NEWS
Title Reveal and Sale
The wait is nearly over. FF3 will be released soon. I don’t have a date yet, but the book is currently with my editor, Shelley Holloway, and cover artist, Streetlight Graphics. So it won’t be long now! The title of this new story is… The Alchemist’s Flame. I’ll post again when I have a date and/or a cover to reveal. Meanwhile, I have a sale going on. If you’ve fallen behind on The Final Formula story, now is your chance to catch up. For a limited time, the last title in the series, The Necromancer’s...
read moreThe End – Finally
The end. I love writing those two words. Finishing that first draft is one of the best feelings in the world, in my opinion. It doesn’t matter how crappy it is, or how much editing it will take to make it readable. I made it to the end—an accomplishment that frequently seems impossible from mid book. Last week, I got to write those two words again. Yes, I finally finished FF3. It’s off with beta readers now. I’m afraid I won’t make a December release date as I was hoping, but it goes for editing in early January, and cover art...
read moreSpeaking English – Kinda
I sometimes joke that I don’t speak English; I speak Appalachian. Most folks don’t think Appalachia when they think Ohio, but the rolling hills in the southern part of the state are actually the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. I tend to use words like y’all and reckon (as in, I reckon I’ll go write a blog post now), though I try to keep a handle on it when I write. Last weekend, I hosted a writing retreat. My beta buddies Kendra and Lindsay joined me for three glories days of writing, but at one point, we did laugh about my accent....
read moreThe Series So Far Giveaway
Since it’s going to be a few more months before the next book releases (I’m still shooting for December), I wanted to do something to keep my name out there. So I’m giving away an autographed set of the first four titles in the series. This is a Goodreads Giveaway so you’ll need to enter over there. You can find the entry page here. This giveaway is open to everyone, no matter where you live. (Yep, I’ll even spring for international postage.) Unfortunately, I only have one set to give away. Don’t wait...
read moreMaking My First Book Trailer
I’ve wanted to make a book trailer for a while now, so for The Final Formula’s first birthday (publication birthday), I decided to give it a go. I ended up having a lot of fun with this project, but there was a learning curve. When I started, I knew nothing about trailer making–or any kind of video editing. After studying some of the other trailers out there, I wrote a short script, then went in search of the imagery. I dug through loads of stock photos and footage–what a time sink that was–and finally found...
read moreShattering Illusions, One Beaker at a Time
The covered crucible rattled against the glowing red support ring. When it took a little hop, I stepped back. No need to risk my eyebrows. Again. The opening scene in The Final Formula is based on a real event. It wasn’t quite as dramatic, nor did it happen to me, but I’m pretty sure the stain is still on the ceiling. Fortunately, no eyebrows were lost. When I tell someone that I’m a chemist, I usually get an enthusiastic response of, “That’s cool!” I suspect they imagine a white lab coat, flasks of mysterious liquids, and explosions. I’m...
read moreThe Method to My Madness
I admit, the title is a bit misleading. This isn’t so much a post about what’s involved in my writing process; it’s more the story of my ongoing quest to find one. I’ve always been a seat-of-my-pants writer. (For those of you unfamiliar with the term, that’s a writer who grabs a pen, or a keyboard, and just starts writing. No outlines, no plans—just a desire to get the story down.) In hindsight, it makes sense that I would approach writing this way. For most of my life, writing was a hobby. I would write a novel, slap it in a ring binder, and...
read moreGeek Fail
The other day I came across an article in one of my video gaming magazines (yes, I’m an avid gamer—if you haven’t picked up on that yet) praising the goodness of the original Dungeons & Dragons game, and how it served as an inspiration to so many folks in the gaming industry. After reading the article, I felt a bit bummed because (confession time), I’ve never played D&D. I never knew anyone who played. Heck, I didn’t even hear of the game until I was in my twenties. Considering my interests (writer, fantasy junkie), I think of...
read moreThe Necromancer’s Betrayal – Cover Reveal
And here it is, the cover reveal for FF 2.5, The Necromancer’s Betrayal. This is another novella featuring James, but unlike The Element of Death, he’s not the only one telling the story. James shares the spotlight with a new character, and yes, that’s her on the cover. This story takes place about a month and a half after The Blood Alchemist ended. James has gone off to college, but the poor guy just can’t seem to stay out of trouble. And this time, he found it without Addie’s help. The Necromancer’s...
read moreGet an Alternative POV Scene from The Final Formula
Ever wonder what Rowan was thinking the first time he met Addie? Now you can find out! Just sign up for my newsletter (in the sidebar on the right), and you’ll be given access to Rowan’s thoughts the night he caught Addie in his kitchen, stealing one of his glasses. As for my newsletter… Fear not. Your inbox won’t be bombarded with emails from me. I’ll only email you with news of a new release, a giveaway, or perhaps the occasional contest. So unless I learn to write faster, you won’t hear from me that...
read moreOn Sale for limited time
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Smashwords | Apple
The Final Formula Series
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Smashwords | Apple