I’ve had a number of people ask me where I got my ideas for How Deep Lies the Shadow. I composed the following in response:

The answer to your question about where I get my ideas is pretty complex, primarily because there are many different ideas within How Deep Lies the Shadow. At the core to most of my stories is the question “What if…?” HDLTS started with a simple question that led to many others that branched off into a myriad of “What ifs.” The original question centered around the folk lore or mythology of changelings. I’d heard stories of goblins or faerie creatures exchanging changelings for human children.

But wait, there's more: Where do you get ideas for your story?

I wrote this in response to Emlyn Chand’s post on Novel Publicity & Co. KDP Select free day promo, round 2: Is it worth a second go-around?

I did my first promo at the end of February once I realized I only had four days left in my first quarter, so I ran all four days with little to no prep. I managed to get a plug in the FB Book Junkies promo Sunday, but the rest was just bombarding my modest following on Twitter (~220 followers) and FB (~200 friends) with info about my book (How Deep Lies the Shadow). My first lesson learned was that four days was too long for the scope of my social networking. About 80 percent of my giveaways occurred in the first two days with a significant drop off over the next two days. The first two days I hit #2 in contemporary fantasy and sci-fi. That dropped significantly over the remaining two days. The bump I saw after the promo was about 2 percent of my giveaways. The good news that was more copies sold in two days than I had sold in the past five years, so I was pleased.

But wait, there's more: KDP Select Promo Second Round Evaluation

My response to a blog post I recently read by Rachelle Gardner How to Make a Living as a Writer, Part Two: Variety

Sometimes I forget that I do make a living as a writer. I’ve been in communications for the past twenty+ years and a big part of that has been writing and editing. It’s just not the kind of writing I’m passionate about. Still it keeps my writing skills honed.

But wait, there's more: Making a living as a writer - a response

I recently responded to this question:

“I wanted to ask you, how does one get into the world of writing?  Better stated, what would be the first steps to getting published or even have something read?” –David

The world of writing obviously begins with writing as you pointed out. Getting published is still another world. There are two general ways you can go: traditional publishing and independent publishing.

But wait, there's more: Entering the World of Writing

It’s time for another Kindle giveaway. No, not the reading device, but How Deep Lies the Shadow for Kindle.

Why today? Because we are in the midst of a transition between darkness and light. Tomorrow marks the vernal equinox, when day and night are balanced. We are leaving the cold, dark winter and entering the world of light.

“So what?” you say?

But wait, there's more: A Shift in Power: The Vernal Equinox