Few authors write in isolation. Certainly, writing itself, putting words on (virtual) paper is a solitary exercise, but few are brave enough to go straight from draft to self-publication. Most of us seek other pairs of eyes, to tell us early and often what works and what doesn't, long before the final editing and proofreading stage. As I wrap up preparations for my fourth novel, I thought I'd share what works for me. One of my best friends, an avid reader of many genres, has followed and...

I attended a book signing event in Springfield, Illinois last Saturday. It was one of my most successful, despite frigid conditions outside. I even sold out of two of my titles for the first time. It's a good problem for me to have, but I apologize to those readers who missed out on signed copies. It helps that I now have a complete series to sell, rather than a couple of books and a promise that this unknown author is gonna finish this series, honest. I also cannot understate the impact of...

After publishing three novels, I'm comfortable with the format. I prefer the shorter end of the word count range, between 70,000 and 80,000 words. I think this permits a complex plot to evolve and characters to develop without intimidating the reader. The hardest part is often writing the 150-200 word blurb to attract those readers in the first place! Earlier this year, I was invited to contribute to a pair of short story anthologies. Dark Fairytales for the Unloved promised original stories...