Last week was spent working with my editor mapping Masque of Honor’s structure against proven story-telling standards that date back to the times of Plato. As we cut material from the book to improve its pacing, we also kept a close eye on the characters’ arcs, ensuring none were compromised. And most importantly, we made […]
Monthly Archives: October 2019
Feeling Fall
It’s that glorious golden time of year and I’m feeling poetic. And before you ask, the answer is “no”! With my impending deadline, I don’t have time for writing poetry these days, but I love to read the lyrical stanza of those more talented. One of my favorite poets is Robert Frost. His NOTHING GOLD […]
Anthony McCarten on Writing
Two years ago, I met Anthony McCarten and the two of us became fast friends. Anthony is a novelist, author, playwright and screenwriter. His novels include Death of a Superhero, Spinners, The English Harem, and Show of Hands among others. His films include The Theory of Everything, The Darkest Hour, and Bohemian Rhapsody, which at […]
My Heart is Full
It is hard to put into words my emotions as I listened to the remarks of His Majesty King Toffa IX of Porto Novo, Benin at Belmont Plantation Burial Grounds for the Enslaved. His country was one of the African nations that sold their people to slave traders. Many African Americans in our community include […]
Raspberry Plain Manor
“The Great Hall of Raspberry Plain, with its high, white, plastered walls and walnut trim, was alive tonight with the laughter of guests enjoying whiskey and wine.” Masque of Honor In Masque of Honor, Raspberry Plain served as the family seat of the Mason family. In the opening scenes of the book, the manor house […]
Dignity of Movement
“If a writer knows enough about what he is writing about, he may omit things that he knows. The dignity of movement of an iceberg is due to only one ninth of it being above water.”–Ernest Hemingway I often look to the wisdom of Ernest Hemingway when I become frustrated during the process of writing […]
