just a quick update on the Valhalla series

You know that the series continues past volume three (The Black Pool), right? I’ve been hard at work on bringing the fourth volume, Raven Quest, to market. Of course, life (mostly illness) and other projects (mostly anthologies) have intervened, and the book has been delayed a couple of years. I know. I never meant it […]

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writing retreat hopeful

What do you look for in a writing retreat, or a retreat of any kind? I’ve gotten it into my head of late that I’m in serious need of a productive getaway. I’ve caught myself researching various retreat and residency options across the country. There are some really great sites and opportunities out there. But […]

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gone a-viking

One of the cool—and unexpected—results of writing the Valhalla series is that readers and writer friends frequently send me Viking-related photos and news articles of interest. To share my good fortune, here is a sampling of what has been sent my way of late: Mythical Viking Sunstones Aren’t a Myth After All by Jess Green […]

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one bag to rule them all

This past Friday I took advantage of a rare burst of energy and headed downtown to REI to test out a few bags. For some time now, I’ve been on a quest to find a backpack to serve as a carry-on travel bag (with no additional luggage) and as a day pack once I’ve reached […]

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111 days of headaches

I’ve not been forthcoming lately about my health. It’s been deteriorating rather markedly in the past months. Today marks 111 days—and counting—of daily headaches, ranging from tension-style pressure and cluster-like ice pick agony to “flaring match” pain and full-on migraines. I’ve been losing my balance. I’ve been forgetting things. I’m experiencing visual disturbances and pronounced […]

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serendipitous vocabulary

While out for my morning hike and listening to NPR on my phone, I once again lamented my diminishing vocabulary. I likely use a broader range of words in every day conversation and writing than I realize, but I frequently feel my word choices to be lacking. So I got the idea that I would […]

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I survived Orycon 36

The three days of this year’s Orycon in Portland went by astonishingly fast. This was my fourth time at this particular sci-fi/fantasy conference, and my first year as a panelist. I was assigned to an apparently ambitious number of events?eleven panels, plus a twelfth I was invited to join?and by some miracle I made it […]

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