Writing

Make the Leap from Paranormal to Science Fiction Romance

Make the Leap from Paranormal to Science Fiction Romance

Make the Leap from Paranormal to Science Fiction Romance I love science fiction and fantasy, and I love romances. I especially love it when the two genres blend to bring me the best of both worlds. (Probably why I write them, eh?) If you’re a paranormal romance fan, I’d like to invite you to make…

Revisiting World Domination

Revisiting World Domination

Revisiting World Domination: Revised Plans for 2020 This time of year, I usually look back at the grand plan I create in January and make minor adjustments. Funnily enough, while my World Domination Plan hoped no calamities would arise, it didn’t even contemplate the possibility of a global pandemic. How terribly unimaginative of me. So…

IN GRAVES BELOW Spotlight

IN GRAVES BELOW Spotlight

Spotlight on IN GRAVES BELOW Today, I’m shining a spotlight on In Graves Below, the first standalone paranormal romance I ever wrote. May 3 is the book’s publication anniversary. The story came about because Amazon invited S.E. Smith (Susan) to participate in the Kindle Worlds program. Authors opened a story universe to other authors, and…

Ghosts in the Books

Ghosts in the Books

Ghosts in the Books The other day, my cat saw a ghost in my bookcase. At least I assume that was the cause of the suddenly fluffy tail and startled look before he bolted. Just because I’m a skeptic and can’t see ghosts in the books doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Cats have far better…

Journalism in the Far Future

Journalism in the Far Future

Journalism in the Far Future In my space opera series, a free and independent press is one of the founding principles of the Central Galactic Concordance. In the far future, journalism has developed new methods, tools, and outlets. But the fundamental purpose is the same: to shine a bright light on the truth. The previous…

Character Naming Secrets

Character Naming Secrets

Character Naming Secrets A reader recently asked if I have any character naming secrets, and where I came up with the name of Mairwen Morganthur, the heroine of Overload Flux. I’ll tell you the same thing I told him, but first I must dispel the notion that there any secrets to naming characters. Just as…

3 Tips from Carol’s Cats for Living in Uncertain Times

3 Tips from Carol’s Cats for Living in Uncertain Times

3 Tips from Carol’s Cats for Living in Uncertain Times Hello. We’re Carol’s cats. We see that the Interesting Times Fairy has descended, rudely and uninvited, for an extended visit. It’s like the old saying, life is what happens when you make other plans. We felines feel your pain and want to help. Therefore, these…

When Real Life Overtakes Fiction

When Real Life Overtakes Fiction

When Real Life Overtakes Fiction I write science fiction and fantasy, so I get to create imaginary things and events all the time. I also love reading about scientific advances, historical events, and fascinating people. They spark my muse, especially when they make me think, “Cool! What if….?”. However, sometimes this comes back to bite…

Pets in Space is Back Again!

Pets in Space is Back Again!

Pets in Space is Back Again! 🚀 Woo-hoo! PETS IN SPACE® is back, and I’m one of the authors! And just look at the fantastic group of authors I’ll have the honor of working with in Pets in Space 5: S.E. Smith Michelle Diener Veronica Scott Pauline Baird Jones Laurie A. Green Carol Van Natta…

Authors of Color Write Paranormal Romances

Authors of Color Write Paranormal Romances

Authors of Color Write Paranormal Romances Note: Contains opinionated author opinions and book recommendations I’m a sucker for a good story, regardless of who wrote it. Sometimes the author becomes the story, in both good and bad ways, which is a topic for another day. Today’s topic is that authors of color write paranormal romances….

Shifter’s Storm Excerpt

Shifter’s Storm Excerpt

Shifter’s Storm Excerpt Chantal Hammond is the heroine of Shifter’s Storm, the latest book in the Ice Age Shifters paranormal romance series. She’s a modern and independent-minded leopard shifter. She’s also a sheriff’s deputy on loan to another jurisdiction. Cougar shifters run the tiny Barron County, Florida sheriff’s department, but they haven’t been very welcoming….

Plans for 2020 (Leap Year!)

Plans for 2020 (Leap Year!)

Plans for 2020 🎉 First, happy new year, and may the coming year be your best year yet. I’m making plans for 2020 and sharing some of them with you. Because our planet doesn’t have a perfect orbit, we get an extra day this year to mess up our automated calendars. Some of you may…

About Prehistoric Aquatic Sloths (Thalossocnus)

About Prehistoric Aquatic Sloths (Thalossocnus)

About Prehistoric Aquatic Sloths (Thalossocnus) The hero of Shifter’s Storm (Ice Age Shifters Book 5) is Dauro de Mar, a shifter trapped in a fairy fantasyland. His animal side is an extinct aquatic sloth (Thalassocnus) from the Ice Age. As you might imagine, this quite surprised his elephant-seal shifter parents. When the story opens, he’s…

Excerpt from Shifter’s Storm

Excerpt from Shifter’s Storm

Excerpt from Shifter’s Storm The hero of my latest paranormal romance, Shifter’s Storm (Ice Age Shifters Book 5), is Dauro de Mar. He and his fellow captives were bought by a greedy fairy who collected exotic aquatic shifters. Dauro has been there the longest, and was the first acquisition. Where is “there,” you ask? A…