It’s release day for Shifter’s Thunder, the latest book in my Ice Age Shifters® paranormal romance series. It has dragons, thunderbirds, and a quirky small town that is much more than it seems. Is the dragon shifter bait for a deadly trap, or is she the fated mate this fiercely protective thunderbird sheriff always needed?…
This is my annual look back and plans for the 365 days of future ahead for 2026. And yes, I’m riffing off a Moody Blues album title from 1967, because I’m in a musical kind of mood as I write this. (Here’s a playlist.) Those Were The Days (Listen here) As with the years that…
This post answers to a question from people who are interested in reading my books: Which book should you start with? First, I appreciate the interest in my stories. Yes, I write them because my muse insists. But it sure is nice when perfect strangers buy them, read them, and enjoy them enough to write…
When I’m working on a story, I like to find music that helps set an emotional vibe or expresses what’s going on with the characters. I made a playlist for Stellar Drift, my space opera romance story set in the Central Galactic Concordance universe, and now I’m sharing it with you. Note: These are all…
I’m back with another wish list of imaginary things from my books that I want in the real world. This all started because I wrote about my space opera tech wish list. That post inspired this one, in which I describe paranormal powers I covet. These come from my Ice Age Shifters® (IAS) paranormal romance…
Ever had that moment when you come up with a wonderful idea for technology, then think, “Wait, why don’t we have this yet?” An interviewer recently asked me which single technology from my futuristic Central Galactic Concordance (CGC) universe I’d want in real life. They made me choose just one, but I have so many!…
This post presents my thinking today on using AI in the arts. I’m also writing in part to respond to the more salient arguments from the anti-AI activists.
I am an artist with a capital A. This post is part manifesto and part positive affirmation.
Kickstarter is an online all-or-nothing crowdfunding platform that helps people find creative projects to support. Artists offer special benefits to people who pledge support for a creative project. If the project meets its funding goal, the artist gets the funds, and the backers get the rewards. If the project doesn’t make it, no one’s credit…
Most years, but not all (looking at you, horrible COVID year!), it’s fun to look ahead. I come from a long line of folks who are rather bad at looking back, so that section will be brief. The more interesting sections — to me, at any rate — are plans for 2024. 2023 Plans vs….
In “Stellar Drift,” my story in Pets in Space 8, determined forest ranger Houyen convinces mysterious pilot Sairy and her pet to help him track the source of a deadly disease before a greedy crime lord gets there first. My story ideas usually start with characters and the trouble they get up to, so let…
A Pilot and Her Pet Gargoyle In “Stellar Drift,” my novella in the Pets in Space 8 science fiction romance anthology, the heroine Sairy has a pet gargoyle named Kyala. A pilot and her pet… what? A gargoyle, you say? Yes. In the worlds of the Central Galactic Concordance, it’s all kinds of illegal to…
Onward In 2023 After one hell of a year full of changes in 2021, this last year was comparatively stable (lingering pandemic notwithstanding). However, I’ve come to realize that stability and harmony aren’t necessarily the same thing. Last year, I made a giant-sized whiteboard list, and even did some of it. This coming year, I’d…
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…
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…
Get Carol Van Natta’s blog posts
automatically delivered to your email inbox
Sign up to get blog posts via email
This is to subscribe to Carol’s blog posts. If you want to sign up for Carol’s monthly newsletter, click here.