This is the first story I submitted in last year's NYC Midnight Flash Fiction Contest. The Contest is fun and challenging. You're given a setting, item and a genre for a 1000-word story. Then a panel reads your story and you get points and if you get enough you go onto the next round. I... Continue Reading →
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Welcome Summer — Let’s Read
Today, June 20, 2024 marks the summer solstice in which we embrace the light. We will get 15 hours and five minutes of illumination from the Sun, today. That's compared to about seven hours and 40 minutes of light on the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. So let's do something good with... Continue Reading →
Difficult Times for Moments Like These…
I've been what you might say is WNBA curious lately. Yes, it's because of the Caitlin Clark. If you don't know, Clark is a basketball player who set records for scoring in college while leading her Iowa team to two consecutive finals. Iowa lost both times, but still pretty good. Clark caught everyone's attention because... Continue Reading →
Word on the Creek!
Yes, Chalk Creek Writing Outfit, is back up and running. This is the website that acts as my publishing and marketing arm. If you want to get a hold of me for things like readings, interviews, freelance, representation and of course, to buy my work, that's a good place to go.
‘I Know a Hawk From a Hammer’
If you know me, you probably know this is a quote inspired from Hamlet when the Danish Prince is describing how he is not always in the grip of madness and can find his way to reality, though he prefers a "handsaw" to a hammer. The quote has been on my mind of late and... Continue Reading →
D&D — Finally A Movie That Captures the Game’s Spirit
The lone sound of a blacksmith's hammer rings out at dusk as it settles on the hamlet you've entered. You walk the main street, people hurriedly slam doors even though it's a sweltering summer. You notice children peeking at you through their windows before being snatched away and upbraided by adults. In the air, hangs... Continue Reading →
Dragons of Orion Progress
For those interested, progress is ongoing on Dragons of Orion, a fantasy series set on the planet of Orion where riders of dragons, griffins, unicorns and the dolphins of the land, thorpins, compete to give their islands sovereignty over the archipelago. We start with the dragons picking their new crop of riders and learn, all... Continue Reading →
The Last Disruptor Promotion
Amazon recently ran a promotion of this title, but I was not aware of it, until the last day of the deal. I did try to get out the word then, so I hope some of you were able to get it at a good price. If you didn't, let me know with a comment... Continue Reading →
Hatching Dragons and other creatures
Just got back the first read through of Dragons of Orion and have started on the second book of the series. Encouraging feedback -- "It was better than the last four books I read," as well as substantive suggestions. This is an initial read through from close family and friends and then after some work... Continue Reading →
Dragon Update
I just dropped off a draft of Dragons of Orion -- a working title-- to family, who generally are my first readers. It's the first in a series of books about the Orion Archipelago on the planet of Orion. Humans, they do eventually get around, you see. But more on that later. For now, I... Continue Reading →
Robert Varnon -- R.D. Varnon 