Category: Thoughts and Ramblings

My Favorite Books That Are Nothing Like My Book!

To say “There are so many great books out there!” feels like an understatement! What feels more accurate to say is that there are so many different types of books out there! Last time, I went through some of my favorite “Hidden World” books, but this time around, I decided to talk about my favorite books with plots that are nothing like Blanc LaBelle and the Troll’s Daughter! Consider this my official recommendation for things to read while you’re waiting for the release on May 12th!

  • Old Man’s War – John Scalzi:
    This one always sticks out to me when the person who recommended it to me described it as “The only war book to make me cry”. I feel that it holds very true, but it’s also just very well written and smart science fiction. John Scalzi sticks out as one of my favorite science fiction authors because in addition to being scientifically sound (if you’re willing to stretch your belief a little), he also writes very funny books! The whole series is great, but Old Man’s War sticks out to me because it was so different from anything else I’d read!
  • The Princess Bride – William Goldman
    Both a favorite book and my all time favorite movie (and yes, I know they’re very different). This was actually a book that the librarian would read aloud to classes when I was in elementary school (I feel like it was…5th grade we got to read this one?). There’s a lot of positive memories in the words of this classic fantasy. Whether you believe in “mawage” or if you’re more a fan of “The Zoo of Death”, this is definitely one I recommend over and over again.
  • Tigana – Guy Gavriel Kay
    This one is the book I say is my “favorite” when people ask. The way that’s written is so smooth and lyrical. Despite being a fantasy book, it’s also very heavily a political intrigue. Stories like that very rarely catch my interest, but the way this book was written really spoke to me. The magic system was so vivid and the characters are so interesting even when they divert into their separate arcs.
  • Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell
    This one I put on the list because it’s so hard to describe in a simple way. I read this one a while back and it stuck with me for having such an original form. Each section is written so differently and yet they all connect so smoothly. David Mitchell is one of the most unique writers I’ve encountered and I think this is a great introduction to his style.
  • Andy Weir – Project Hail Mary
    Before anyone says it, I know there’s a movie, but I have not seen it yet. Andy Weir really sticks out to me as an author because I feel like he’s one of the few science fiction writers that forces a “suspension of belief” when discussing real-world science. His interpretation of alien life in this story is far and away (pun intended) some of the most interesting descriptions of extraterrestrials. In addition to being good science fiction, it’s an incredible story about two “best friends” and a real “found family” story by the end.

Have you read any of these books? Do you have any favorites that you always recommend to people?

Consider adding these to your TBR!

On Trolls

Mira is not like most trolls. She’s only half-troll, after all, but she’s also different compared to most contemporary depictions. Her clan doesn’t necessarily shun the sunlight or live under bridges, but there are some who fit the brutish stereotype we’ve come to accept today.

Working on this book, obviously, I knew that trolls were going to be an integral group to sort out: from their laws to their biology. From Lord of the Rings to Dungeons and Dragons, trolls have made their way comfortably into modern media. They’re often seen as dim, ugly brutes with only an interest in destruction. I wanted slightly different trolls and did a lot of exploration. They are most popular in Scandinavian folklore, mixed in with Giants and Fiends (often used interchangeably). There are no set rules: there are some stories where they aren’t even villains as we’ve come to expect.

Here’s a few of my favorite stories that I stumbled across in my research.

The Troll’s Daughter:
Believe it or not, this one I found after I had started writing the story. The story goes that a young man is traveling, looking to make his new life. He’s offered a job by a stranger on the road, offering increasing amounts of money once a year for three years. The stranger turns out to be a troll and king of the woods. The troll has the young man work by feeding the animals in his menagerie, allowing him spend his free time in the form of various animals including a hare and a raven. While swimming as a fish, the young man meets a beautiful woman. She tells him she is the troll’s daughter and helps him trick the troll into letting them marry. With the Troll King defeated, all the animals are released and the new young couple have a vibrant forest kingdom to rule over.

