Creative Writing with the Crimson League

May 23, 2024

One week to “The Magic Council”! Celebrate by catching up with Zacry Porteg and see what he’s been up to (excerpt!)

Zacry is so much fun as a character. I like to joke that he desperately wants to be the main character, but never is. He’s twenty-six in “The Magic Council: The Fight for Home” and has become something of a scholar of magic history. When a letter comes in chapter one from the king telling…

May 22, 2024

Character Spotlight: Ursa Hincken, villain and bear owner

Ursa is definitely my favorite villain in The Magic Council. She’s also the most unique. Arbora Anders is basically a foil of Kora–the opposite of Kora, an “anti-Kora,” if you will–weak where Kora is resolute, unbending where Kora is resilient. Darryn Polve is a foil of Zacry Porteg. He’s awful. Where Zac is hard-working, deep-thinking,…

May 21, 2024

I got the first chapters of the audiobook for “The Crimson League” in! My thoughts:

I’m beyond excited. I have the first chapters (1-8 or 1-9, around there) in from Dana Allen, the narrator of the audiobook of The Crimson League: The Fight for Hope. I listened through for fun yesterday (as I write this). Today I need to listen for notes/feedback/corrections. But some first impressions: -I’ve always known dialogue…

May 20, 2024

The stories we tell ourselves

I recently wrote character spotlights of King Rexson’s three sons: Valkin, Neslan, and Hune. Before The Magic Council: The Fight for Home starts, the princes are kidnapped by a group interested in the politics of magic and in advancing magic’s cause politically. While they are held captive in Ursa Hincken’s basement, Ursa’s sister August tells…

May 19, 2024

“Magic Council” Excerpt: The Prince Who Wasn’t

I’m so excited to share the prologue of The Magic Council: The Fight for Home with you today! You’ll meet the princes I’ve spotlighted over the last few days. If you enjoy, please share the word about this upcoming release and the first book of the series, which is currently available on Amazon, including for…

May 18, 2024

Character Spotlight: Prince Hune the Misfit

I absolutely adore Prince Hune. He’s named after his uncle and grandfather. The youngest boy in the royal family, he gives life in the palace its heart. He is eight years old when The Magic Council starts. Hune has an active imagination and loves animals, especially his pet dogs and pony. He’s the only child…

May 17, 2024

Character Spotlight: Prince Neslan, the Middle Child

Prince Neslan is the middle of the king and queen’s three sons, a year younger than Prince Valkin. He is independent, more intellectual than active in his hobbies, and wise beyond his years. He was named after Neslan Dormenor of the Crimson League, and while he looks nothing like that Neslan–the prince has father’s blond…

May 16, 2024

Thankful Thursday: Thankful for children’s literature

Today I’m grateful for all the wonderful children’s and middle grade books that made me a reader when I was young and made me want to write books myself. From Little Women to The Babysitters Club, from Nancy Drew to the Boxcar Children, from Narnia to Willy Wonka’s factory, and even including Amelia Bedelia, I…

May 15, 2024

Character Spotlight: Prince Valkin the Bold

I really enjoy writing kids as characters. The Crimson League featured Zacry as a boy. Now we have multiple kids in The Magic Council–principally the three princes (pun fully intended). Valkin is Herezoth’s crown prince. At age eleven, he’s bold, curious, and strong-willed. He also has a sensitive conscience in his way, and a good…

May 14, 2024

May 30: Book two’s release, Joan of Arc, and Kora!

I originally wanted to release The Crimson League: The Fight for Hope on May 30 of last year. This was because, first of all, it’s the anniversary of my conversion experience (which took place utterly unexpectedly in 2014). May 30 also happens to be feast of St. Joan of Arc. She is the patron of…