These Moments pass Swiftly

Before leaving for work this morning, I was telling my wife how much of a difference a few minutes delay can make in my commute. I told her that if I didn’t time my drive right, I would get caught in traffic and add as much as 20 minutes to my travel time. Well, I happened to be leaving a couple minutes later and knew there would be some delay. Then I walked out the front door and saw this:

Sunrise, July 29 2013

 I called my wife over and snapped a couple photos before suddenly, it ended. And that was that.

I think that some of the most spectacular moments in life are like this sunrise. They arrive and pass so swiftly that, most of the time, we miss them. In this crazy fast world of digital real time living, it’s easy to overlook the little miracles that shape most of our existence. I have seen the sunrise most of the days of my life, but I have never seen one like this and I’m not soon to forget this one either.

Happy living.

 ~ Jamie

The Little Things Make Me Smile

I love this season. Cold nights sneak through open windows, brilliant leaves color the mountain landscape, and never-ending lines of birds plot courses to warmer places to announce that the world is ready to sleep for a while. It’s been a busy summer; I’ve played hard and have worked hard. I finished one book, wrote another, and sent a third to the editor’s desk. I camped and swam and ate more than my share of picnic lunches. The time has come for new challenges and fresh opportunities. While the nights grow longer and the days wear thin, I wish that this time of year could last forever. I want it to last forever. Another reason: a tiny piece of heaven called candy corn. I love candy corn—almost as much as I love this season. I’m a simple guy with simple tastes, and it’s the little things in life that make me smile. Here’s to a great week and a wonderful season.

~ Jamie

Blue Jays, Canoes, and a Squirrel

I spent the last couple days camping deep in the middle of bear country. It’s always refreshing to get away, especially when away means no cell phone service. I was able to leave the world we live in and escape into a place where the loudest sound was river water over stones and the brightest lights at night were the stars.

This trip also provided great writing research in a few ways. First, I went canoeing. The last time I rode in a canoe was during the great river adventure that inspired me to write—over twenty years ago. I was on a lake this time, so the feeling was different than the rushing chaos of a river run, but I loved how the memories came flooding back. I was surprised at how cold the water was. I had forgotten. Thinking back to that great adventure, it’s more incredible to me that everything turned out okay then. There are pieces from that adventure that have made it into my series. Watch for some great river adventures in book three!

Second, I came face to face with a beautiful doe near our camp. She was huge, standing as tall as me. We stared at each other and then she strolled into the trees, having determined that I wasn’t a threat. Her face was so calm, so accepting of my presence. It’s rare to have a moment like that in the wild, so I’ll always remember it. There’s a scene in FROM RISING FLAMES with a doe. I may tweak it a bit based on this experience.

I love the tranquility of the night forest. I wandered through the tree, sans flashlight, listening and observing everything. Every shadow, every whisper of wind, and every rustle in the bushes was enlightening. High above, the stars glowed bright and clear, touching the treetops with their truth of how large the universe is. In the middle of the night, a raccoon found our garbage bag. After a couple tries, it tore a hole in the bag, spilling a few paper plates and aluminum cans to the ground. It played with one can in the dirt for a while and then scuttled down the riverbank.

Thankfully, no bears found our camp, but there were plenty of squirrels and Blue Jays to keep us company. Magnificent streaks of blue glided silently from tree to tree while angry little squirrels screamed their annoyance at our disruption to their day. One big fat, furry squirrel decided that the crumbs from our spilt garbage bag (raccoon’s evil doing) were a tasty snack. He slinked and crawled close to me before quickly discovering that I’m a sneaky trapper as well. J Had he not been the world’s biggest squirrel, he wouldn’t have escaped, though!

So that’s my travelogue and a glimpse into the wondering impulses inside of me. I love the outdoors and enjoy incorporating my little adventures into fantasy books. Enjoy your week and happy reading.

~ Jamie

River Trip

My very first blog post mentioned the moment when I first decided to write. Since that moment, I've plotted and planned how to recreate the scene so that everyone who reads it feels what I went through. That day happened in 1989 and I still remember every detail, every thought, every taste, smell, sight, feeling, and emotion. It's so vivid in my mind that there are nights when it's all I dream about. I hear songs from that summer and am instantly transported back to the moment. Capturing the moment right is a big deal to me. No, it's a huge deal. Because I wanted to get it right, I never tried writing it before. Today, 23 years later, I'm finally putting it on a page; it will be a scene in book 3. Forgive me for the short message. I'm busy writing.

Have a great week. Happy reading.

~ Jamie

The Magic of Discovery



Last night, I dusted off my telescope and took it out to the front porch. My wife and children joined me and, together, we enjoyed magnificent views of Jupiter and a handful of its moons. Jupiter is my favorite planet to explore, because it’s bright and colorful—the bands of clouds look amazing.  I also enjoy exploring Jupiter because it offers something different every time.

When I experience something for the first time, it feels magical. Whether my expectations are exceeded or failed, the discovery of what I previously didn’t know holds a special place in my memory. It’s that magic that keeps me exploring, keeps me trying new things. There’s nothing like it, and this is the only way I know how to describe it.

I remember the first time I saw the Eiffel Tower. The van driver providing the tour had driven specifically so that no one had a view of the tower until the exact moment he wanted. As we passed a row of trees on our left, there it stood—GIANT and right in front of us! We had arrived at its base and I had to crane my neck just to see it all. I lived in France for two years and saw the tower hundreds of times after that. None of those times matched the feelings of the moment I described.

