• Challenge,  Misc,  News

    An Update On My Injury…

    Still in Physical Therapy… But nearing the end of the process. Most of you know here that around the end of October last year, I was running in a 5K charity run, far too fast for my 73 years (staying with the leaders), tripped on a curb I did not see and went down rolling on concrete. (Rolling to save hitting my head.) Destroyed my right shoulder. First broken bones I had ever had. Surgery four days later to put in Titanium shoulder and upper arm. First surgery I had ever had. Big brace and sitting up in a chair sleeping for over a month, then started PT around the…

  • Challenge,  On Writing

    It’s Here!!!

    The Time of Great Forgetting.. In all my years of watching writers go through this period from April to the middle-end of July, break all streaks, get too busy to write, actually forget about writing and publishing completely, I have not seen a year this bad except for the spring two years after the pandemic. That was the worst, but this is coming in a close second this year. Not a clue why. It is just very, very clear to watch. So in this time, the focus is on family (as it always should be), vacations, gardens, nice weather, and just GETTING OUT OF THE HOUSE. With writing and publishing,…

  • Challenge,  workshops

    Early Stage Writers…

    QUESTION?? How many of you either want to know how to start and build a writing career in 2024, or more likely are getting questions from friends or relatives who want you to explain to them everything you are doing in five sentences or less. Well, Kris and I get that question all the time and over the years we have had no interest in doing really basic “how to” workshops. So we have had no place to send writers who ask that question. Well, a number of you wrote me that something basic like that to help those starting up or who are stuck in the process would be…

  • Challenge,  Fun Stuff

    Aces Game…

    The Day Was Dominated By the Game… Left the condo around 3:30 to get to Slice of Vegas pizza in the Mandalay Bay complex… Yes, after three days there for the Expo, I go right back for an Aces game. Great pizza and we made it to our season ticket seats with a lot of time to spare. Place was packed as normal, but even more so with Caitlen Clark being in the building with her team the Fever. The two-time defending world champions Aces made short work of the rookie sensation and her team, but still a fun game to watch. I’m sure Kris will have a post about…

  • Challenge,  Kickstarter Campaign

    A Full Night’s Sleep…

    And Three Naps… Still not even close to recovered from the Licensing Expo, but getting closer now. Maybe tomorrow part of the brain will return. You guys want to see a really well-done Kickstarter for an author moving into the gaming world. Take a look at Holly Black’s new campaign. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hollyblack/enemies-and-lovers-the-crown-of-elfhame Really nice art, a very clean and clear layout and description of what you get. Just about a perfect campaign in a lot of ways. Worth studying. Now going to go away from this computer and do nothing for the rest of Friday night. Hope you all have a great weekend.  

  • Challenge,  Licensing

    Day Three of Licensing Expo…

    I Am Totally Beat Up… Sensory overload, far, far too much conversation, and way, way too much walking. But Kris and I had a great conference, especially with all the business garbage we are dealing with, so we did not go in as prepared as we had hoped to. But still some great meetings and contacts and steps forward in new licensing deals. And I found my sock distributor. (grin) This was a lark. I had been joking that I wanted to find a company that could get our brands on socks and get them into the sock stores and other markets all over the world. Hah, not so much…

  • Challenge,  Licensing

    2nd Day Licensing Expo…

    As Normal, I Am Exhausted… And my shoulder is not up for this kind of grind. But tomorrow is the third and last day and I will be there focusing down on products to give everyone some ideas for their own Shopify stores. First two days was a very unsuccessful attempt by me and Kris to see even two-thirds of the entire conference. I will get to more of it tomorrow, but still won’t come close to even walking past every booth. Just stunning amounts of really cool stuff. Attending the 2024 Licensing Expo with Kris and Dean on WMG Teachable is where we are posting all the videos. We…

  • Challenge,  workshops

    Writing for the Anthology Workshop…

    I Got a Question… Someone wanted to know why it would be worth while to spend $150 to try to write for an anthology. I realized with that question that I was not clear on what each of those classes that go with the Anthology Workshop were. You are not paying to write for an anthology, the classes are a CLASS for learning. And we are doing them to help the writers who are attending in person. We just decided to open them up because we thought it would be fun. Not only will each class have a short Zoom from the editor, but there will be 10-12 videos talking…

  • Challenge,  workshops

    Can’t Make the Anthology Workshop in Vegas?

    Now You Can Write for the Same Anthologies… And be under the same deadlines and be edited by the same editors as those attending the Anthology Workshop. And possibly be bought for the same anthologies. Granted, you and your stories will not be part of the fun here in Vegas to watch eight editors talk about your story and argue over it. And all the evening networking and so much more. The editors will contact you about your story after the workshop is over. But now you get the chance to learn some about writing for anthologies and also write for the anthologies in what we are calling PREPARE AHEAD…

  • Challenge,  Licensing

    We Got Our Badges

    Attend the 2024 Licensing Expo With Kris and Dean… Has sort of started. Kris did a series of ten really short videos about the walk from near the entrance to the Mandalay Bay parking garage to the expo on our way to get our badges. One of the major factors with this is the distances. So we drove to Mandalay  Bay (30 minute drive from our place), took 30 minutes to walk and get the badges, and then headed for the gym. I made some business phone calls while Kris was running. Tomorrow in that class, I will have a bunch of videos about why the Licensing Expo is important…