What is insight? The ability to understand people and situations in a very clear way. Or, an understanding of the true nature of something. How about the power or act of seeing into a situation, or the act of apprehending the inner nature of things. I think all of these are apt definitions of… Continue Reading
Author Archives: Richard
Trauma University – Part 2: What Are These Things?
Last month I showed photos of a laryngoscope and an endotracheal tube, and I explained how they are used to ventilate a patient who can no longer breathe on his or her own (go here for a recap). In many medical and surgical emergencies, securing the airway and ventilating the patient is the top priority. … Continue Reading
Where Writers Win
If you are writing a book that you hope will see the light of day at some point, you should already have a marketing platform up and running. If you’re not familiar with this concept, I talk about it and offer several useful links in a previous post (here).… Continue Reading
Trauma University – Part 1: What Are These Things …
… and what are they doing on an author website? The instrument on the left is a laryngoscope. The tube on the right is an endotracheal tube. They are used to intubate patients who cannot breathe for themselves, such as those who are undergoing general anesthesia for surgery, or who have a medical condition that precludes them from… Continue Reading
The Me, Myself, and I Interview – Part 6
In part 5 of this interview I described the most horrific surgery case I’ve ever seen, and went on to discuss how that experience shaped, and continues to influence, the characters I develop. In this installment, I talk about the single incident that set my writing career in motion. Me: All right. That was interesting, but… Continue Reading
The Me, Myself, and I Interview – Part 5
What happens when a young man drives his convertible into the base of a power pole and the electrical transformer falls in his lap? And what does that have to do with the building of fictional characters? As writers, a great deal of ourselves end up in our characters. Some of our personality… Continue Reading
Book News: finally, a release date.
The Organ Takers is scheduled for publication on November 17th (just in time for the holidays). It will be available in print, e-book, and audio form. Between now and then keep an eye out for Goodreads and other giveaways. As soon as I have a box of hardcovers in my garage, I’ll start doling them out.… Continue Reading
PubSmart: the next great writing conference?
Well, if you are an aspiring writer on the verge of publishing I think it is, and here’s why. My writing career to date: Internet courses, followed by night classes in a room full of real people, followed by an MFA program. Along the way I’ve participated in many workshops and attended numerous writing… Continue Reading
If Wolverine Had a Little Sister Her Name Would be Savage Girl
They say we don’t choose the books we read, that the books we read choose us. If that’s the case, Jean Zimmerman’s Savage Girl grabbed me by the throat, shook me violently, and screamed READ ME! Why would a book do that, you ask? The first third of the novel takes place in Virginia City… Continue Reading
Writing on the Nose: what it is and why not to do it.
What is writing on the nose? Writing on the nose is a screenwriting term that refers to dialogue or action in which the character’s innermost thoughts and feelings are fully expressed by what the character is saying or doing. There is no nuance, mystery, ambiguity or surprise (as there is in real life).… Continue Reading