How to Save Movies

How to Save Movies

I've written before about Hollywood's hatred for their own audience and their resulting financial woes. Today, rather than spend another post forecasting the American film industry's demise, I think it's high time to suggest an actionable plan to make sure the forces of Christendom and the West will fill the…
October 31, 201712 Comments

Secret History vs. Alternate History

What is the difference between writing secret history and writing alternate history? How can authors mine the history of science to make feasible predictions about how technology might evolve? Do events unfold in a linear fashion, or is the one constant that history always throws curve balls? We endeavor to…
October 30, 20172 Comments
A Ghost for the Offering

A Ghost for the Offering

Most readers here will be of an age to remember the urban myth fad that made a modest impression on the pop consciousness back in the late 90s/early 2000s. If you were clever, you noticed the subtle but significant change from the former academic term "urban legend" to the media-promulgated…
October 27, 20173 Comments
The Final Curtain

The Final Curtain

Film industry sources are reporting that major studios have resorted to pulling underperforming movies from theaters in what continues to be the worst year at the box office in decades. It’s a bizarre season in Hollywood. Almost nothing is “working,” and the studios can’t afford to waste any more money hoping…
October 26, 201712 Comments
The Fire Rises

The Fire Rises

A picture speaks a thousand words, so I gave Astlin the floor for today's introductory remarks. I think she makes a good point. How about you? Today's headline image depicts perennial fan favorite character Astlin of Tharis (formerly of Keth) in an updated Zadokim design. My promo artist Ashion did…
October 25, 20173 Comments
Halloween Sale

Halloween Sale

In honor of Halloween, I've put my debut space opera/horror novel Nethereal on sale for $0.99. And to help new readers prepare for the release of the fourth and final Soul Cycle Book The Ophian Rising, both of my Dragon Award-worthy novels Souldancer and The Secret Kings are just $3.99. That means right now…
October 24, 2017
Fools’ Gold

Fools’ Gold

A Twitter user chronicles his blocking by author Marko Kloos over a disagreement about the current and former state of science fiction. Not only was the Golden Age better written, it was not the age Kloos is thinking of. Kloos has fallen for the post-1980 memory holing of the Pulp…
October 23, 20179 Comments
Space Opera vs. Mil-SF

Space Opera vs. Mil-SF

Picking up form yesterday's post about picking the right science fiction niche, Injustice Gamer Alfred Genesson names some successful indie authors who are peeling off readers from underserved or poorly served fandoms: Brian brings up Galaxy's Edge, which is an interesting study as it's by Nick Cole and Jason Anspach,…
October 20, 201711 Comments
Cult of Worlds

Cult of Worlds

Recently on Google+, Nathan Housley pondered whether science fiction authors should stop thinking of science fiction fans as their target audience and focus on making fans of their secondary worlds. Here's Nathan: Between the current trends of science fiction marketing and that games audience link, I'm beginning to think that…
October 19, 201717 Comments
Fanfic to Pro Fic

Fanfic to Pro Fic

Today at 4:00 PM Eastern, join me and author Lucas Flint for the fun and informative season finale of Geek Gab: On the Books! Lucas will be dropping by to share his experiences as a former fanfiction writer who made the jump to professional author. Catch the show live and…
October 18, 2017