Category Archives: fiction

GalaxyQuest and the Everyday Hero

Posted on January 24, 2015 by

I’d been wanting to watch “GalaxyQuest” again after quite a long time, and finally made the chance last night.  Yes, it’s just as much campy Trekkie fun as it was before, but this time, I was paying attention in a … Continue reading →

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The Mentor Who Knew Too Much

Posted on January 8, 2015 by

I often read unpublished manuscripts, either because I am paid to critique or edit them, or because I am trading beta-reading with author friends.  Recently, I’ve read several manuscripts with a common flaw:  a secondary character who knows almost everything, … Continue reading →

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Fan Fiction: intrusion or flattery?

Posted on December 17, 2014 by

I belong to a number of writers’ networks, and the topic of fan fiction arises on all of them from time to time.  Fan fiction, for the non-writers out there, is when a fan writes his or her own stories … Continue reading →

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The Teen Apocalypse

Posted on December 3, 2014 by

A while back, I fell into conversation with another author, and we wondered about the trend in young adult literature toward the apocalypse:  so many popular teen titles are post-apocalyptic or dystopic (Hunger Games, Divergent).  On the one hand, there … Continue reading →

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Technology in Medieval Fantasy, thanks to Steampunk

Posted on November 12, 2014 by

I have just returned from the World Fantasy Convention, held this year in Arlington, VA, where I got to hang out with many other authors and readers, sharing our knowledge and celebrating the realm of fantasy writing. One of my … Continue reading →

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Review: Home for the Holidays, discovering voice

Posted on October 3, 2014 by

Home for the Holidays by Randee Dawn My rating: 5 of 5 stars I had the pleasure of meeting the author at a local convention last year some time, and actually won this book when I attended her reading. I … Continue reading →

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40 Years of Rule-based Magic: Celebrating the Anniversary of Dungeons and Dragons

Posted on September 12, 2014 by

As many of you may know, this year we celebrate the 4oth anniversary of the Dungeons and Dragons Role-playing system.  No doubt some of you readers have been players at one time or another, no doubt some of you have … Continue reading →

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