I do vow to get better at it, but at the moment I’ve been up to my ear holes in work and writing and by the time I remember I have a blog I’m already asleep, or something like that. I’m on my way to turning in my next book to my editor this fall so there will be something new before too much longer. In the meantime, I have a little surprise in store for everyone who’s enjoyed the adventures of the Iron Elves. I’ll announce it shortly.

You may have noticed my site wasn’t visible for a week. Turns out it had a virus. My web designer was hit with one, too, so it took a while to get everything back up and running. Nevertheless, here I am. Big thanks to Jeannie for figuring all this out and putting the pieces back together!

Cheers,

Chris

Have you made any yet? I’ve been jotting down a list, but I realized that this year I want to focus more on the process instead of the goal. For example, I want to be healthier, but instead of resolving to lose X number of pounds, I am instead resolving to choose healthier foods to eat. I’m breaking it down so that a big resolution is made up of small, manageable goals. I can buy fruits and vegetables, and I can also learn how to cook. The first part is easy, the second part scary with a chance of fire, but I’m going to take the risk.

I have a lot more, but they all breakdown the same way. Start with small, doable goals over a short span of time which will eventually lead to achieving the big resolution.

Here’s to 2012 being the best year yet!

Cheers,

Chris

A high school classmate of mine flew into New York this weekend and we met up for breakfast and a tour of the city. The weather was perfect and we walked for hours, just enjoying the sights and reminiscing. You can’t go back again, but it is fun to take a little peek, so I thought I’d share a photo from my high school graduation party. I really haven’t changed at all…yeah. All in all, I’m happy with the older me, but I wouldn’t mind having the younger me’s abs, and hairline.

Bright-eyed and ready for the future

There’s a relatively new fantasy website out there that is quickly making a name for itself as one of the most engaging and thoughtful places to go to talk about writing, publishing, fantasy, and more. That reputation is driven in part by the truly exceptional interviewers they have on board. Leo Cristea approached me for an interview and I expected the usual list of questions with perhaps one or two curve balls thrown in. Instead, we delved deep into my views on writing and the genre at large that posed a few questions I’m still thinking about. You can read the entire interview HERE but I’ve attached an excerpt below:

Q. Fantasy is no longer full of straight, white human men. How important in the evolution of the genre do you think it is that this push against conservative fantasy continues, and how might it shape the genre as you see it if the boundaries are taken down entirely in the next few decades?

A. I think it’s always important for new voices to challenge those already established in the field. It keeps things vibrant and in flux. Stasis is death. Just as George R.R. Martin and others reacted to the somewhat moribund state of traditional fantasy, there is a new generation of which it appears I’m a part reacting to the removal of magic, elves, dwarves and other traditional fantastic elements.

Q. What would you say to anyone discouraged to explore the more classic tropes and themes of fantasy, by the misconception that this sort of fantasy is frowned upon and looked-over by agents and publishers?

A. Writing for the market and the perceived trends is a souless and ultimately self-defeating exercise. Writing is already a long, difficult, and at times even excruciating process. To add to that the notion of writing something other than what you are truly passionate about seems masochistic.

For the complete interview and to check out Fantasy Faction (which I highly recommend) go HERE.

Many thanks to Leo and Fantasy Faction.