Heddal Stave Church Troll:
According to local legend, Heddal Stave Church was built by a troll. Five farmers wanted to build the church and a stranger approached saying he would build the church. His conditions demanded that the farmers do one of three things before the church was finished: the farmers had to guess the stranger’s name before he was finished or he would kill them. They agreed, but the stranger worked quickly and was prepared to finish by the third day. While trying to think of the stranger’s name, one of the farmers– Raud–heard a mountain troll woman singing a song to her baby about her husband. She revealed the troll’s name in her song and Raud addressed the troll by name the day of the deadline. Some stories say that the troll family ran away (despising the sound of church bells) and others say that Finn is still there, turned to stone and holding up one of the pillars.

The Hall of the Mountain King:
The powerhouse musical number actually comes from Peer Gynt (Henrick Ibsen’s opera) is the theme for a great troll king who haunts Peer’s nightmares. Peer, intent on become the heir to the troll kingdom, comes demanding the hand of the king’s daughter in marriage. The Mountain King agrees as long as Peer agrees to live as a troll. When things get too real (including the removal of Peer’s eyes), Peer learns that he actually can’t back out anymore. The sequence ends when Peer is set upon by the Mountain Kings subjects and he wakes up.

Three Billy Goats Gruff:
This is probably where your mind goes to when you think of prominent troll stories. It’s a pretty basic story: there’s a troll that lives under a bridge and threatens to eat anyone who goes across his bridge. The first goat asks him to wait for the next, saying that his brother is close behind and will be a more filling meal. The second goat says the same, offering an even more filling meal with his brother coming behind him. Turns out, the third billy goat gruff was a bit more than this troll can chew. The biggest goat isn’t afraid of the troll and challenges him, ultimately killing the troll so no one is eaten by him again.

These are just a few of the fun stories I’ve found in my research. By diving into the folklore and mythology, you can see the influences that these classic stories in our contemporary depictions of trolls. Find out more about the trolls in the Blanc LaBelle universe on May 12th, 2026 when I release Blanc LaBelle and the Troll’s Daughter.

Hidden World Fantasy Books

I am a huge fan of hidden world books. Living in Seattle for a while, there were so many places I would visit that felt like they were hiding more than I could see. The 24-Hour Diner had it’s secrets to be certain, labyrinthine bookstores at Pike’s Place contained hidden entrances to somewhere, and local landmarks held hidden stories that only those who knew would tell. The thought of magic, monsters, and more just beneath the surface of our world intrigued me enough that I eventually started creating my own, the Under and the Fold, hidden in plain sight.

There is no shortage of hidden world books, so here is a brief (very brief) collection of some of my favorites that stuck with me.

  • Nightwatch – Sergei Lukyanenko: This is probably one of the closest one-to-one hidden worlds I’ve been able to track down. Sorcerers, vampires, and curses are all in plain sight in contemporary Moscow. Cellphones and computers are used alongside magic and shapeshifting all headed by a secret organization that fights to keep the balance between the magical and the mundane. It’s a bit more grim-dark than the Hedgefield, but it’s probably one of my favorite hidden world stories.
  • Ninth House – Leigh Bardugo: Set in New Haven Connecticut, this is another story where the few know about the fantastical. There are fewer monsters, but plenty of magic to make up for it. The city as a backdrop to the spectacular feels very clear here. Again, we have secret organizations maintaining the balance between those who use spells and rituals and those who do not. Lethe House works very similarly to Blanc LaBelle and his allies: just trying to keep peace with mixed results.
  • The City We Became – N.K. Jemisin: This is probably the most literal ‘Hidden City’ on this list. The city itself becomes a character (multiple characters, actually, but you’ll have to read it). The city is a part of the magic and each district offers a different kind of power to it’s user. LaBelle is a foundation figure in Hedgefield, but he knows the city better for it. The places, while not hidden, have a much deeper influence in the magical sense.
  • Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel – Susanna Clarke: This one is more fitting for a historical fantasy, set in the 1800s rather than a modern setting. Magic is real, but only a very select few (our titular friends) have access to it at the time of the setting. There are spirits, mischievous and monstrous, that coexist with the magicians and slink in the shadows of mortals. The intersection between men and magic is another major theme that I cover in the Blanc LaBelle series (for better and for worse).

