Cain at Gettysburg by Ralph Peters. Forge Books. 549 pages. I’ll have to give Ralph Peters credit for writing a book on a subject that has been thoroughly explored, as well as flying in the face of one of the best written books having to do with the Civil War. In the author’s notes at … More Review: “Cain at Gettysburg” by Ralph Peters
“Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.” –-J. Frank Dobie, American folklorist I deal with students and student writers everyday. Most of them are interested in writing fiction; many of them want and do write fantasy. In the mind of the common reader, fantasy is one of those genres that … More Truth and Fiction
I am presently reading a book about the Civil War–Gettysburg to be exact. I picked it up on the discount rack at Wal-Mart. I am embarrassed to say that most of the books I buy come from some sort of discount rack, either in a store on online. Because I am one of those who … More Hits and Misses
Sometimes writing is the greatest pastime you can have. Sometimes it is just work. This week is shaping up to be the latter. It’s spring break, and the indication is to be a slacker because, after all, my day job of being in the classroom isn’t happening. But I have another job, that of editor … More Slogging
Like the vast majority of authors out there, I also have a day job that pays most of my bills. In my situation, I am also a professor. Add to that freelance work as an editor for the alumni magazine and serving as the university’s webmaster, and you can see that I wear a lot … More Why Multitasking Is Bad for Authors
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: How I Learned to Live a Better Story by Donald Miller. Thomas Nelson, 2009. 257 pages. A couple of weeks ago, the University library asked me to put together a list of five books that I would recommend to students. One of those books was Blue Like Jazz … More Review: “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years” by Donald Miller
I just got back from Career Day at Chisholm Trail Academy, and one of the decisions I made early on was to be frank and honest with them about writing as a career. I focused on three words for success as a writer: Tenacity, Versatility, Dependability. You have to want it enough to persevere through … More We are the 99 percent
I am off in less than an hour to the local high school to talk for Career Day. They want me to talk about being a novelist; I think because it is “career” day, I will talk to them about being a writer instead. I have wanted to be a writer my whole life, and … More Career Day
The Atlantis Gene: A Thriller (The Origin Mystery, Book 1) by A. G. Riddle. 452 pages. What drew to me this book was the premise. What kept me going in the book was the action, complete with multiple twists and turns. The Atlantis Gene is a first novel for A. G. Riddle, but it is … More Review: “The Atlantis Gene” by A.G. Riddle
My students have gotten used to the silent treatment that I have been giving them on and off for the past three weeks. You see, I have a bad case of laryngitis. My wife got a bug, then I got it, then she got it again, then I got it again. In hopes that we … More Giving the World the Silent Treatment
