Welcome!

I am a writer and blogger.

I write fantasy and urban fantasy, with the occasional foray into science fiction.  I have always loved myths and magic, fairy tales and folklore. I enjoy taking bits and pieces of folk tales and myths and braiding them together into a new idea. Sometimes, I bend the edges of the myth and push or pull it in a new direction. People are the linchpin of it all. I enjoy creating characters that come to life and may become friends (or enemies!) of yours. Most of all, I want to tell a good story that all readers can enjoy.

I post a blog here twice a week (usually). The first one each week is general updates on what’s going on, any news of note, upcoming books, and such things. On Fridays, I post reviews. Usually it is a book review since I almost always am reading something. Other times, it might be a movie or TV show, or music such as a concert I went to or something of that nature. With regard to book reviews, I do use a star rating system. From me, the ratings break down like this:

5 stars: An exceptional read. The kind that makes you need to stay up at night to read more. Very highly recommended.
4 stars: A very good book. Well-written, and enjoyable to read. Highly recommended.
3 stars: A good book. Not bad, but not extraordinary, either. I liked it and recommend it.
2 stars: Meh. Maybe not a terrible book, but didn’t do anything special for me. Also used for decent stories that are not well-written or edited.
1 star: Not much good I can say about this one. This rating is rarely used, and the book has to be really bad to get it. That said, if I rated it 1 star, I don’t recommend it.

I have been accused of reading anything that passes in front of my eyes: old newspapers, cereal boxes, and, yes, even the instruction manuals that come with things. I am married, with three grown daughters and four grandchildren. I live in southern NY and when I am not writing, I enjoy being scorekeeper at International Chili Society sanctioned chili cook offs (I cooked competitively for years), growing vegetables, baking bread, and working with my dog. Most of all, I enjoy eating good food, drinking good wine and other spirits, and spending time with good people. I like puppies and kittens.