Note: Somewhat spoilery, but nothing you wouldn’t guess at if you read the comic. Watching Dredd was like stepping into a time machine that took me back to the 80’s and the gloriously apocalyptic, overpopulated, crime-ridden society that the media of the time all insisted we were headed toward. There are all sorts of theories […]
Dredd’s Sketchy Homage to a Dead Future Read More »
I’ve talked a lot about growing up in an area that was largely full of white people (I believe 98% of the county I grew up in was white during the 80’s). The effect this had on me, growing up, was not actually the one you might expect. Instead of (I thought) teaching me explicitly
What living in South Africa taught me about racism in America Read More »
Spoilers: The hostages get away! The boat sinks! Etc. When I saw the first trailer for Argo, I guffawed at the implausibility of the entire movie. CIA creates SF movie ruse to smuggle people out of Iran? Whatever, Hollywood. I figured it was just a good excuse for the media to fuel itself up for
Argo, and the Inconvenient Truth of Sahar Read More »
Note: Post contains ALL THE SPOILERS for this film. The shift to gritty fantasy over the last couple decades has been a long time coming. I’d argue that those of us who grew up watching heroes like Snake Pliskin and Mad Max and Ellen Ripley but reading about smarmy do-good boys with birthmarks and
Looper: On What Makes a Hero Read More »
If you’ve been hungry to read GOD’S WAR and INFIDEL, but were just waiting for the right time – this is it. In celebration of the release of RAPTURE, the final book in the trilogy, Night Shade is giving away totally FREE ecopies of BOTH GOD’S WAR and INFIDEL. Yes. Both books. Here’s how to get yours: Just send an
Get FREE copies of GOD’S WAR and INFIDEL Read More »
It occurred to me today that I’m dangerously close to burnout, and as I’m about to head down the rabbit hole with RAPTURE promo in early November, now is probably a good time to take a break from being social and actually knuckle down and get to work. I’ve managed to get really far behind
On Hiatus – But Probably Still Alive Read More »
I make the bulk of my living as a corporate copywriter and freelancer. That means I spend a lot of time writing spam and junk mail. Oh, I could tell you I write “marketing collateral” or I “develop B 2B and B2C messaging campaigns” but unless you’re actually in marketing and advertising, that’s probably
I would not call a lot of books “brilliant,” but OSAMA is pretty effing brilliant. I thought this book was going to be nigh unreadable, based on the concept – a world where Osama bin Laden is the character in a series of pulp novels, and a private eye is tasked with hunting down the guy who
Books You Should be Reading Read More »
I’ve talked often about how I can’t really plot my way out of a paper bag. Much of this is simply due to lack of practice. When I started writing stories, I was far more interested in the people, and later, the settings, to care much about why and for what overall purpose and to
Writing Craft: How I’m learning to plot my way out of a paper bag Read More »
One of the most annoying and astonishing parts of being a writer is how little control you have over an actual book once you sign a contract. Unless you get it written into your contract, you don’t contractually have a say in what covers end up on your book or whether or not anyone consults
The Business of Writing: A Rant About Audio Books, Covers, and Contracts Read More »