What are some of your favorite hidden world stories? Do you love a magical school hidden from human eyes or do you prefer the magic to be right under your nose?

Your next Hidden World love could well be in the universe of Blanc LaBelle and the Troll’s Daughter, available May 12, 2026!

What did I miss?

Hey everyone.

Did you miss me? It’s been a while (December? Yikes!), but I’m glad to be back. Thought I would offer up a quick update and plans for the future going forward.

First of all, I finished my classes! I’m now a Certified Vet Assistant and my office has been taking full advantage of that. I’ve been trying to shift back into “civilian life” after months of double dipping into both school and work. It was a heavy time, but I managed to get through it! This is good for two reasons: 1) I no longer regularly work/go to class from 8 to 8 three times a week with full schedule on the other days. This will be a massive improvement to my social/sleep schedule as I’ll be able to actually do things beyond work or school work.
2) I’ll be able to get back into my writing!

I’m stretching some old muscles and blow off the dust from a few old projects. I’m starting to feel my creative impulses return and I’m feeling better about the things I create. My day job is one I can easily leave at the office, so I’m going to be able to put more of my time and energy back into creative projects. What does that mean? I’m not sure yet. But the absolute base means that I’ll be trying to get to posting Writing Scribbles!

I’m glad to be back and I’ve had a good long rest to recover from school, but now it’s time to get back to what I want out of life. The exact definition of that is yet to be known, but I’m looking forward to the ride.

A Brief Pause

Hello Everyone! As we come creeping up on the holidays, I’ve decided to take a brief break from the usual monthly fiction posts.

Those closest to me know that I’m currently in classes to get my Veterinary Assistant Certification. This, on top of my regular, full-time work schedule and the normal rush of the holidays has started to take a toll on me.

When I have more energy again, I’ll be coming back. For now? I’m deciding to prioritize my time and maintain some of my energy for other things. I’ll be back to the old routines soon, but these 50+ hour weeks are starting to stack up.

In short, I’ll be back. Thanks for staying and looking forward to what the future holds!

An Intermission

So, a couple of changes will be coming up in the near future. I’ve got some things in the works, so there will be some things changing priority.

This will be the last scheduled “Blog Post” for a while. I feel like I don’t have enough happening with my writing/publishing journey to justify having a super regular post. I get anxious about repeating ideas or reposting old blog posts. This means the first Sunday of the month will no longer be regular posts. When ideas come up, I’ll probably create a blog post, but I’m running out of ideas to keep up with a monthly Non-Fiction post. I’ll continue doing monthly fiction, both as a way to keep the blog active and give myself the motivation to keep writing even when I run out of ideas. I’m hoping that having this be the primary focus of my time outside of work will mean more quality writing to continue providing to you for free.

Secondly, like many other people, I’ll be closing down my Twitter. I no longer use it and it’s frankly not really bringing in a ton of traffic. If you only follow me there, please consider signing up for my newsletter or following my page on Facebook!

The Artificial Creative

While I’m sure this has been done to death, I wanted to talk a little about the applications of AI in the creative space. We’ve all seen those posts online about “I made a bot watch 5,000 of Hell’s Kitchen and had it write an episode” and allowed a sigh of relief. “At least computers won’t take away jobs from novelists and TV writers,” we laugh and move on with our day.

However, Artificial Intelligence has been created to generate any text. Students can get computer software to write complete essays, songs can be written to mimic certain artists and their genre styles, and people have even submitted full AI-written short stories to major fiction magazines like Asimov. It feels a little bit backward that we’re using something that has the ability to do so much of our work to give us more leisure and creative time as something to create so we have more work time. It makes me feel a bit odd about our trajectory as a creative in society.

