SHADOWLAND: A Sequel in Progress (Book Update)
VOLUME 2 in The Shadowland Saga. The sequel to my acclaimed, award-winning debut novel: The Cat's Maw. Whispers from beyond the veil have been a long time coming...and you're just gonna have to wait a little longer. Is it out of fear? Procrastination? Laziness? Writer's block? Perfectionism? Typical 'life' distractions gumming up the gears? All of the above, I reckon. But there's an unexpected reason it's taken so long to muster the confidence to dive back into this epic story.
How Dungeons & Dragons Revealed My True Character
The roots of capital-c Creativity run deep. Mine grew wild and tangled 'til squeezing tight at the sound of rolling dice. Role-playing. Escapism. Fantasy.Call it what you want, son. The rest of us called it...D&D. Dungeons & Dragons pushed my burgeoning imagination in strange and exciting new directions. But, as this story (embedded above and transcribed below) will show, it also taught me something essential about myself...
PODCAST TIME: How an Epic Hike Across Spain Changed the Course of My Career
30 years ago, I first heard of the legendary 900km pilgrimage across Spain — the Camino De Santiago. 10 years ago, after reading The Pilgrimage and The Alchemist by acclaimed author Paulo CoeIho, I made the decision to walk it myself. And in the summer of 2008 -- with a huge career opportunity in the dust and nothing but a 20kg backpack as my companion, I took the first steps on this life-changing journey...
BRANCHING NARRATIVE: Choose Your Adventure!
Whether crafting linear or branching narratives, the end goal remains the same — Emotional Engagement. I've been thinking about this a LOT lately. And that's only natural when app and game and media folks keep wanting to bend your ear and chat 'choose your own adventure stuff'. Something, my friends, is in the air...
HAVEN: A 'Choose Your Own Adventure' Mini-Mystery (TEXT ONLY)
I'm an oldschool text adventure fan. ZORK 4 LIFE. Thanks to a client's prompting, and the power (and ease) of TWINE, I whipped up this wee mystery/thriller 'prologue'. Zero frills. More of a proof-of-concept than anything else. But as a fan of Twin Peaks and The Prisoner, you KNOW that weirdness awaits...
LESS IS MORE (A SHORT STORY STUDY)
I'm not big on resolutions — probably due to a crippling fear of commitment, let's be real — but I can't help but feel that 2017 is fertile ground for taking steps to improve my craft. And after reviewing a schwack (technical term) of past projects, I think I've zeroed in on an area that could use an upgrade...
INTERVIEW w/ VOYA MAGAZINE
When VOYA Magazine — the Voice of Youth Arts publication that serves schools and libraries throughout North America — awarded my debut novel with a Top Shelf honour, I was over the proverbial moon. I've been pinging back and forth with the editors since, and we finally connected for this fun (and surprisingly revealing!) interview...
Of (Book) Covers and Cleverness
Transformation and evolution are inherently INTERNAL processes. This makes them feel mysterious, invisible, and unquantifiable. But as soon as those first sparks of metamorphosis start to fly—and whether you're conscious of it or not—the Change spills OUTSIDE. Touching everything. Especially the things you create...
THE CAT'S MAW
My prose fiction debut 'for brave young readers and cat lovers of all ages' was released during the 2014 holiday season to a flood of reader raves and critical acclaim. I was especially pleased when random folks described the story and style as 'Narnia meets Stephen King...with CATS!'
THE ISLAND HIDEOUT
I was brought on to advise on the digital campaign and crowd-funding copy for English versions of this breathtaking new island 'eco retreat', opening its doors to culturally conscious and environmentally-minded travellers Xmas 2016.