Alan Watts (1915–1973) was a philosopher, writer, and speaker who gained fame for introducing Eastern philosophy to Western culture. His lectures often blended humor with an almost mystical clarity, challenging the way we think about reality. One of his most haunting ideas was that human beings might be “the dreams of gods” — that whatContinue reading “Alan Watts and Writing Fantasy”
Category Archives: Writing journey
Sylvanus makes his entrance
The in-laws are back safe in China, and the house feels quiet again as my wife and I adjust to their absence. They didn’t stay quite as long as last year, but two and a half months is still a long time to share a life so closely. Saying goodbye is always bittersweet. On theContinue reading “Sylvanus makes his entrance”
Discipline, Passion, and the Molasses of Words
Lying in bed last night, I stumbled across a short interview between guitarist-virtuoso Steve Vai and Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins fame. (It still feels strange to call Billy a legend, since I remember when their first album came out.) The clip was from Billy’s new show, The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan. It remindedContinue reading “Discipline, Passion, and the Molasses of Words”
Duke Rhime’s 10 Laws for Holding Power
The Westerly Kingdom of Lucardia is fractured — a realm of loyalists, opportunists, and a tyrant king. Rhime Battenborne doesn’t wish to conquer the realm with fire and blood alone. He will do it by obeying laws inscribed into his very being. Here are ten quiet, brutal truths that define how Duke Rhime rules EldenspireContinue reading “Duke Rhime’s 10 Laws for Holding Power”
The Silken Cord: Lysena’s Oath to the Spire
I felt I should give the opening chapter of Duke Rhime of the Spire some extra context and lore, in case you are interested. In the depths of the winter of 674 CLE, when the snows came early and the passes closed before the last herds were brought down from the high country, the bannersContinue reading “The Silken Cord: Lysena’s Oath to the Spire”
Writing Evaline
Duke Rhime of the Spire is struggling, and I’m not entirely sure why. None of my books explode off the shelves. I’ve always been more of a drip, trickle, stream kind of author — the kind who builds slowly, book by book, with readers who find me in the quiet corners. But this one doesn’tContinue reading “Writing Evaline”
Reviews: The hot meal after a long journey
In my last post, I talked about the silence after a book launch and how self-publishing isn’t the celebratory parade some imagine, but a cold, slow grind. You hit publish, watch your book go live, and then… nothing. No fanfare. No crowd. Just the quiet realization that the hard part is still ahead of you.Continue reading “Reviews: The hot meal after a long journey”
Self‑Publishing Isn’t a Fairytale — It’s a Fight!
If you think you can self‑publish a book and watch it take off on organic traffic alone like you read about with the self-publishing superstars, here’s a wake‑up call: you can’t. Writing a book is a lot of work, but hitting “publish” is not the victory parade most people imagine. It isn’t the moment theContinue reading “Self‑Publishing Isn’t a Fairytale — It’s a Fight!”
Duke Rhime of the Spire is here!
Today, Duke Rhime of the Spire is officially out in the world. I didn’t plan to write this novel. It wasn’t on my release calendar or part of some long-term roadmap. It began as a creative impulse—one that hit me hard during the holiday break when snow covered the ground, coffee flowed endlessly, and IContinue reading “Duke Rhime of the Spire is here!”
Thinking of Self-Publishing? Read This First.
This post reflects my personal publishing experience. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by any company, and is shared in good faith for the purpose of transparency and community discussion. These are my well-documented experiences. They named it after a treacherous river that winds through an unforgiving jungle for a reason. It’s vast, it’sContinue reading “Thinking of Self-Publishing? Read This First.”
