S.D. McPhail's Blog, page 6

The First of Many Literary Festivals

I was at the Athens-Limestone County Public Library’s Catfish Literary Festival on June 4, along with my friend and publisher, Russell Newquist. This was the first event I attended as an author. In the past, I’ve been on the other … Continue reading →

A “Real” Book

Today’s post is by Ashley Chappell, a lovely human being and author of YA Fantasy. What follows might come across as a re-hashing of an old topic, but since it seems to keep rearing its ugly head I’m not going to … Continue reading →

Cats, Persia, Egypt, and Ancient Warfare

Whatever the real reason for the war, the Battle of Pelusium is noteworthy for being an excellent example of psychological warfare in ancient times—housecats figured prominently in the Persians’ victory. Yep, domesticated felines were on the front lines of battle. … Continue reading →

Surprising Facts About Ancient Persia

In my sword-and-science fantasy novel The Origin Key, a third-century Persian prince discovers an incredibly ancient society with surprisingly modern science and technology. The prince is not amused when he is told that the revered Persian ruler Cyrus the Great … Continue reading →

Catfish Literary Festival in Athens, AL June 4, 2016

HEY Y’ALL! I’m going to be on the Sci-Fi/Fantasy panel at the Catfish Literary Festival in Athens on June 4th. This is my very first opportunity to make connections with readers and talk about my first novel The Treasures of Dodrazeb: The … Continue reading →

Ilsa J. Bick: Award-Winning Author or Renaissance Woman?

Last week I had the opportunity to attend a talk by another successful, well-known author. My local library does these events as a fundraiser, so it was a low-key evening full of wonderful gems of writerly wisdom. This time it … Continue reading →

Announcing: The Treasures of Dodrazeb: The Origin Key

I’ve always been fascinated by ancient cultures. Give me a good documentary on the ancient Hittites or the Egyptian Sphynx or an article about the latest theories regarding the Olmecs in Mesoamerica, and I’m in heaven. I’m a die-hard Indiana … Continue reading →

How Do You Spark Your Own Creativity?

Do you ever get stuck, creatively speaking? Ever find yourself frustrated when the words just aren’t flowing the way you want, or not flowing at all? You are not alone. It’s part of the creative process that every writer experiences. … Continue reading →

Why Do Agents Reject a Manuscript?

I recently attended a writers’ workshop. It was a one-day event, taught by a nationally known publishing industry authority. Attendees received intensive instruction in several areas, including how to pitch your book to an agent, whether to self-publish or go … Continue reading →

The Writing Secrets of a Best-Selling Author Revealed

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending a special event. This one was in my hometown, my own backyard you might say. It was fairly low-key and inexpensive, a fundraiser for our local library. The event was … Continue reading →