What’s Your BookDNA?

One humble brag, two new podcast interviews and one opportunity for avid readers to take part in developing the next great reading app, all coming to you today. Wallace House of Pain Recognized...Again Taking deleted scenes from the full-length novel Beautiful and Terrible Things and turning them into a novelette called The Wallace House of … Continue reading What’s Your BookDNA?

Announcing Free Bonus Materials for “Beautiful and Terrible Things”

partial cover of Beautiful & Terrible Things with the words "Bonus Materials"

Special Offer: To celebrate the forthcoming publication of my contemporary novel Beautiful and Terrible Things, I am making a slew of Bonus Materials related to the book available to those who follow my blog and receive my semi-occasional News. Existing followers (if you got this blog post in your email inbox, you are one) will … Continue reading Announcing Free Bonus Materials for “Beautiful and Terrible Things”

First Place Prize for “The Wallace House of Pain”

cover of The Wallace House of Pain on a tablet against a bookshelf with CIBA 1st Place badge

It's been a long journey -- more than seven months -- but I'm thrilled with the end result: The Wallace House of Pain has been awarded a First Place prize in the Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBA) competition for 2023. For those of you who have been riding along on this entire journey, as my … Continue reading First Place Prize for “The Wallace House of Pain”

“The Wallace House of Pain” Short-Listed for a CIBA Award

Chanticleer book awards logo showing a rooster

My novelette The Wallace House of Pain has made it onto the "short list" for the 2023 Shorts Book Awards competition sponsored by Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBA). "Shorts" encompass short stories, essays, novelettes, novellas and short story collections. From here, finalists are named, and then the winners will be chosen. About The Wallace House … Continue reading “The Wallace House of Pain” Short-Listed for a CIBA Award

New Reader Reviews of “The Wallace House of Pain”

The Wallace House of Pain book cover on a phone, lavendar and mint green background

I'm happy to share two new reader reviews of my award-winning novelette, The Wallace House of Pain. Both readers gave the short fiction work five stars, for which I am grateful. I am especially grateful to hear that my story resonated so strongly with this first reviewer; nothing makes an author more appreciative than knowing … Continue reading New Reader Reviews of “The Wallace House of Pain”

Chanticleer/CIBA Recognizes “The Wallace House of Pain”

hand holding a smart phone showing The Wallace House of Pain on the screen

My little novelette, The Wallace House of Pain, is having a good month! Three weeks ago, I announced that this story of family strife and personal identity won an American Fiction Award in the novelette category. Today, I am thrilled to announce that The Wallace House of Pain has made it onto the "long list" … Continue reading Chanticleer/CIBA Recognizes “The Wallace House of Pain”

“The Wallace House of Pain” Wins American Fiction Award

gold seal for winners of American Fiction Awards contest

I don't usually post twice in a week -- that's why I call this blog a space for "semi-occasional" news. But it's been a good week for my novelette/play The Wallace House of Pain. A few days ago, I announced that the script for the play has been published in a literary journal. Today, I … Continue reading “The Wallace House of Pain” Wins American Fiction Award

Wallace House of Pain $1 This Week

book the wallace house of pain against a background of fall orange leaves

I'm overstating: Actually, The Wallace House of Pain -- my novelette about troubled family relations, modern social justice issues and deeply personal choices -- is being offered as a special promotion this week for only $0.99, starting at 5 PM tonight! Buy it here. The Wallace House of Pain is about a 45-minute read, and … Continue reading Wallace House of Pain $1 This Week

The Play’s the Thing

cover of The Wallace House of Pain on a tablet with a plant in the background

A reader of The Wallace House of Pain says it would make a good play. I agree! After all, as Shakespeare said, "the play's the thing". I have always been a huge drama nerd, and would love to write plays some day. Put it on the list... Why would this novelette translate so well to … Continue reading The Play’s the Thing

A Little Book Problem Reviews “The Wallace House of Pain”

Graphic showing the masthead for the "A Little Book Problem" blog, a quote from the review, and the cover of The Wallace House of Pain

I'm pleased to share a new review of The Wallace House of Pain, this one from A Little Book Problem--one of my favorite book review blogs. Hop on over to Julie's blog, A Little Book Problem, for the full review. And here are a few snippets: "A great collection of vignettes which explores the relationship … Continue reading A Little Book Problem Reviews “The Wallace House of Pain”