World Building: Air

World Building: Air

The air we breathe is not something we think a lot about until something goes wrong. Gas, dust, particulates, and the balance of gases all affect both our breathing – or lack thereof! – and also play a big factor

Merry Christmas Fiction

A short flash fiction for everyone too full of fruitcake to think! (That’s me, right about now.) Thanks for reading my blogs throughout the year. Have a safe and happy holiday season. The Second Rudolph. It’s not commonly known, even

World building: Scale

World building: Scale

The scale of a world is an interesting facet to explore. Is the world of the book the normal everyday or does it delve into a microcosm, or travel across the universe? Variations on scale can create and define a

Horror Anthology: Haunted

Horror Anthology: Haunted

I am pleased to be in a new anthology – this time a horror collection. My story ‘Waiting for Wednesdays’ is a short one, and a twist on the ghost whisperer story. A not too scary story I wrote a

World building: Deserts

World building: Deserts

Humans continually modify much of the environment in order to make it more comfortable to live. Yet many places still exist on Earth and our Solar system that are dangerous and uninhabitable by humans, at least for the long term.

World Building: Cultural survival

World Building: Cultural survival

What does it take to ensure a society survives and grows? What makes one region successful, while another struggles? Why do societies fall? Big questions – can they be included in a novel? Jared Diamond in his massive and erudite

World building: Underground

World building: Underground

Underground environments are both common work places for some, a place to explore, or a fragile ecosystem that can kill a human. A perfect place to set a story! In this category I include mining, natural cave systems and geysers.

World building: Research

World building: Research

Building a new world, or recreating a past one can be quite a lengthy process of research. Imagine, if you will, the ancient wizard pouring over dusty scrolls, the kindly librarian searching out a rare book, or a vat of

Worldbuilding: Clothing maketh the character

Worldbuilding: Clothing maketh the character

If you write a story about people or most aliens, then they will need to be wearing something to cover all the naughty bits. But what does their choice of body coverings and accessories say about them? Or you as