June 2025 – A Shock to the System

This month’s blog is not going to be writing-related. Sometimes real-life events can be every bit as outlandish as fictional adventures. Some of you know that my mum and I live on the same property. We bought the place with joint resources and have separate living areas. Last night, I heard my mum shouting inContinue reading “June 2025 – A Shock to the System”

March 2025 – Surprising Research

Just a short update this month. While researching, I came across a piece of information about octopus blood. It is called haemocyanin, which is a copper-based protein. Apparently, it is better at transporting oxygen in cold conditions than haemoglobin. It also has a higher viscosity than human blood. This is an example of how IContinue reading “March 2025 – Surprising Research”

February 2025 – Supplementary Short Stories

Early in my novel-writing journey, I learned about newsletter hooks: free short stories that could introduce readers to a new author and encourage them to buy their other books. My novelette, The Tidelings of Dras Sayve, which celebrates its first anniversary on 21 March, started its life this way. Now in KU, my first newsletterContinue reading “February 2025 – Supplementary Short Stories”

January 2025 – Year of Sequel Editing

We are one month into 2025 now. The weather in Cape Town has been more beautiful than usual for summer (no wind), and it is really feeling like a holiday city with growing numbers of overseas visitors. I won’t complain about tourists because I am holding out hope that one day I may entice myContinue reading “January 2025 – Year of Sequel Editing”

Coe’s Oddly Specific Book Awards

Happy Christmas to all those celebrating. We’re heading into the final week of the year, that strange time when no one knows what is going on. I’m writing this month’s blog post early, so I can put in a good word for some books in the running for the 2024 Indie Ink Awards. I amContinue reading “Coe’s Oddly Specific Book Awards”

November 2024 – Excited Talking

As we head into December, there is a lot I could say about any number of topics. I’m going to start by thanking everyone who has asked me about the world of Knyadrea or given me the chance to talk about it. My animated discussions with readers who find knyad biology fascinating, are charmed byContinue reading “November 2024 – Excited Talking”

October 2024 – How to Commission Art

We’re doing a themed blog post today, and it is all about commissioning art. I often have trouble with speaking as an authority on anything because I feel I never know enough. But it turns out you don’t have to know everything to be somewhat useful, and I have been working as an illustrator forContinue reading “October 2024 – How to Commission Art”

September 2024 – In Short

This will be a brief post as I have just returned from a weekend of celebrating my mother’s birthday (it was a significant one). I was able to properly spoil her. Highlights On the first anniversary of my debut’s release, I started the day with an interview. Livia J. Elliot and I discussed themes andContinue reading “September 2024 – In Short”