Blog

NightCafe failure with dogs - fun with AI art

More Fun with A.I. Art A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about my adventures with A.I. art. This is a followup with more images and more lessons learned. I’ve mostly had more fun with A.I. art, but I’m also discovering its limitations. And my limitations, too.  Prompts: The Key to Success Prompts are […]

The Heroes of An Entanglement of Griffins

The Heroes of An Entanglement of Griffins My latest story, An Entanglement of Griffins, debuts in the limited-edition PETS IN SPACE 7 science fiction romance anthology. Every story I write starts with characters, followed by dreaming up the trouble I can get them into. So, let me tell you about the heroes of An Entanglement […]

Art by NightCafe.studio, prompt by Carol Van Natta. Illustration of a spaceship.

Adventures in AI-Generated Art AI-generated art is a hot topic these days. Color me intrigued.😻 So, I went on a bit of a quest to see what’s happening. These are my adventures in AI-generated art in the last month. Yes, I should have been writing, but there it is. NOTE: This is a graphics-heavy post […]

Illustration of a cat in a space suit, tangled lines, and a rocket ship

Vacation for August Just a quick note to say I’m not lost in space, I’m just taking a little vacation from blog posts for August. I’ll pick back up with new posts again in September. Graphic licensed from YAYImages.com

Text that says nothing compares to the magic of books

New Space Opera Romance Paperbacks For you paperback fans, I’ve been updating my space opera romance series with new paperback versions. There’s great comfort in holding a book in your hands, and knowing where you are in the story. Plus, I love seeing my snazzy cover designs in print. So, here are the space opera […]

The Shady Pet Trade Industry

The Shady Pet Trade Industry in My Space Opera Series The Galactic Pets Collection in my space opera series features three tales of adventure, romance, and pets. In the background of all three stories is the shady pet trade industry. The Pet Trade Operates in the Shady Parts of the Galaxy In the far future […]

The Story Behind Jumper's Hope. Central Galactic Concordance Book 4. Space opera, adventure, romance

The Story Behind Jumper’s Hope Jumper’s Hope is book 4 in my Central Galactic Concordance space opera romance series. However, in the big damn story arc, this idea came first. Here’s the story behind Jumper’s Hope.

paperback book options

Paperback Book Options My space opera romance novellas are in need of new paperback versions. While ebooks are delightfully convenient and easy to carry, some readers still love the kinesthetic feel of paperback books in their hands. If this is you, please look at the paperback book options below and take the tiny survey.  These […]

Playlist for Escape from Nova Nine

Playlist for Escape from Nova Nine Music has been a big part of my life. It can be center stage, where a song can take my whole attention. Especially if I’m the one singing it. 😉 Or it can be the subtle background accompaniment to something I’m doing, from Tai chi to cleaning to just […]

Release Day for Escape from Nova Nine

Release Day for Escape from Nova Nine Hooray! 🎉 It’s release day for Escape from Nova Nine! Note to Readers: This story first appeared in the limited-edition Pets in Space 6 science fiction romance anthology. This standalone version has been expanded from the original. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Escape from Nova Nine (A Central […]

Escape from Nova Nine

Mysterious Pirate Clan Writing novellas for the Pets in Space® anthologies and others gives me the chance to explore subjects that are usually in the background of my space opera series. Previous stories tackled the ethics-challenged designer pet business (Pet Trade), the futuristic prison industry (Cats of War), and the first responders (Galactic Search and […]

Work In Progress, with an image of a space-suited figure

Proof of Work in Progress In my Central Galactic Concordance space opera series, I’ve been working on the most feral manuscript ever. By that, I mean that I’ve fought for every word to get the characters and plot right. It’s a pivotal story  in the Big Damn Story Arc that’s going on and has a […]

Travel Bucket List Updated, with a photo of a U.S. passport cover and an airline ticket

Travel Bucket List, Updated Oh, my, but I had such thrilling plans at the start of 2020. The places I’d go, the people I’d meet, the things I’d see! Regrettably, the Calamity Fairies so enjoyed causing worldwide havoc that year that they decided to stick around for the next year, too. But I’m a forward-looking, […]

Last Chance for Pets in Space 6

Last Chance for Pets in Space 6 You may recall that I’m both an author in and the editor of Pets in Space 6. Therefore, I’m doubly-motivated to remind you that this fantastic (if I do say so myself) anthology is a limited edition. What does that mean? Well, several things, but to readers, it […]

Plans for 2022

Plans for 2022 This is my annual post about futuristic thinking. That’s the fun way of saying “my plans for 2022.”  Do I actually follow these plans? Yes… ish. They’re high-level enough to allow wiggle room. More importantly, they’re not etched on titanium. I can adjust them based on unexpected detours and opportunities. Not to […]