As these things happen, I've gotten another technical article published over at SQLServerCentral.com. It's called The ABCs of Database Creation and is a free read (though it does require a registration at SSC, which is also free). This is intended to be the first in a series of ABC articles discussing the how-to of database design in Microsoft SQL ( Read more... )

So as I come out the other side of the Speculative Fiction SouthEast con (and month end at work), it occurs to me that one of my panels (Speculating About Short Fiction. Should You Write It?) barely go through a third of the questions I had for it. Also, one of the panel authors mentioned that people came to our Short Fiction panel to learn about ( Read more... )

The SO, adorable thing that he is, has a habit of knocking on my office door to share cute cat moments, interesting news, and to see how I'm doing in general. The problem is, half the time he's interupting research or writing time. Much as I love him, he was one reasons I would leave the house to write (back when Borders existed and, after it ( Read more... )

So I'm doing this a day earlier or two years too late, whichever you prefer. I need a little kick-start myself, so here goes. Today's writing prompt, inspired by my recent Rainforest Village Writers Retreat experience, is as follows.

Da Prompt: Write Cinderella minus the evil stepmother or Little Red Riding Hood minus the wolf. Pick one of the two ( Read more... )

Eldest cat has his ultrasound today. He's been blind most his life, became deaf the past few years, and then got a heart murmur. The vet declared "no more surgeries" because he might not survive them ( Read more... )

Lately I've been reading a lot of reviews about Gotham, Fox's new television series about the origins of the entire Batman-related universe. The one that struck me the most was this review by Bustle complaining about the show's erratic development of the villain characters. Specifically, that Penguin and the Riddler had both been introduced right ( Read more... )

My sister Shannon does graphic design. She charges $30.00 an hour as opposed to a flat fee. I'm not sure how that stacks up against what other graphic designers charge, but she's won awards for her newspaper and advertising layouts. And she's recently designed a couple of book covers for some people ( Read more... )

The taxes are done. FINALLY. Yeesh. It took forever and five rounds of triple-checking to make sure I got the numbers right.

Now I get to move on to, I hope, fun writing stuff. I'm debating on short story tonight (NEW OPEN MARKET HERE) that could help me make my qualifying sale for SFWA active membership, or working on Chosen some more ( Read more... )

You remember those words? If so, you're telling your age (just like I am, apparently). But that's what I feel like this morning. I've shut the door, hoping the groo can't find me. Not sure it'll work ( Read more... )

 So Kyle Aisteach recently pointed out to several people an editorial by Ryan Boudinot about serious writers vs non-serious writers. It's ... an interesting read ( Read more... )