If you’re in the Phoenix, AZ area this weekend, check out the Tempe Festival of the Arts, running March 31 to April 2. It’s a sprawling wonderful circus occupying Tempe’s Mill Avenue and the surrounding side streets: plenty of art, food, live music, and people-watching. This festival’s Featured Artist is Hannie Goldgewicht, known for her…
Read More Tempe Festival of the Arts, Spring 2017To keep my mind off #pitmad and to get ready for #revpit in two weeks, here’s another mood board I cobbled together for my high fantasy mms SINGER. Art credits include: Michael Whelan, cover for Tanith Lee’s ‘Night’s Sorceries’ Renaissance gold chain, Incollect https://www.incollect.com/articles/revival-jewelry-looking-to-the-past-for-inspiration Venezuelan thunderstorm, The Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/southamerica/venezuela/11728250/Catatumbo-Venezuelas-everlasting-lightning-storm.html Blue Planet, BBC advertising St. Herman’s Cave, Belize http://www.vivabelize.com/tours-activities/land-activities/st-hermans-ceremonial-cave-exploration/…
Read More Mood board for SingerOther than sheer masochism? They offer a slight shortcut to the usually long query process, they let you meet fellow writers and industry professionals, and they offer the chance to get agent offers and free feedback. I’ve blogged before about some dangers and darker sides of online pitch contests. Now for a spotlight on the…
Read More Why enter pitch contests?Based off a great Twitter thread earlier today, I’ve cleaned up this version of a ‘Nazibasher’ stencil design. More anti-fascist art can be found here on Pinterest. My compliments to the original stencil maker. I’d love to cite you but we both know that may not be safe. Disclaimer: I’m making no money off this…
Read More Resistance StencilCharacter names and titles are important in fiction (duh!) Different genres have different naming trends and types, if not outright rules. A clever writer can exploit or twist those, while a tone-deaf writer can suffer for them. Of course, it helps to read massively and currently in your target genres. I have a perennial problem…
Read More Character names and titlesTechnology is wonderful. Especially when bright but otherwise bored people say ‘Hey, these zirconium ceramic ball bearings and whetstones are nearly as tough as sapphire. I bet we could make jewelry out of this stuff!’ Jewelry wonks are already familiar with Cubic Zirconium, the relatively cheap and readily available diamond-substitute gem, usually faceted and sold…
Read More Black Ceramic ChainOr: faux inlay technique on wood. I make artifacts and jewelry, along with book art and a ton of other largely useless but fun things. I belong to a loose-knit group of like-minded souls who, upon occasion, will make Harry-Potter-inspired magic wands as props and cosplay pieces. This newest piece is made from a Blood…
Read More Blood Orange and Jasper Magic Wand