If you read enough books, they all start to be family. A second-cousin might remind you of an aunt you met at a party once. You wish you could have a giant reunion to get everyone in the same room to compare faces and laughs. Book vs. Book is as close as I can get … Continue reading Strange Practice vs. Soulless
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms vs. The Goblin Emperor
You ever read a book and think...wow, this sounds a kinda familiar...like looking into two mirrors at once and watching your otherselves move? Sometimes, you think one of the mirror people is a shard different and you concentrate until you're dizzy to see if you can spot the difference. You get mesmerized by the way … Continue reading The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms vs. The Goblin Emperor
Secret Ingredients – 10
I'm starting a new series on here about the books that influenced me growing up. These are the books that shaped my brain. Gave me my fears, values, and passions. The Julie Secret Ingredients! Seven Alone by Honoré Morrow This book was required reading in middle school. I have a flashbulb memory of … Continue reading Secret Ingredients – 10
Secret Ingredients – 9
I'm starting a new series on here about the books that influenced me growing up. These are the books that shaped my brain. Gave me my fears, values, and passions. The Julie Secret Ingredients! Choose Your Own Adventure #1 The Cave Of Time Not the whole book. One page captivated my imagination. You … Continue reading Secret Ingredients – 9
Secret Ingredients – 8
I'm starting a new series on here about the books that influenced me growing up. These are the books that shaped my brain. Gave me my fears, values, and passions. The Julie Secret Ingredients! Mary Poppins Lots of people think they know the gist of this book, even if they've never read it. They've … Continue reading Secret Ingredients – 8
Secret Ingredients – 7
The Miscon 32 Interlude is over. Back to our regularly scheduled programming! In case you need reminding - I'm starting a new series on here about the books that influenced me growing up. These are the books that shaped my brain. Gave me my fears, values, and passions. The Julie Secret Ingredients! Are You … Continue reading Secret Ingredients – 7
MAPS!
I was lounging in The Chairs at Miscon 32 with a friend, Jeff Howe. We hadn't seen each other in a year, so we were catching up on each other's lives. He mentioned he was going to use some old National Geographic maps as story prompts. Enamored with this brilliance, I told him I'd be … Continue reading MAPS!
Collaborative Brainstorming
This was a new panel for Miscon 32, and I loved the honesty of it. Rhiannon Held, urban fantasy author, and Krista Wallace, author/actress/musician, spoke and acted. They listed ideas and then modeled behaviors - ones that opened up creativity and others that closed it down. My notes are practically illegible, but here's what I … Continue reading Collaborative Brainstorming
World-Building, Part II
The world-building panel at Miscon 32 moderated by Brandon Sanderson was crammed with ideas. This is Part Two. On designing governments, Sanderson said he's fascinated with the push/pull of who is said to be in charge versus who is actually in charge and who makes law. He recommended C.G.P. Grey's Rules for Rulers. He added … Continue reading World-Building, Part II
World-Building, Part I
This panel at Miscon 32 was full of people saying things from brains that aren't my own. It was wild. You know what I mean by that, right? Someone says something, and you think, "Whoa. What a cool way to view the world!" And your viewpoint shifts as if they pulled aside a blue veil. … Continue reading World-Building, Part I