This is not to say “Technology is Evil and Edison is a witch.” I’m writing this on my computer and I use technology in a million ways throughout my day. I think the question isn’t “should we have AI working in classically ‘human’ arenas?” but “How can we work with AI?”

With the rise of all the AI-generated art out there, I do worry about what it will mean for our future as a society. It’s easy to set up a program that will scan the internet for various features of paintings, analyze songs for musical patterns, and–yes–even write whole books based on a single sentence prompt. But what is the value of that? Without going into the ethics of copyright and ownership (which is a whole different subject I’m not qualified to speak on), are these pieces of ‘art’ worth our time? Beyond the novelty of ‘AI-Generated Profile Pics’ or something similar, how long will these endure the test of time? Will we be looking at these the same way we look at the Mona Lisa or The Birth of Venus? They’re cool tricks, but I don’t think they’ll ever properly replace human talent and creativity. In the future, it could exist, but I really hope humans don’t lose the passion to create ourselves when a computer can do it the same way. Will we be advertising ‘No Machine Novels’ or ‘Code-Free Art’ as an alternative? I can’t say for sure.

I certainly hope that we don’t lose sight of how writing binds us together as humans. We always talk about how humans are more ‘advanced’ than animals. Some people say it’s empathy, some people say it’s tool use, and some people claim it’s the moment we walked upright that sets us apart. Truthfully, I believe it is our ability to create and tell stories. From oral traditions around the fire and cave paintings to digital art and blogs, we have always been a species that thrives on the idea of stories and creation.

The truth is, we already use AI as writers a lot. A basic spelling and grammar check requires some amount of AI and there are all kinds of writing prompt generators out there that use formulas to derive everything from character names to ideas for novels. We have AI to help us edit our work into something more concise and comprehensive, we have software that can proofread our work. All of these things are crucial to any writer with a pulse. In my mind, we should use AI as a companion to our creative endeavors, not as authors.

Piecing Together

Every writer–no matter where they are in their writing journey–has a Trunk Book. It’s a story you started when you weren’t ready and had to give up. A story you wrote that never quite came together or a series of ideas you didn’t know how to connect beyond a few scenes and a loose plot. Maybe time got the better of you, or a busy schedule determined that your story would be put on hold, or perhaps you just lost steam about it and moved on to another idea. The Lost Characters, the Abandoned Quests, and the Snippets of Dialogue that you loved all linger together in the bottom of a trunk: digital, physical, or mental.

Personally, I have a particular file on my computer that I call the Graveyard: projects that didn’t quite pan out, short things I wrote in high school, and things that just never settled quite right for whatever reason. Sometimes, like a literary corpse snatcher, I go back to old projects and do a bit of grave robbing to piece together old ideas into something new. I have found myself revisiting this folder a lot recently.

The question that hits me again and again is “What needs to be fixed?” before I can do anything with it. Is it the tone of the story? Does a character not have enough motivation or do their actions seem inconsistent? Who or what would be needed to drive the story forward and what is stagnant that doesn’t seem to fit the pace? Answering these questions help me decide what to do with these old cadavers of story. Some stay in the Graveyard to age a bit, but some seem ripe enough to try and resurrect.

I am, admittedly, guilty of Email Writing a Novel. While working desk jobs–stuck behind a computer with shifting workflow–I would often send emails to myself. When an idea hit me that was remotely more interesting than another spreadsheet or company email, I would email my personal email what was on my mind. Trapped behind a desk, I built gateways to my own adventures. I uncovered an old email thread I had written and decided to tackle it again.

The most important thing about Graveyards or Trunk Books is that it doesn’t destroy things that didn’t work at the time. It saves them so they can percolate in a safe place without constantly trying to fix what’s broken. The most important part of writing is–unsurprisingly–writing. If you’re stuck in a Trunk Book, sometimes it’s healthy to set it aside until you’re ready to stitch together a new monster. Hopefully, your results will be more beneficial than Dr. Frankenstein’s body building.