Novelista

The turn of the millennium feels like it was only yesterday. Soon, the ‘20s will be roaring. Before the decade ends, let’s see from where we’ve come. My first book, The World In-between, debuted in 2011. At my writers’ group the other night, I was talking about reading books and wondering how someone can write something complex and interesting. Then, I wrote the 125,000 word epic fantasy series beginning with its multiple plot threads and array of characters in a magical setting connected to the mundane world. So far, the series has five books: The World In-between, Bow of the Moon, Secrets of the Sages, Whispers, and Hope. And, I am currently writing the sixth. In-between writing the series, I’ve also written two stand alone science fiction novels, Tricentennial and Where Pirates Go to Die. The former being a dystopia whose secrets tear apart a family that struggles to find themselves and each other. The latter is space opera where pirate outlaws lea...

It's that time of year where I write a Halloween themed flash fiction that gets displayed in my local library.  Enjoy! Slow Burn IE Castellano The convergence has begun, Mister Rank Ore. All is prepared. Come. I’d be honored if you joined me for the ritual. I have kept the hairs pristine and in their original condition. Even added one from that harpy shrieking on her phone who cut in front of me in the checkout lane the other day. Yes, of course, I know I complained your ear off all about her already. Oh, you remember that neighbor of ours a few years ago? The one who couldn’t be bothered to keep her ratty mutt out of our rose bushes. Well, I have her hair here. Too bad that mongrel predeceased her. Anyway, Mister Rank Ore, this one is from that man who constantly clucked his tongue through four consecutive bus stops. Yes, it was quite annoying. Not to mention the he ignored my irate stare. This dark hair here is long before your time, M...

It has been almost a year since I last typed the sixth book of my fantasy series.  Before the last day of July, that is.  As I have mentioned in previous posts, I write my first drafts on pen and paper, then type it.  I started typing it again.  Getting to this point has been a struggle. Rewind to November of 2016.  Hope, The World In-between book 5, released.  I already began writing book 6 as soon as I penned the final word of 5.  That’s how I work.  I write and type simultaneously, even the same book.  The exact day my book released, my mom was admitted to the hospital. I would take my writing to the hospital.  Sometimes, I’d get pages done, but mostly nothing. After my mom’s death, I kept writing although not as much.  I lost the connection to my characters.  No amount of pen ramble would bring that back.  Writing another genre helped. I put my fantasy series aside.  I hoped that someday...

In March, I posted that I began working on a detective novel.   This is something that I have been working on everyday with the exception of the end of April when I got this terrible cold and watched four Marvel movies in one Sudafed-hazed day. Actually, I mentioned this book eons ago, but I pushed it aside to write my fantasy series.   The fantasy series… let’s just say it’s on hiatus.   Writing a completely non-magical story is helping.   Helping me untwine my mother’s death and my fantasy series that have wrapped themselves together in my mind. To further distance the fantasy and the mystery, I’ve decided to use a new pen name for the mystery. Irene Castle Irene is my first name and Castle is derived from Castellano, which means “castle man” in Italian. This new pen name has a Facebook account .   My very first (and only) Facebook account.   I post stuff about writing, funny things, cute things (mostly cats), and other stuff I’m do...

It's spring, or so the calendar tells me.  The weather hasn't made up its mind yet.  Such is life in Southwestern Pennsylvania. I'm sharing an excerpt of the detective story I've been intermittently writing with my fantasy series.  This story takes place in present day, has no portals to magical worlds, and is currently titleless. Here is an introduction of something different.  From the first page: Rain pattered Zia’s umbrella while the cold, spring air made her arm ache.  She thought nothing could be worse than Pittsburgh’s winter for her mending bicep.  Then, Pittsburgh’s spring came.  Tucking the umbrella’s rod between her neck and shoulder, she rubbed her upper arm.  Her pace increased as she peered at the six story red brick building—the only legally occupied building in one of the forgotten, dilapidated sections of the city.  She hurried inside, hoping its warmth would ease the pain. An original to the building, out of comm...

Had to upload this as a picture to share.  On display this month at the Mount Pleasant Public Library.

Book 6 of The World In-between fantasy series, currently titled Dreamweaver, nears its close.   Yes, I’m still working on the first draft.   This book proved difficult to write for me.   I’ll go into my trials in a later post.   At the time of this posting, the heroes approach the final battle.   Book 7 knocks on the door, whispering consequences of the happenings in Book 6. A blog redesign is in the planning stages.   I want something a little cleaner, so I’m slogging through scads of templates for one that speaks to me.   The finished product may take a while to emerge. Since Google Plus shutters April 2, I have migrated my social media home to MeWe .   I will not accept friend or chat requests from people I do know or with whom I have not interacted online.   My writing posts will be public. Here’s to a great 2019!