A New Writing Series Begins at Magical Words

Today’s post can be found at http://magicalwords.net, the group blog on the business and craft of writing fantasy that I maintain with fellow authors Faith Hunter, Misty Massey, Mindy Klasky, John Hartness, and Kalayna Price, among others. The post is called “Creative Intersections: Point of View and Worldbuilding,” and it’s the first post in a new on-and-off series I’ll be working on this year. I hope you enjoy it.

Good News For Thieftaker

I don’t like to boast.  Really, I don’t.  And because of that, I feel a little funny about this post I’m about to write.  But in the past few days some people at online book reviewing sites have been saying nice things about Thieftaker (written under the name D.B. Jackson), and, well, I thought it couldn’t hurt to draw your attention to them.

Early this week, the WordNerds blog announced the first of their Best of 2012 Awards.  They began with “Best First Book in a Series,” and chose Thieftaker as one of the two winners in the category!  I was pretty excited.

And then today, SciFiChick.com posted their listing of the best SF/Fantasy Novels of 2012, and Thieftaker made the list!

These are not big awards.  I know that.  But it is always nice to be recognized by knowledgeable, well-read people.  I am deeply thankful to both sites for the kind words.  And I am also grateful to all of you for indulging this moment of braggadocio.

I’m done now.

The Worldbuilding Discussion Continues at Magical Words

Today, I continue my series of posts on worldbuilding with the third (and perhaps final) installment at http://magicalwords.net, the group blog on the business and craft of writing fantasy that I maintain with fellow authors Faith Hunter, Misty Massey, A.J. Hartley, and Kalayna Price, among others.  The post is called “On Writing and Creativity: Worldbuilding Revisited, part III — Writing Worldbuilding Into Our Books” and it offers a discussion of how I blend the details of my worldbuilding into my prose, character work, and storytelling.  I hope you enjoy it.

Two More Thieftaker Books in the Works!

I am delighted to ring in the holiday season by announcing that Tor has agreed to contract two more Thieftaker books (which I write under the D.B. Jackson pseudonym)! The second Thieftaker book, THIEVES’ QUARRY will be available in July 2013. And now I can say that it will be followed by CITY OF SHADES in 2014, and DEAD MAN’S REACH in 2015.

As with the first two Thieftaker books, these new volumes will be mysteries set against the backdrop of actual historical events taking place in pre-Revolutionary Boston.  CITY OF SHADES, takes place in the summer of 1769, during an outbreak of smallpox, while DEAD MAN’S REACH coincides with the Boston Massacre in March, 1770.  Ethan Kaille will be back at work in the city lanes, pursued by Sephira Pryce and her toughs, and harried by Sheriff Stephen Greenleaf.  And, as usual, he will be helped by Diver Jervis, Rev. Trevor Pell, Tarijanna Windcatcher, and, of course, the lovely Kannice Lester. But he will also face new challenges, and encounter new friends.

I’ve already started work on CITY OF SHADES, and will keep you posted on my progress.

Second Worldbuilding Post At Magical Words

Today, I continue my series of posts on worldbuilding with another installment at http://magicalwords.net, the group blog on the business and craft of writing fantasy that I maintain with fellow authors Faith Hunter, Misty Massey, A.J. Hartley, and Kalayna Price, among others.  The post is called “On Writing and Creativity: Worldbuilding Revisited, part II — How Much is Enough?” and it is essentially what you see in that title:  a discussion of how I limit and make the most of the time I spend worldbuilding.  I hope you enjoy it.

A New Post About Worldbuilding

Today’s post can be found at http://magicalwords.net, the group blog on the business and craft of writing fantasy that I maintain with fellow authors Faith Hunter, Misty Massey, A.J. Hartley, and Kalayna Price, among others.  The post is called “On Writing and Creativity: Worldbuilding Revisited, part I” and it is pretty much exactly what it sounds like:  Some new thoughts on the approach I take to worldbuilding.  I hope you enjoy it.

New Interview Up

The THIEFTAKER Summer 2012 Blog Tour is long over, but that doesn’t mean I’m done with blog appearances.  Today I am interviewed by Dominick Swennen at the Fantastical Imaginations website.  We touch on several topics, from the books that first interested me in fantasy, to whether or not my wife reads my books!  I hope you’ll stop by the site, read the interview, and leave a comment.  Many thanks!

Today At Magical Words, Rummaging Through My Idea Attic

Today’s post can be found at http://magicalwords.net, the group blog on the business and craft of writing fantasy that I maintain, under the name David B. Coe, with fellow authors Faith Hunter, Misty Massey, A.J. Hartley, C.E. Murphy, and Kalayna Price, among others. The post is called “On Creativity and Writing: Making the Most of Ideas, part VI — Treasures In the Attic,” and it’s about finding inspiration in some of our own long-ignored work. I hope you enjoy it.

A New Post With a Fictional Twist

Today’s post is up at the blogsite of Lucienne Diver, my wonderful agent, who is also a terrific writer in her own right.  This post is a little different than others I’ve written recently.  It’s a fictional vignette in which Ethan Kaille, the hero of the Thieftaker books, visits his rival and nemesis, the lovely and deadly Sephira Pryce.  She wants something from Ethan — of course — and he is not willing to give it to her.  Check out what happens here.

Six Ways to Keep the Creative Process Flowing

Today I have a post up at the SFNovelists blogsite, a site I maintain in cooperation with approximately 100 other published authors of fantasy and science fiction.  The post (written under David B. Coe) is called “Six Non-Writing Things That Might Improve Your Writing,” and it is about the things I do to keep my creative juices flowing and my life balanced and healthy.  I hope you enjoy it.