And I thanked them. Last night I was shot in the face by a detective and hammered upside the head by a captain of police. It was all in good fun, part of the Citizen's Police Academy, a six-week program put on by our local sheriff's office. I'm not a big fan of New Year's resolutions, but I decided to make one for 2019. This year, I vowed, I would examine any opinion I held which seemed to have little or no basis in fact, and take steps to prove or disprove it. For example, I am an … [Read more...] about Police Shoot Me/Beat Me with Crowbar
News
My Droptop Writing Office
I'm interested in everything about writers and writing, and like a lot of writers, enjoy seeing pictures of other writer's spaces, from George Bernard Shaw's rotating garden hut, to Kipling's Edwardian man cave, to Mark Twain's breezy gazebo and cozy billiards room. I have often wondered what it would be like to have such a distinctive space in which to work. I no longer wonder, thanks to the unexpected remodeling help of Hurricane Irma. When the evacuation order was given I was … [Read more...] about My Droptop Writing Office
“A Man of His Times” Now Available
I have a new short story available in the Fiction River: Pulse Pounders anthology. Just in case you missed the earlier post below, Publishers Weekly called this story, "a delightful WWII romp." I had a great time writing the story and I hope you like it. Here's the publisher's description of the anthology: Starts with a bang. Ends with a bang. And a lot of bang in between. Pulse Pounders. Ranging from straight thriller to science fiction, fantasy to pulp adventure, these stories make your … [Read more...] about “A Man of His Times” Now Available
“The Priest Hunter” Short Story Now Available
My short story, The Priest Hunter is now available in the Kobo edition of the Fiction River: Past Crime anthology. The story is only available in the expanded edition from Kobo, so if you'd like to read the story you'll need to get it from Kobo. Here's the link for US customers: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/fiction-river-past-crime Special thanks to Mark Leslie Lefebrve and all the other folks at Kobo, and to all the folks at WMG Publishing who made this special edition … [Read more...] about “The Priest Hunter” Short Story Now Available
Jim Baen Memorial Writing Contest
I received some fantastic news today. I'm the Grand Prize winner in the 2013 Jim Baen Memorial Writing Contest. I am deeply honored. Baen Books publishes many of my favorite authors, folks whose books I pre-order the instant I learn of them, knowing they will be a great read. One entire bookshelf in my library is stuffed with hardcovers by David Weber, and David Drake, and Lois McMaster Bujold, and John Ringo, and Eric Flint, and Elizabeth Moon, and Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, and Wen … [Read more...] about Jim Baen Memorial Writing Contest
The Writers of the Future Experience
I’ve been asked to comment on my experience as a first-place winner of L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest. A number of images stick with me. On the last day of the writing seminar Robert J. Sawyer stood before our class of twenty-four writers and illustrators. I knew Rob only through his work, as a reader and a fan. He spoke eloquently and with great passion, and what he said was a revelation. He put into words the reasons, all the reasons why I struggle to write, to … [Read more...] about The Writers of the Future Experience