Today on the Blog Tour: Pet Peeves

Today on the Summer 2014 Plunder of Souls Blog Tour, I conclude my month as Featured Author at Drey’s Library.  My final post for Drey is a somewhat lighthearted list of my writerly pet peeves — from mall signings to “reserves against returns,” and a few things in between.  While you’re at the site, be sure to sign up for a chance to win a free signed hardcover copy of A PLUNDER OF SOULS, the third Thieftaker novel, which has just been released. You can find the post here; I hope you enjoy it.

Visiting Today With Kate Elliott!

The Summer 2014 Plunder of Souls Blog Tour rolls on today with a post at the blog of my great friend, the brilliant, talented Kate Elliott.  Kate and I have known each other for many years and long ago decided that we are siblings separated at birth. (My birth, to be specific, since she is much, much, MUCH older than I am . . .)  The post is called “Top Ten Things I Do to Help Me Write,” and it’s on the things I do to keep writing and keep at least semi-sane.  The post is here.  I hope you enjoy it.

A Post About My New E-Reader

I’m over at SFNovelists today — that’s the site I help to maintain with over one hundred other published authors of fantasy and science fiction.  I’m writing about my new E-reader in a post called “My New E-Reader and Me:  A Match Made in ‘Meh.'”  I hope you enjoy it.

Today I Post About Ideas and Try To Draw a Sheep . . .

“Sometimes an idea really is greater than the sum of its parts.  Each idea on its own might show little potential; but combine them and BOOM!” The Summer-(Now-Fall) 2012 THIEFTAKER Blog Tour continues today with a new post at my “home blog” — Magical Words. It is another in my series of essays dealing with creative ideas and how to handle them. The post is called “On Creativity and Writing: Making the Most of Ideas, part V — The Quest” and it can be found here.

I also have a new interview up at the “I Smell Sheep” website.  No that’s not a typo.  It was a fun interview.  You should check it out.

I hope you enjoy both posts!

A List for Santa

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, Stuart Jaffe, and Edmund Schubert, among others. The post is called “My List for Santa,” and it’s another fun holiday diversion. I hope you enjoy it.

My Conference Call With Mitch and John

Mitch, John. It’s David.

I know you’re both really busy, but I just wanted to say congratulations, and I wanted to tell you that I think you’re doing a great job so far. No, really, I mean it.

Mitch, you might look like Yertle the Turtle, but you have got some cojones, my friend.

I said “cojones.” Sorry, I forgot that you guys aren’t really down with the whole Latino thing.

No, John, those are “calzones,” and that’s Italian. “Cojones” basically means “brass balls.”

And, Mitch, you’ve got them. I mean, here the Republicans have gained control of just one half of one third of the Federal government, and it’s not even your half! Yet, there you are, issuing threats and ultimatums to the President of the United States. That’s gutsy. And smart! There’s nothing the American people like more in their politicians than pretension and arrogance. Well done!

John, you deserve a lot of credit, too. That was some performance you gave Tuesday night in your victory speech. Who would have guessed that beneath that gruff, burnt umber exterior dwells the soul of a thespian.

“Thespian,” Mitch. It means actor. Yes, I’m sure it’s not a “gay” word.

But, John, let me give you a quick tip. Sure, people like it when political figures reveal their softer side. And yes that was some story you told about starting out as a stock boy, or whatever, and following the American dream to where you are now. Who’d have guessed that a guy could go from earning minimum wage to shilling for Big Tobacco on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives? Very inspiring.

Still, next time you might want to go with your “prideful humility” voice when talking about your resume, and save the waterworks for when you talk about your family. Otherwise, though, great job! Looks like you’re taking on the “Good Cop” role in all of this. Probably wise.

I also think that having Mike Pence out there talking like he’s been made king of the world is a nice touch. A counterpoint to the kinder, gentler you, and risk free, since no one likes him anyway. I hear he’s thinking of running for President in 2012.

Yeah, I thought it was hilarious, too.

Anyway, I should run, and you both have work to do. Enjoy yourselves and keep doing exactly what you’re doing. Two years is a long time in American politics; just ask Obama.

I knew you’d get a kick out of that.

Just make sure– Well, never mind. You’ll figure it out for yourselves.

Or better yet, maybe you won’t.

An Odd Post About Word Processors

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, Stuart Jaffe, and Edmund Schubert, among others. The post is called “A Very Personal Post About Word Processing” and it’s . . . well, I was having some fun. I hope you enjoy it.