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R.I.P Hal, the killer computer
I’d wager that most science fiction fans have seen the 1968 Stanley Kubrick film, 2001. I’d also wager that most of the viewers would agree on the movie’s most memorable character. It’s not this dude, heroic astronaut Dave Bowman: It’s Hal 9000, the Killer Computer! Why do I bring this up now? Because Hal recently […]
For Your Honor? #mfrwhooks
In the near future, a duplicate of Vancouver Island has appeared off Washington State. The inhabitants are Kwadrans — Native Americans from a scientifically advanced alternate Earth. Their Earth was polluted, climate-changed, and nearly uninhabitable. Today’s hook picks up from last week’s. Duchess Opsie Beaverpaw has an unexpected guest — Elfy, a 14-year-old girl […]
Foreign Children
I usually eschew politics on this blog, but this resonates too powerfully for me not to share it.
Yo-Yo #mfwauthor
For week 51 of the Marketing for Romance Writers yearlong blog hop, the writing prompt is: Advice to New Authors I can’t find the original anecdote, which I heard decades ago, after I decided against majoring in music. I’m changing the names. My apologies to Yo-Yo Ma. An aspiring young musician (we’ll call her LindaEllen for […]
First page review: Secrets of Love and War
Welcome to the Weekend Writing Warriors First Page Review blog hop. During the month of October, you can get feedback on what readers of the first page of your WIP or novel, published or unpublished — and, more importantly, give feedback to others. No more than first 1,000 words though. Don’t want to make this too […]
Utrecht and Amsterdam
Originally posted on kirilson photography:
Venue: Central Amsterdam and central Utrecht Lens: Nikkor 50 mm f/1.4 Music: Guus Meeuwis – Het is een nacht (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOy76zw0TrQ) A few weeks ago I promised you an extended post from the Netherlands with plenty of bikes and canals, and here it comes! I had the opportunity to visit shortly Amsterdam and Utrecht and take…
SFR Brigade Showcase — terrifying music
I’m escaping the Arizona heat this week in wonderfully cool Toronto, visiting a couple of my sons and a BIG dog — but I wouldn’t miss the Science Fiction Romance Brigade’s showcase. for anything. Once a month, the brigade’s authors highlight snippets from new works, WIPs, cover reveals or other fun things. Today I’m highlighting a […]
5 Ways to Take Control of Negative Thoughts
Today, I’m pleased as punch to hand my blog over for a second time to my son, Chris Hoornaert, who investigates what psychology has to say about another issue of importance to all writers: Negative Thoughts Take it away, Chris! 5 Ways to Take Control of Negative Thoughts “Stop being a prisoner of your past. […]
The Ideal Hero? MFRWauthor
For week 19, the Marketing for Romance Writers blog tour prompt is: The Ideal Romance Hero Well, I’m a guy, a straight guy, so by all rights I should excuse myself from this one. Nah. Since when has being unqualified ever kept me from having an opinion? So here are two opinions, one facetious, one serious. 1. […]
The Muse is made of sand #MFRWauthor
Most stories begin with a grain of sand. Not literal sand. Mental sand. When a rough grain of sand gets caught in an oyster’s shell, the oyster secretes a layer of mother-of-pearl around the grain, trying to make the sharp edges less annoying. Then another layer, and another. Out of a nasty little annoyance, a beautiful […]
