It’s election season and everyone who reads my wall knows I’m a liberal. Sometimes that comes as a surprise to newcomers, because I sort of fit the stereotypical Republican mold. I’m white, affluent, highly educated, a lawyer/writer (though I’ll note that I was raised in a working class home). I’m also a strong believer in the value of market forces/incentives, like to look at human nature with a cold eye (I see you there, Socialism, … Read the rest

“trib·al·ism /trībəˌlizəm/ noun: The behavior and attitudes that stem from strong loyalty to one’s own tribe or social group.”

It’d be an interesting, and perhaps different world, if, whenever any high-profile terrible event happens, those people connected to one side or the other side of that high profile event evaluated the event — its causes and impact, both present and future — through a lens devoid of tribal loyalties.

In related news, illegal violence is … Read the rest

In January 2017, barring death/indictment/withdrawal, the United States will be led by either President Trump or President Clinton. The choice is binary.

Our process is essentially a two-party system. Making would-be third party candidates irrelevant is a feature of this system, not a bug. Of course, like all institutions created and administered by human beings, it has strengths and weaknesses and gravitates toward the status quo. In theory, it is designed to result in a … Read the rest

I’m more than a little pleased to share with you the cover art for the third Tale of Egil and Nix, A Conversation in Blood.  The art is by the inestimable John Picacio.  In my mind, the subtitle of the piece is:  Egil has heard just about enough of your horseshit. 🙂

Anyway, I hope you dig it as much as I do. The previous two Tales of Egil and Nix, The Hammer … Read the rest

These are the rules for 2016.  Heed well.

1. Before you judge harshly, try first to understand.

2. That thing you’ve wanted/meant to do but never did? Do that. Do not sabotage your doing of the thing by waffling about how you’ll try to do the thing, but only if this or that and thus and so happens. Do. The. Thing. Do it.

Well, that’s what Library Journal said of The Tales of Egil and Nix.  I’ll take it.

And the good news is that the third installment of the stories of the boys from Dur Follin, A Conversation in Blood, now has an Amazon listing.  I hope you’ll pre-order that thing.  Final cover art isn’t available yet, but when it is, I’ll be sure to share it.

Meanwhile, I hope your holiday season was spectacular … Read the rest

With Spooky Season upon us, let me point you to the illustrated Halloween Children’s Book my son and I wrote, A Not So Scary Halloween Night (and maybe possibly seriously the best one ever).  The artwork is all full-color and quite stunning (by artist Cordelia Wolf) and the story is a charming tale your kids will love.

Have a look, if you’re so inclined.  It is available only as an ebook.

For those who may not know, the new version of my Tales of Egil and Nix, The Hammer and the Blade and A Discourse in Steel are available in the wild.

The books contain a scene from the forthcoming third Tale of Egil and Nix, A Conversation in Blood.

I hope you’ll check them out.

A reminder that the re-releases of the first two Tales of Egil and Nix, THE HAMMER AND THE BLADE, and A DISCOURSE IN STEEL, will be released on September 1st.  I hope you’ll grab them up.  DISCOURSE will have an excerpt from the third tale of the boys from Dur Follin, A CONVERSATION IN BLOOD, so there’s that.  If you’d like a signed copy of the new books, just email me and we’ll … Read the rest

As you may know, Del Rey will be re-releasing THE HAMMER AND THE BLADE and A DISCOURSE IN STEEL on September 1st.  The third Tale of Egil and Nix, A CONVERSATION IN BLOOD, will release next year.  In case you don’t already know, the Tales of Egil and Nix have a bit of a classic sword and sorcery vibe, essentially my attempt to mix the feel of Leiber with the pacing of Raiders of the … Read the rest