Way of Gate

Graya mulled that over, before spelling out more. “Come from Jianghu? Kingdom we don’t have reports on?”

Worldbuilding: White Gold Magic

Gold, silver, gems, silks; all of these are excellent treasures for any fantastic setting. But one of the most sought-after treasures of the early modern world,

A Long Road Chapter 6 Ficbit – More Than He Wanted to Know

Arvil breathed a silent sigh of relief, glad for the past two days on the road and the Wens filling him and Graya in on more than they had ever wanted to know on ghosts, monsters, Pelagirs weirdness, and what might cause them all.

Stray Thoughts: American Ronin, Part 2

It may interest you to know that it’s written into the Constitution that no American citizen can hold a hereditary title of nobility. You can be noble, or you can be American. Pick one.

Stray Thoughts: American Ronin, Part 1

One of the key things to remember if you’re trying to understand America, is that we were to a large extent populated by people who looked at where they were in Europe – or Asia, or Africa, or what have you – and said Screw This I’m Outta Here.

A Long Road Chapter 6 Ficbit – Mystery

“What we have here,” Arvil murmured for Graya’s ears alone, leaning against her side as he diligently took more notes out of Rabbit Hole’s weather records, “is a mystery. How can any outland clan know enough to run to Valdemar, and yet not know they’re safe?”

Current Events: Even Fanfic Must Beware

One of the really nice features of Archive of Our Own is the tags. You can check at the beginning of the story for characters, is there sex (or not), and a bunch of other things so you stand a chance of avoiding things you really, really don’t want in the middle of your light entertainment.

Well. Even if you’re writing fanfic, apparently cancel culture is gunning for you next…

On Writing: Bad Powers, Bad People?

One trope that annoys me is the whole idea of Bad Powers, Bad People. Two main reasons. First and foremost, it shows a lack of creativity on the part of the writer. If there’s one thing humans have been good at for millennia,

On Writing: Action vs. Politics in Nirvana in Fire

Caveat: there’s no official translation of the book Nirvana in Fire. Nor is there a Region 1 friendly DVD set that has all the episodes. I’ve been watching subbed eps on YouTube. Partly for Something Completely Different from the stories I’m working on, but also because the main character is a Non Action Guy.

Book Review: The Withdrawing Room

The Withdrawing Room, by Charlotte MacLeod. Five out of five stars, a tip-top comfy and clever cozy mystery. This is one that stays with me for comfort reads.