I have this same experience when I see a great movie for the first time, or eat at a spectacular restaurant. Yes, I also feel the magic when I read a good book. As I progress through the story, I sink my face into the pages, digging for each word, unwilling to miss a meaning. I imagine the characters in my mind and can watch them, hear them. I gladly give up sleep just so I can get to the end. Then I gasp in surprise at the finale I wasn’t expecting.

While on this writing journey, I'm trying to keep the magic of discovery in mind and understand that I'm writing for the audience. Yes, it's my story and my characters play their parts, but I have an obligation to give you that magical moment when you read. It's not easy, and I have wonderful people around me to keep me on track. As I write, I want you to know that I'm doing everything possible to keep you turning the pages.

Go where you want, die where you must...

This is a poor copy of a photo I took in 1995 at Kaibab National Forest in Arizona. It was Memorial Day weekend, and this is what I woke up to. You can't see it, but to the far right is the Grand Canyon. I still remember every detail about the day I took this picture. It was magical and full of inspiration.

On my wall, I have a poster of the original photo. At the bottom of that poster, I inscribed an old French proverb: "Go where you want, die where you must."

In a way, this photo and the proverb are my motto.

I hope this post reaches you in good health and peace of mind. I hope it offers you a little inspiration. Life is wonderful. Find its beauty, then share it with your words.

How Much is a Picture Worth?

Life is inspiration. I mention it a lot, because I believe it. As much as I enjoy writing, I love experiencing the world around me more. Nature is the fuel to my muse.

While I could spend all day in a dark room with my laptop, punching away thousands of words, I know that, without fuel, I would eventually run out of things to write about. That's why I escape as often as I can. A small hike, a camping trip, a night with a telescope, an afternoon with my family, even a moment of terror outside during a violent thunderstorm give me what I need to keep my stories interesting.

I took a bit of a break these last few weeks, filling my cup with as much inspiration as possible. I kept writing, in fact, I'm almost done with draft one of book two in the series (I still don't have a name for it), but not at the pace that got me here. I'm okay with that. I spent quality time with my wife and children and created some memories that will last a lifetime.

It's these memories, life, and nature that will keep the stories coming; tiny tidbits of detail that aren't possible to find online, or in a book; real life experiences that will enrich the flavor of my writing. Not everyone needs that, but I do. It's a part of who I am, and part of that comes through on the pages I create.

I posted a photo above and I'm posting one below. They are from extraordinary moments that I experienced in the last few weeks. They say a lot, without showing much. What do they tell you? What stories do they inspire?

Moon Season

Photo: NASA

It’s a full moon.

I draw my energy from nature, and have always found comfort in the blue rays from our neighbor in the sky. They remind me that there’s something out there, something we cannot touch or completely understand. The moon warms the depths of my creativity and sparks the flames of inspiration. On occasion, late at night, I’ve raised my arms to its glory and accepted its call to the mysterious unknown—shush, don’t tell anyone. Yes, I love the moon, and when it’s full, I’m at my prime.

I was born during a full moon. Since then, the moon and its phases has welcomed and guided me. When dark, I'm allowed to search the stars. When brilliant, I enjoy its magic and grace. Even when it's hidden by clouds, I know when there’s a full moon close; I can feel it.

Why am I sharing this? What could the moon possibly have to do with writing? To me, it’s everything. The people in the books I create worship nature. Every whisper of the wind, every storm, every star, has a place and a memory that is sacred to them. Their struggles revolve around the moon as much as their humanity. For them, the moon takes an entire season to cross the sky.

The original name the first book I keep mentioning was Moon Season. A huge part of me still wants to call it that. The main Character in my books is a girl named Rhiannon Phillips. She’s a Faerie. Her struggle during the Moon Season is the premise for the story. In my world, Faeries are chosen; they are sacred representatives of the village and its rites. I now title the book On Fallen Wings because I want to show the conflict Rhiannon faces.

This blog is about my adventure in the publishing process, and as nature speaks to me, I’ll share how it’s influencing my actions and try my best to explain my motivations. We live in a busy world that’s full of chaos and rumblings, and I’m hoping that, through my writing, I can take you away to a fantastic place where I’ve been escaping. I don’t want to give too much away before I can attach “published” to my bio, but I’m hoping you’ll join me for the journey. As Homer said, “the journey is the thing.”

The Nature of my Stories

The words of Wilson Rawls captivated me when I was a child, especially one brief passage about a fairy ring.



A few years ago, I found a fairy ring; perhaps it found me.
Only days after moving into our current home, I saw something on the front lawn. Tiny mushrooms forming a circle. I didn’t jump up and down and exclaim that I had solved the meaning of the universe, but I was fascinated. A Fairy Ring. Immediately, the words I had read years earlier repeated inside of me. I took a photo with my phone and captured the memory of the moment. Then I looked around, discreetly stepped inside the circle, and made a wish.

A year later, while plotting my first novel, I discovered that some of the characters were flat. In fact, I hated them. If the author doesn’t like what is written, then certainly the reader never would. I tried changing their descriptions, their names, even imagining different voices to make them unique. Still, they were boring. Then I remembered my little fairy ring. Perfect.

I studied fairies—their history, the myths, and writings about them. I quickly realized that my own mental images differed completely from everything I found. There was nothing close and that wasn’t a bad thing. I wanted my creation to be unique.

So, I’ve kept the FAERIES, using the old world name to more accurately match the characters involved. Characters that I love. With a different edge and a remake of history, I’m trying to share their stories in a way that takes the reader to a place they’ve never been.

What about you? Is there something in nature that inspires your creativity? What are your thoughts of Faeries?