The Salinas Public Library has invited me to do a presentation during National Library Week! I’ll be giving a talk on April 14th from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the John Steinbeck Library, located in downtown Salinas at 350 Lincoln Avenue. I’ll talk about DARK SURF and my writing process, do a reading from … Read Entire Post
I love hearing stories about self-published authors who go on to reach millions! One such person is Andy Weir, author of The Martian. His debut novel puts the science back in science fiction—in the most fascinating, engaging way. Weir, a self-proclaimed “nerd,” funneled his interests in space travel, orbital dynamics, relativistic physics, astronomy and manned spaceflight … Read Entire Post
Local bookstores provide a huge benefit to the local community. When you buy books in your local bookstore, a large chunk of that money stays in the community. Buying locally means less packing and transportation, and a smaller carbon footprint. It also means more local events, local interest books and local authors. … Read Entire Post
I’ve spent the past couple weeks re-reading DARK SURF cover to cover—a few times—to make sure each and every one of those 100,000+ words is doing something useful. Some words weren’t pulling their weight, so those darlings were killed. What books have you read where you felt like every single … Read Entire Post
I like my YA fiction like I like my adult fiction and my punk rock—dark, fun and super fast-paced. Amazon says The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey is for ages 12 and up. Today’s 12-year-olds must be pretty cool then because The 5th Wave is a pitch-black look at an alien invasion. … Read Entire Post
Did 15-year-old Amelia Baron jump from her high school’s roof? Or didn’t she? That’s the central question in Reconstructing Amelia, the debut novel from Kimberly McCreight. In the captivating story, the book is told from Amelia’s perspective, leading up to the fateful event. And it’s told from her mom Kate’s perspective, … Read Entire Post
Interested in beer travel? Wanna know what it takes to fulfill a beer geek’s fantasy of a year in beer? Check out Teachings from the Tap: Life Lessons from Our Year in Beer by Merideth Canham-Nelson, one of the world’s most experienced female beer travelers. Merideth, who proudly calls herself a … Read Entire Post
Looking for a dark & twisty read? Try Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. This novel about a modern-day marriage gone wrong (way, way wrong) has garnered critical and public acclaim, making it a New York Times bestseller. Gone Girl is a suspenseful psychological thriller about Amy and Nick Dunne, warped … Read Entire Post
While attending the sold-out San Francisco Writers Conference this weekend, I heard R.L. Stine, author of the Goosebumps series, deliver an entertaining talk. Some tidbits for writers and aspiring writers: R.L. Stine never wanted to be the scary guy; he wanted to be the funny guy. But, after working at a humor … Read Entire Post
