So many indie books are brimming with imagination. It is time that they are recognised for the things that are outlandish, unexpected, and oddly-specific to them. As we bring 2025 to a close, I’m dishing out my fun awards to a small selection of the indie books I’ve read this year. What stood out toContinue reading “Coe’s Oddly Specific Book Awards”
Category Archives: writer chats
August 2025 – A Pause in the Blog
For the next 2 months, I am going to be taking a break from this blog. I have fun writing these posts, but they take me about 6 hours on a weekend to complete. Hours that could be spent preparing my sequel for beta readers in November (among other things). I tend to hyperfocus whenContinue reading “August 2025 – A Pause in the Blog”
April 2025 – Remember to Breathe
If I allow myself to skip posting or writing for a day or two, I will still love writing next year. If I let myself worry about falling short of ambitious goals, I could burn out.
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”
August 2024 – 1st Book Birthday
On 5 September, Far Removed will be 1 year old (the paperback released early on 29/08, so it is already 1). Future blog posts will return to other indie writing and art topics, but I wanted to take this moment to thank everyone who has been involved in spreading the word about this dark fantasy.Continue reading “August 2024 – 1st Book Birthday”
C B Lansdell 