The Great Beef Rib Conspiracy

The fourth of July holiday is coming up and I plan to cook up some beef ribs for the neighbors to celebrate. But I haven’t cooked ribs or even grilled anything on the barbecue in months. The rule of a smart cook is “You don’t serve your first try at...

What if the device doesn’t work?

Time and again I have read a story where the steampunk inventor creates a device, at the last minute or there would be no suspense, that saves the day. Is this trope becoming a clique? The villain has a time machine that always delivers him to the right time or...

Start Your Book With the Main Character

My simple definition of what a story or book is; A story is about an interesting character, doing interesting things, for a reason. But to be an interesting story you need to start with a hook. Starting a story by showing the surroundings is not interesting. Even if...

How I plan to save the world

I’m out to save the world and everyone is against me. I must be right. Many scientist proclaim that there is global warming. They may be right. Like a character out of a steam punk novel I’m out to stop it or it’s effects. Effects, I am told, will...

On Being A Writer and Selfish

Sorry for the last two Mondays. I missed posting and feel bad about that. I had family business to settle and a friends affairs to take care of. I needed time to morn. Time to bring closure to a family member and a friend. In the last two weeks I have driven 2500...