Book news, movie reviews, hot takes, etc.
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A guide to masterful, family-friendly stories
Stories allow us to share our humanity. They help us feel a spectrum of emotions in a place that feels safe because they’re bound within the confines of fiction. This writer’s opinion is that a great story should serve a feast of emotions, ranging from wonder, to delight, to disgust, to sadness… what have you.…
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5 life lessons I’ve learned from writing books
It’s not uncommon to take life lessons from a hobby that you greatly enjoy. Writing is no different. I’m currently working on my fourth book, and along the way, I’ve learned a lot of great things that have translated into the rest of my life. Some of it might surprise you. Don’t be afraid to…
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Yes, superhero movies are absolutely art cinema
Crash! Bang! Zap! Thwup! Superhero movies. We’ve seen a slew of them over the past few years. Ever since Marvel Studios released Iron Man in 2008, we’ve seen at least two or three superhero movies annually. And usually, they top the box office charts. Generally, people love them. However, a lot of Hollywood’s royalty have…
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An Apology Letter to Anime
Dear Anime, Hey. It’s your boy. I know our relationship started out way back when, but I allowed it to fall off to early and it’s only been the last year or two that we’ve reconnected. That time has really opened my eyes, and it makes me regret the last twenty years. It started at…
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Why I chose indie publishing over traditional
This is a question that every writer eventually deals with if they’re considering publishing their work: indie or traditional. There are a lot of pros and cons to each, and every writer needs to look into both options and decide for themselves before they make a decision. As for me, I went with independent publishing.…
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Undeniable proof that New Balance sneakers are cool
Your dad already knows. It’s time to get with the program. I got on the New Balance wagon a few years ago because of an Instagram ad. They got me. They freaking got me. I was merrily scrolling, minding my own business when I saw an ad for a pair of sneakers with big N’s…
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My free speech was attacked in second grade
I was censored for the first time when I was eight years old. It was the first time my writing broke boundaries. Pushed limits. Made someone uncomfortable. And for it, I was scolded and disciplined. Has my soul ever recovered? Well, if it had, I wouldn’t really be writing about it at age twenty-nine, would…
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My Writing Process
When people discover I’m an author, a common question I get asked is, “What is your process?” Purged, my third book, just got published this week. So in honor of this milestone, why not share my writing process? If you’re thinking about writing a book yourself, maybe this will be beneficial. The beautiful thing about…
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Here’s your free sample of Purged
It’s been years of work. I hacked away at it a piece by piece ever since I finished Foreordained back in 2014, and now it’s almost here. Purged will be available for ebook pre-order on February 22nd, and the paperback and ebook will be available for purchase on March 1st. I’m so hyped right now.…
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I went to Orlando during the pandemic. Here’s how it went.
I don’t travel a lot–hardly at all, honestly. Some friends and I planned this trip to Orlando last summer when we thought all the COVID-19 stuff would be under control by now. Nope. It’s not. Alas, we discussed it and decided to go anyway. We had heard things about how the airlines and theme parks…