What about your website?
Posted on June 17, 2007
Filed Under General, Writing | 1 Comment
I’ve been thinking about re-designing my website for quite a while now. The current one that you’re looking at is because I didn’t like the one I had before, but never had time to completely revise it and do it right. The itch is becoming stronger of late. There’s things that I realized never got added to this website during the quick redesign - like the newsletter signup. The site feels cluttered, and like a huge mass of links that don’t have a great organization to them. I’d like to switch over to using Drupal to run the site off of, because it opens a lot of doors for the future - whatever that may hold.
I’ve started browsing around at a lot of different author’s sites, especially fantasy and sci-fi authors, and I have found that I’m really not impressed. Now, I do freelance web design, so I may be a bit pickier than the next person, especially since I’ve been working with a very talented graphic designer, but the majority of websites out there do not express a really good feel for the author or book. Many are very old-style web and, generally, not very pretty.
It has also gotten me to thinking a lot about what a writer’s website should be. And I’ve come to the same conclusion that many other types of “celebrities” are realizing: it’s about building a community around your self, or your brand. If you are a band, you can include them in a fan group, and a street team that makes people feel a part of it all. TV shows like Lost are starting to create rabid fan-bases by online, immersive story lines. And I think that is awesome. That is something I would love to be able to do, but they have lots of people working for them that can help with this. I don’t have that luxury, and I don’t do writing full-time, so it’s a challenge just to find time to get the writing done, let alone create that type of community.
Which leaves me stuck. What is the best way to create a community with limited financial and time resources? I don’t know. I do know that I need to get better at posting on both more interesting topics, and much more frequently. Outside of that, though, I want to hear your thoughts. What makes you return to an author’s (or band, tv show, etc) site and become a part of the community?
I’m very much looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
Daughter of the Sun - Thanks and a Request
Posted on June 13, 2007
Filed Under Podcast | 1 Comment
Hey everyone - I wanted to say a huge Thanks! to everyone who’s bought a copy of Daughter of the Sun, or been listening to the podcast version.
As of this morning, the book is up for sale on Amazon.com. I’m really excited to have it listed there, even if they aren’t currently choosing to discount it.
But I would like to ask for a little bit of help. If you’ve read the book or listened to the podcast version, please stop by the book’s listing and add your honest comments and reviews. I think this will go a long way toward encouraging them to provide a discount on the item.
Of course, if you have any Lists on Amazon that you wanted to add it to, or something similar, I would be very appreciative of that, also. Now that it’s on Amazon - a company that many people trust - I think the possibilities for getting the book in front of a wider audience is much more possible, but I can’t do it alone. Anything you could do to help out would be fantastic.
If you’ve been waiting to get your own copy, now’s the perfect time! 
Thanks to all of you for your support!
Podiobook Chat
Posted on June 12, 2007
Filed Under Podcast, Writing | Leave a Comment
A few weeks ago, I did an interview with Chris Moody over at Podiobook Chats. I’m happy to announce that interview is now live.
Listen to it here.
My Daemon
Posted on June 12, 2007
Filed Under General | 2 Comments
There’s a new movie coming out in December from New Line Cinema, called The Golden Compass. After browsing the site a bit - I am thrilled! I simply cannot wait until December to see this. New Line is hoping this will be the next great fantasy trilogy, and I think they may be on to something. They’re based on books by Philip Pullman. I haven’t read them, but they’re on my short list now.
They’ve done a brilliant job, from what I’ve seen so far, with the website. This one seems to “get it” unlike so many other movie websites. They’ve provided a little bit of reason to pull people to the website other than just to find out about the movie, as well as provided ways to share the movie. One of those ways is through the neat little feature called Daemons. Here’s mine. If you know me well, please follow the link and “help me find my true daemon.”
Dream Healers
Posted on June 7, 2007
Filed Under Roleplaying, Writing | Leave a Comment
I’m proud to announce that, in association with Highmoon Media, my first RPG product is out. It’s a new prestige class for d20 games, and is part of the Liber Sodalitas line. Here’s a quick blurb about it:
Though often seen as a priestly order, the dream healers follow no set god. For them, the power of healing lies within the patient and their dreams. Able to enter another’s dreams, they guide their patients through past events, allowing them to relive them and heal many wounds that other healers cannot touch. The journey is not without risk, for the world within a dream becomes a new reality, and death there comes just as easily as in the waking world.
I, personally, think it’s a pretty cool little class, though it’s not for every campaign. When you need something a little different to add a new flavor to your campaign, it’s definitely worth looking at. I can’t wait to use a rogue Dream Healer as a bad guy in one of my games!
Daughter of the Sun - Chapters 39-40
Posted on June 5, 2007
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This week, Elena is reunited with her son and suffers a crisis of faith in her ability to do what she believes needs doing.
This is the last episode sponsored by the great guys over at Geek Label, so if you haven’t already done so, make sure to head over to GeekLabel.com and browse through their awesome shirts. I bet you’ll find at least one shirt you just have to have!
Daughter of the Sun - Chapters 37-38
Posted on May 17, 2007
Filed Under Podcast | 5 Comments
This week we dive into one of my absolute favorite scenes of the book: the Bone Yard, where Elena learns to use her powers while being attacked by the Duke. We also find out Raven’s true part in the manipulations going round, and whether he can manage to retain any of the friendships with the others in the story.
Last week, I was interviewed by The Nut Gallery Podcast and Podiobook Chat. The PB Chat won’t go up until June 19th, but the Nut Gallery interview is live right now! Be sure to check it out!
[PROMO] The Arwen, by Timmothy Callahan
The Nut Gallery Review
Posted on May 7, 2007
Filed Under Daughter, Podcast | 2 Comments
I’m sure that most of you know the Nut Gallery Review has been sponsoring the podcast the last couple of episodes. Well, they graced me and me be the first interview in a new series of interviews they are doing with authors and musicians. We had a great time, and I think the interview went pretty well. We talked about the novel, what went into it and various other things. You’ll just have to check it out for yourselves.
It will be up sometime this week on their podcast. Be sure to check it out!
Erupting
Posted on May 2, 2007
Filed Under Writing | Leave a Comment
So, I’m trying to get my plot to work for Book 2 (yes, I have not gotten nearly as far as I would have liked - busy year) and I had to go digging to find out why volcanoes erupted. Yes, this is a hint, but I’m not telling you any more. What I found was interesting: when the rock melts, it becomes magma, which is less dense than rock, so it tries to rise above the rock; when it reaches the surface, it erupts if it had water and gases in it because they suddenly expand and all hell breaks loose.
How to make one happen, though, that’s the rub, ain’t it? Say someone wanted to intentionally cause a massive eruption, what would you have to do? Seems like if you could put some water into the magma, and then give it a way to get to the surface. . . okay. I get that.
It’s like taking a bag of pop-rocks, poking a tiny whole in the bag and pouring some carbonated water or soda into the bag, then covering the hole and shaking. So all my characters have to do is find a way to pour a giant can of soda into the pop-rocks inside the planet, and we’re all good, right? Instant belly-ache.
Sounds like fun.
Daughter of the Sun - Chapters 35-36
Posted on May 2, 2007
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Johan and the Rebels confront the Duke’s army, vastly outnumbered, but the Duke uses their trap against them. Elena wakes into Rafe’s camp of traitors and learns of both her captive and her destiny.
After the chapter, I have an admission to make about addictions. You can learn more here.
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