Writer's Journey

Recently at Superstars, best-selling author Jonathan Maberry talked about getting out of your comfort zone. For decades he was a features (nonfiction) writer. Writing fiction wasn’t who he thought he was, but at the VIP dinner five authors and I had with him he shared that he met Ray Bradbury, Harlen Ellison, and others, without having the faintest idea who they were. He actually asked Bradbury, “Do you write?” Bradbury gaped as Ellison fell on the floor laughing and answered, “I’ve been known to.”

Ray Bradbury told him he should write fiction and became one of his mentors.

Jonathan began writing fiction when he was 48. He wrote his first children’s short story when approached for a story in a Wizard of Oz anthology. At first, he thought, it was a bit crazy. He’d never written a children’s story — but he thought there are monkeys with wings and what if one was a girl whose wings were too small?

Six months after the story appeared he received a letter from the L. Frank Baum Estate. They wrote that they loved the story and were making in canon and an official prequel to the Wizard of Oz. He’s kept that letter and it always makes him smile.

So, I’m challenging myself. There’s a charity anthology for Superstars alumni. I had an idea for a story, but the idea came out of a conversation over lunch. I have never co-written a story before, but I am now.

Wish us luck.

In other news, on the giveaway front this month Last Knight, prequel to Knight of the Broken Table, appears in Sci-fi & Fantasy Giveaway. The Dragon’s Curse appears in Free Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Paranormal eBooks promo, which is a prequel to Highmage’s Plight, which is in the Kindle Unlimited promo, Kindle Dreams and Nightmares group promo.

Also, on the giveaway front, Apocalypse Knot, prequel to Bigfoot is Not Your Friend is featured this month in the Dystopian & Apocalyptic Collapse promo.

Finally, on sale is Nowhere to Go But Mars, my reverse Ellis Island meets Noah's Ark immigration experience (novella) in this wonderful promo, Quick Read Novellas & Short Stories.

Dare to Believe.

D.H.