C.M. North's Blog, page 4
July 20, 2020
A Commitment
I have been neglectful. I have been tired, depressed, busy and overwhelmed, but most of all, I have been lazy and neglectful, and I really, really want it to stop. I haven’t written for The Broken in over three months. And before that, it had been months of emptiness as well. In fact, I really […]
June 10, 2020
Uncomfortable Truths
What a year, huh? From burning continents to murder hornets to global pandemics and nation-sweeping protests, the last six months have been a relentless torrent of deeply unsettling news. It seems we hardly have a chance to come to grips with one disaster (never mind recover from it) before we’re hit with another, and you […]
June 2, 2020
A Status Update, and Some Music
So … I haven’t written for The Broken in months. In fact, I haven’t written much of anything for anything at all in months. I’m sorry. I can’t even say that I have an excuse, because I’ve been home for months (working from home, but still). Towards the beginning of quarantine I had the intention […]
May 30, 2020
On Racism
I’m white, and I’m racist. A decade ago – perhaps even only a few years ago – that would have been impossible for me to admit. I’ve never hated anyone, much less for the color of their skin; I’ve never thought to myself that someone was inferior to me for their race. On the surface, […]
May 26, 2020
On South Park, and How Two White Men Taught Me About Being Black
In the book I’m currently working on, one of the main characters is black. The decision to do this wasn’t a light one, and factors into the plot through the racism, both subtle and overt, that the character suffers through his life. I’d like to think I didn’t chose to write a black character to […]
March 22, 2020
About That Time I Was Banned in Russia
I guess I must be pretty famous now, because Russia’s coming after me. Right up there with Pussy Riot and the gays, Russia has apparently decided I’m not good for their population, and sent me the following notice – via Twitter Legal – on Monday: In accordance with No. 7 of Article 15.1. of the […]
February 10, 2020
22 Scars: 100 and Counting
A few weeks ago, my debut novel, 22 Scars, passed a significant milestone. Since its publication a little over 2 years ago, I’ve been giving away free copies through Voracious Readers Only, as well as a few copies sold here and there through Amazon, Apple Books, and local book stores. I can safely say I […]
February 2, 2020
Normal Is a Point of View
I’m depressed. Again. I knew it was coming, of course; my rampant mania in early January was a clear indication that I was swinging far and wide. There are no ups without downs, and no soaring highs without crushing lows. It doesn’t change the fact that I’m depressed now. And that depresses me. Late last […]
January 4, 2020
A Hiatus for The Broken
Dearest readers, I have a difficult announcement to make. Despite months of effort, I’ve made little to no progress on my second novel, The Broken. Not for lack of trying, but I’m struggling to learn my characters, find out what they’re doing, and how the world around them is affecting them. Remember that the story […]
December 25, 2019
‘Tis the Season
Marley was dead: To begin with. Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol Yesterday, I challenged a few people at work to identify the quote above. No guesswork here, though – it’s the opening line to A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. This is perhaps my favorite holiday story ever, and of course the only worthwhile film […]
