Honor St. Urho!

by wjw on March 16, 2024

It’s St. Urho’s day! Time to dress up in green and purple, and empty the bars of all contents before the Irish get in tomorrow!

Shining, Darkly or Otherwise

by wjw on March 12, 2024

Here’s a brand-new March release, and another in our survey of books by veterans of Taos Toolbox, the master class for writers of science fiction and fantasy. My Stars Shine Darkly is the first book in a new YA series, featuring a young heroine’s attempt to escape the dystopia into which she was born.

Living on a conservative colony world, Sienna Tascioni is no stranger to pushing boundaries. Constrained by what’s expected of her as a proper young lady, she still reads books from classes she’s not allowed to take, secretly races speeder bikes, and even dresses up as her twin brother in order to gain a small taste of independence. But when her parents allow a loutish Ambassador’s son to begin courting her, she feels the trap of an arranged marriage beginning to close its jaws around her.

At the same time, a diplomatic mission from the faraway planet of Satori arrives with promises of mutual cooperation and advanced technology. Ereni and Burke Lhasa, two young people attached to the mission, show Sienna a glimpse of freedom she never dreamed possible. Before she knows it, she’s drawn into a web of intrigue, spying on her Senator father . . .

But as she becomes more deeply embroiled in the politics of her country, the stakes become higher–and more personal–than she could have ever imagined, forcing her to decide where her true loyalties lie.

If you want a career in science fiction or fantasy, Taos Toolbox is the workshop that can give you the skills to survive in the literary marketplace. You have only a couple weeks to apply, however, since the deadline for this year is April; 1st.

Start polishing that manuscript now!

Glassical Glass

by wjw on March 9, 2024

Here’s another in the series of works recently published by veterans of Taos Toolbox, the master class for writers of science fiction and fantasy..

Dorothy Winsor attended the very first Toolbox in 2008, and has been publishing regularly in the time since.

I’ve often felt that glassmaking and glassblowing was magical, and Dorothy liberalizes the metaphor with Glass Girl.

Seventeen-year-old Emlin is about to become a fully-fledged crafter of dragon-inspired stained glass. Then her mother is murdered following a mysterious, nighttime trip to the palace.

The Watch hasn’t a clue who the murderer is, so Emlin vows to find the killer herself. A series of attacks on her and her sister glassmakers makes her suspect that the attacker is keen to destroy the glass crafthouse, an event that would weaken the island’s connection to its dragon and leave it vulnerable.

Dogged by a curious if charming scholar who can’t keep his nose out of her business, she questions anyone her mother saw in the days before her death, finds herself breaking dragon-given laws, and learns things about her mother that call into question whether she’ll ever become a glassmaker — assuming she lives long enough.

When Dorothy attended Toolbox in 2008, it was clear she was in it for the long haul. Taos Toolbox can help new writers achieve their goals and build careers. And if you want to take advantage of our expertise, you have till 1 April to get your submission to us.

Hail to the Chief

by wjw on March 8, 2024

The mysterious, enchanting red-gold shimmer of an el presidente cocktail.

Rum, dry vermouth, Grand Marnier, and a few dashes of my friend Terry Boren’s homemade grenadine.

Spooky Kitty

by wjw on February 27, 2024

I’m not your ordinary gumshoe.

My name’s Nina Cohen. Born: 1898, died: 1912. I’m a poltergeist in a human body. I work from home as a private investigator. I watch entirely too much TV, and I talk to my cat. Say hello, Djinn.

Meow.

Thus begins Dead of Winter, the second in James R. Strickland’s Poltergeist series. (It’s a pretty damn good opening, isn’t it?)

James Strickland, I should point out, went to Taos Toolbox back in 2011, and has been publishing regularly in the years since.

If you have ambitions to make a career in the field of science fiction and fantasy, Taos Toolbox should definitely be on your agenda. We have a proven track record of helping new writers create and sell their work, and in today’s world of publishing, you need all the edge you can get.

The deadline for applying to this year’s Toolbox is April 1, 2024, so get busy with those manuscripts!

Medium Rare

February 23, 2024

Tonight’s dinner: sous vide leg of lamb cooked medium rare, with a sort of roux/wine sauce, plus cheesy potatoes and a spring salad.

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Six Weeks In

February 17, 2024

So I’ve been to the Cancer Center for my six-week checkup. My PSA came in at 0.1— any lower and it would have been undetectable. (It was over 70 when I started treatment.) So . . . happy news! Cancer confirmed dead! Champagne in my sights!

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Toolbox in ’23

February 6, 2024

Here’s the second in my survey of works published by graduates of Taos Toolbox in 2023. The Kuiper Belt Job is the first in David D. Levine’s Cannibal Club Chronicles, a new adventure series following a collective of highly shady individuals. Once upon a time in the Solar System, there was a gang called the […]

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Don’t Sleep. Just Read.

February 4, 2024

The new Wild Card book, SLEEPER STRADDLE, launches on February 6! The book contains a new story by me, “Semiotics of the Strong Man,” and features two of the series’ most popular characters. SLEEPER STRADDLE features stories about Croyd Crenson, known as the Sleeper and created by Roger Zelazny. Roger created the most brilliantly useful […]

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Talkin’ Atcha

February 3, 2024

My interview by Steve Bardin is now available on Youtube. The ostensible topic is my Star Wars tie-in, but the interview ended up quite wide-ranging, so you don’t have to be a Star Wars geek to enjoy it.

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