Never forget the past ... it could be the basis for the next book you read!
The Speculative Basement: Alternate History

Never forget the past ... it could be the basis for the next book you read!
nothing beats swords and lasers ... except, perhaps a laser sword ...
Through the Wardrobe C.S. Lewis and Lewis Carroll. I always got the two confused when I was younger, with the Lewis's and the "C" names ... but they actually had more in common than just slightly similar names. First off, they both wrote fantasy stories that were geared towards children ... and they were both…
I must admit that hosting a flash fiction contest was a bit stressful. First, there was the fear that no one would submit stories ... then the fear that there would be a bunch of stories, and I would be blind by the end of the week. Thankfully, there was a happy median, and here I sit…
Discover Weird West Fantasy, in the Speculative Basement!
I was really nervous taking part in *CHANGES* with Sally Ember this morning. I had never done anything close to a live show, whether it be a television, internet, or radio program. There's always that fear that you'll say or do something unforgiveable and that it would be caught in the moment and preserved for…
It gives me great pleasure to finally reveal the art that is the cover for my debut novel, Plod On, Sleepless Giant. Like most of us, I was always taught to "never judge a book by its cover" ... unfortunately, that rule really doesn't apply to actual books. Sadly, we almost always judge a book by…
It's not often that you stumble upon a story that is refreshing and new. Most of the time, the stories I read are rehashings of clichéd plotlines, even if they are great stories and expertly written. It's not the fault of the writers, however ... there are only so many ways to tell a story,…
Columbus, Ohio is a hotbed of artistic energy. It may surprise some to hear that, but it's true. We have artists, writers, musicians; we even have a nationally recognized art school. I love it here. There's always interesting festivals going on and plenty of inspiration to fuel my writing soul. It's also always nice to…
WARNING! The following may contain spoilers to The Last Unicorn Peter S. Beagle has a way with words that most writers can only dream about. The way he turns simple words into literary daggers that stab us in the hearts is something all great Fantasy writers should strive for. Sure, it's enough to have a…