R.A. McCandless's Blog, page 42

A Quick Note on Spears and Swords

Gil-galad is displeased.After some discussions with various folk, I pulled together these quick notes on spears and swords:
Spearswere the mainstay of most armies going back as far as, well, ever.  They’re easy to make (sharpen one end of a stick) and proved themselves right up until, and through, the start of gunpowder tactics.  They’re generally underrated by modern audience because swords are far sexier.  A sword represents an individual warrior’s strength, skill and power.&n...

The First Shelf

Now that's some shelf space!Some first time writers are confounded, confused and bewildered by the sheer scale of sitting down and crafting a story from whole, virgin nothingness.  It’s a daunting task that, for the uninitiated, can seem daunting, if not downright impossible.  Back in the bad-ole/good-ole days before the internet, it could be even harder to get started.
But here we are.  You’re reading, and I’m writing and we’re as close as two people can be who aren’t actually...

Xavi's Fourth

Birthday's are serious business!The first few birthday parties for children are never really for the children.  They get stuff all the time, and really don’t have much in the way of desires.  Most of it is lost on them, and it’s more of an excuse for friends and family to come together and enjoy the traditional smashing of the cake.
But by the fourth birthday or so, they’re starting to realize that these are events that mean something.  If nothing else, it means you’re pretty ce...

Rules, Rules and More Rules

Yeah, man, it’s like, why live your life by a structure that’s only designed to keep you down?  The workers control the means of production, man.  It’s the corporations, dude, Big Pharma and the Pentaverate who put a chemical into KFC chicken and make you crave it fortnightly!
But eve...

No Politics Today

Bathroom Humor

Are you sure there aren't other problems that demand more attention?Public restrooms are, as a rule, disgusting.  Landfills are more sanitary and have better upkeep, no matter what the sign says about how often the employees clean.  Most people (congressmen aside) don’t seek out a public bathroom unless the need is real—even the fine and elegant bathrooms at Target.
But there’s the rub.  When you gotta go, ya gotta go.
As a man who suffers through a chronic illness (Crohn's disea...

Well That Was Fast

Pulitzer Prize Winning Novelist Xavier McCandless
does have a ring to it!So that makes this a pretty happy Friday for all friends and family.
There's certainly no call to buy the book, but it is a delightful story and was told by a three year old.

Enjoy!

Xavi's Book is Done

I've cat cat class and I've got cat style.Done and done!
The proofs for Xavi’s book arrived last night and they were perfect.  As soon as I read the label on the package, I knew what was in the box.  I had to shoo the boys away.  They always assume A) the package is for them, b) the package contains a game, and c) “What’s in the package?  Is it a game?  Is it for us?” 
We’re keeping the book a surprise for Xavi’s birthday later this month.  We do not expect a...

Epic Girls Are Epic

Close the office door.  Turn up your speakers. Expand this to full screen and wait until the end.



Epic girls are epic.

Thanks Eric Lahti!

Yes, my son IS that cute.A big, huge, GINORMOUS shout out to my friend and fellow urban fantasy author Eric Lahti.
If you haven’t picked up one of Lahti’s Henchmen books, you should.  They’re phenomenal.  The third one is coming soon (sometimes even sooner).
But this isn’t just me pimping my friend’s books (although it’s that too), but also his skills and talent away from just writing.  In trying to capture and publish Xavier and Bear on Crabby Pond , Eric, stepped up to help.&nbsp...