Camille Montfort

Vampire of the Amazon

When most people think of vampires, they imagine insular Eastern European villages huddled in remote valleys at the wooded feet of craggy peaks. Or beautiful monsters haunting the inner rooms of gaslit salons. What almost nobody thinks of is the Amazon. Yet in the late 19th century, this Old World…
October 10, 20231 Comment
Book Boomerang

The Book Boomerang

What goes around comes around. But somehow, the book boomers didn't see the book boomerang coming. In 2021, avid readers notably increased their reading.  However, in the first six months of 2023, print book sales in the US declined by 2.7% compared to the same period in 2022, decreasing from 363.4 million to 353.5 million.…
October 9, 20238 Comments
Vietnam Ghost

Joey Was Trapped

Mark and his twin brother Joey were raised by their Grandpa in the big house their family had owned for generations outside Pittsburgh. The brothers did everything together: playing hide-and-seek in the orchard next door, staying up late reading comic books with flashlights, and drinking heated up grape Kool-Aid, which…
October 6, 2023
Book Opening

How to Open a Novel

Every writer knows that the first few pages of a novel can make or break a reader's interest. Author David Stewart's recent stream about the best novel openings ever inspired me to explore how to write an effective beginning that will hook readers from the start. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrxKB3WeaoE Here are some…
October 5, 2023
Euchaistic Procession

Eucharistic Revival

Criticizing the hierarchy is a favorite pastime of trad Catholics. And in strict  justice, many prelates could use some filial correction. But credit where credit is due: American bishops are turning the Eucharistic crisis around. A new study shows that almost two-thirds of adult Catholics in the United States believe…
October 4, 202321 Comments
Burned Book Campaign Card

Burned Book Early Access

I plunged readers into a haunting world of dark magic and deep mystery with my Dragon Award-winning Soul Cycle. Now I'm revealing the secret history behind this captivating epic in its highly anticipated prequel, The Burned Book. Dark intrigue. Blood magic. Vicious Battle. Who can move a world standing on these pillars? An…
October 3, 20232 Comments
Guadalupe Image

Another Icon Not Made by Hands

Following up to our post about the Shroud of Turin, neopatron BayouBomber shares these amazing facts about the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. First, some background: Our Lady of Guadalupe first appeared on December 9th, 1531. According to the account, the Virgin Mary told Juan Diego, an Indian convert,…
October 2, 20232 Comments
outline

How to Outline

Authoring a novel is exciting, but let's face it, few writing projects are more challenging. The key to a successful novel often lies in the preparation – and that starts with creating a well-structured outline. Let's explore how to craft an outline that will serve as the blueprint for your…
September 29, 20237 Comments
Newpub Neopatronage

Newpub: Neopatroange

The moment you try searching Amazon for a book you want to read, it becomes clear that something has gone quite wrong. Maybe it's vacant-eyed bugmen obsessed with fixing what's not broken throwing wrenches in the works. Perhaps it's cynical pens-for-hire hijacking the algorithm with payola. Or maybe it's outright…
September 28, 20234 Comments
Seraph

Combat Frame Data: Seraph

 Technical Data Model number: XCD-209 Code name: XSeed Angel King Kaiser Eckhart Custom Nickname: Seraph Classification: custom Two-series high mobility combat frame Manufacturer: PAX modification of ISBC design Operator: PAX First deployment: CY 99 Crew: 1 pilot in cockpit in chest Height: 21 meters Weight: 102 metric tons Armor type:…
September 27, 2023