I have had the opportunity over the past couple of days to squeeze in some play on Star Wars: The Old Republic. There's a lot I have to say about this game, some good some bad. For the most part it is good. It is very story-oriented, which is what you expect from Bioware. As …
Thoughts on Publishing
Today I have to work at The Observatory, which is fine because I like that job a lot. But as for my personal life I will be glad when these holidays are over and I can get back on a regular schedule around home. I have let some things lapse because other people have needed …
Obsessing Over a Written Story: a Creative Dead End
One of the things that discombobulates me about the holidays are all the little problems and speed bumps that crop up and get in the way of my writing. I will be glad when all these holidays are over and we get into next week so I can concentrate on the mundane aspects of writing. …
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“Alpenglow” – New Haxan Story Coming Soon. Woot!
My new Haxan story "Alpenglow" will be released soon from Argo Navis Publishing. This is a dark fantasy/horror story about the Old West. An ancient trapper named Cesar Coffin comes unannounced out of Taos into the grinding maelstrom of Haxan. He has fresh scalps...and an even darker secret hidden in the fragments of his soul. …
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Fishing the Styx – Coming Soon From Argo Navis Publishing (Update: Published!)
FISHING THE STYX by Kenneth Mark Hoover Copyright 2011 by Kenneth Mark Hoover Argo Navis Publishing “Hell is truth seen too late.” —Thomas Hobbes 1. The Leviathan Keep going, Sayeth the demon. Past the iron shore where pale arms whip the water into black foam. Through the blast furnace radiating from the crying walls …
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EQMM February 2012 Cover and personal thoughts on writing….
Here is the cover of the February 2012 Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine in which my new Haxan story appears. Of course, I don't have the cover story, but this should help you locate the magazine on a newsstand or something if you go looking for it: I have been thinking about all the milestones we …
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Hoo Boy, I Have A Lot To Do This Week
Yikes. I do have a lot to accomplish. But in front of all that is simple writing. I hope I can carve enough time out for that. Sometimes it's not just making yourself sit in front of the computer and working. Sometimes all kinds of other stuff gets in the way and holds you back. …
New Story in EQMM, Theater 13 Radio and Health Update
My new Haxan story is out in the newly published February 2012 issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. This is breaking news since I got the contributor copies a week or so ago. I think the magazine itself is out on the stands, however. If you pick up the magazine I hope you like the …
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Life is Full of Obstacles
Finding Which Way to Turn in Classical Guitar
Part of the problem I run into when teaching myself classical guitar is I will bounce from book to book. What I mean is, there are many good solo books out there to learn from. I have several. I lean toward Solo Guitar Playing by Noad and Classical Guitar by Hal Leonard. They are both …
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Two Big Decisions on the New Haxan Novel
When you work on a novel, or any story, you always make constant decisions. I think this is normal in the creative process. At least that has been my experience. One of the decisions I have come to about the new Haxan novel is I will not translate the Spanish dialog when it appears. I …
Classical Guitar and Memorization
As I posted a day or so ago I am at present learning how to play Sor's Opus 60 No 1. The reason I mention this is because I haven't yet decided if I am going to commit this song to memory. Playing a song from sheet music is one thing. Committing it to memory …
Conversation with Story: When to Keep Going, When to Quit
Story: Hello again. Me: Oh, you're back. That was quick. I submitted you to the magazine only two weeks ago. How are you doing? Story: Boy, it's brutal out there. Me: I'm sorry. I keep sending you out and you keep getting rejected. You look kind of beat up. Story: Yeah, that last editor was …
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Back On Classical Guitar: Sor’s Opus 60 No 1 and Spanish Study
I've changed the furniture layout in my room and one of the happy results is I sit a lot closer to where I keep my guitar. I say this is a happy result because I am by nature lazy. But now that I am closer to the guitar I have more reason to pick it …
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Medical Update and Publishing News
I got through the medical procedure okay today. I'm just tired and not really interested in messing around on the Internet for a while. So I am going to unplug from the Matrix, relax, read, decompress, and practice my guitar because that relaxes me as well. But I will be back to regular posting in …
Talking to Story: Rejection, and why it doesn’t matter
Story: What's wrong, spanky? You have such a sad face today. Me: I had a story rejected. Story: Oh, I'm sorry. So what? Me: What do you mean so what? I had a story rejected today by an editor. I'm supposed to celebrate that? Story: No. But why do you care? Me: What do you …
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Therapy with Story: How to deal with self-doubt and not freak out!
Me: Help me! I think I'm freaking out! Story: So in other words it's like every other day in your life? Okay, skippy, calm down and take a deep breath. What's wrong now? Me: I'm having trouble finding an entry point into this story. Grr! I'm starting to doubt myself and I can feel the …
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I Could Write This Story All Day Long, But I Won’t
A stranger rides into Haxan. He badmouths Magra Snowberry. Marshal Marwood then meets him in the plaza. I am here to tell you I could write this story all day long. I love this story. I could write it again and again, in different ways and perspectives, and be in clover. I would love it. …
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On the Banks of the Clear Fork
This is the middle of the Clear Fork of the Brazos. This was the main water supply for The Flat and Fort Griffin. As you can see the water level is very low due to the drought. I've never stood in the middle of a river before. Now I can say I have. This is …
Les Miserables: “Hunger comes with love.”
I finished reading Les Miserables by Victor Hugo for the second time some years back. The first time I read it was in high school. I liked it then, I love it now, even after all this time. I guess everyone knows about Jean Valjean stealing a loaf of bread and being pursued by Javert. …
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Hoover's Corner 