Category: Guest Article

Writing the Underbelly of New Orleans By James Snyder

I lived in New Orleans for over a decade. Long enough to know that a lot of what I’ve read and most of what I’ve seen in movie theaters about that place had little or nothing to do with its actuality. The heart and… Continue Reading “Writing the Underbelly of New Orleans By James Snyder”

Love Is Blood, Love Is Fabric by Mary De La Fuente

I wrote the poems for Love is Blood, Love is Fabric over the course of seven years. The event that really spurred this book into completion was my divorce, which took place in May 2019. The rush of emotions I felt at that time… Continue Reading “Love Is Blood, Love Is Fabric by Mary De La Fuente”

The Casting Meeting: A Daydream by Sybil Le Pyrmont

Remember the good olden days of adolescence? You were alone in your room, headphones on. The Wild Boys blared at tinnitus-inducing volumes. Your mic was a Dr Pepper can (with those few leftover drops that invariably landed in your eye), your audience a mirror… Continue Reading “The Casting Meeting: A Daydream by Sybil Le Pyrmont”

South America and Iron Spires over the White CitY by Joseph Rollins

My favorite question at book readings is why I chose Colombia for the setting of my Victorian-era steampunk novel. After opening in London, the main characters travel to New Grenada, the colonial name for the northwest corner of South America. The story progresses from… Continue Reading “South America and Iron Spires over the White CitY by Joseph Rollins”

On the Origin of Ideas by Richard Cunliffe

Among the many questions asked of authors, one of the most frequent must be: “Where do you get your ideas from?” My answer often proves a surprise.

Fat Books, Tolkien, and Resurrection Power by Michael Jack Webb

I can’t help myself—I write “fat” books! I’ve tried to write books under one hundred thousand words, but no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to lose the weight. My very first novel started out at over two hundred thousand words—and became… Continue Reading “Fat Books, Tolkien, and Resurrection Power by Michael Jack Webb”

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Getting Published by Michael Jack Webb

            Okay, it’s not really “funny.”             I began brainstorming about becoming an author in my mother’s womb. As a child, I loved to make up and tell fanciful, exciting stories, or act them out. A couple of the kids I grew up with… Continue Reading “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Getting Published by Michael Jack Webb”

Howie, His Parcel Winch, and the Smothering of the Human Soul by Gavin Wicklow

There is a gem of an Italian film from the early 1970s that’s titled Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion and stars the late, great Gian Maria Volonté. While watching it, it isn’t terribly difficult, even for someone like yours truly, who was not alive at… Continue Reading “Howie, His Parcel Winch, and the Smothering of the Human Soul by Gavin Wicklow”

You Won’t Know Unless You Try by June Rollins

In 1970, when I was in the eighth grade, I met with my guidance counselor to determine my electives. I told her I wanted to be an artist, and she registered me for Art 101. I still remember how eager I felt on the… Continue Reading “You Won’t Know Unless You Try by June Rollins”