Hitting the query trail to traditional publishing
A short time ago I told someone I have outgrown my indie author pot, and like a pot-bound plant, it's time for me to expand beyond what I am capable of in the independantly-published world. It's true that I have enjoyed writing the stories I have written. It's also...
The Art of Putting Yourself Out There
We all know we have to do it – social media, appearances, events, in-person book sales, groups, book-signings, email newsletters, etc. But most of us struggle to just find the time to CREATE, so how are we supposed to fit all that other stuff in? The way I see it is...
From Dream to Reality — The Making of Rubicon
YEAR: 2069 The conference room was abuzz, reporters from every corner of the globe, pressed into the stuffy room, awaiting the space agency chief. When he finally appeared, he took them through an elaborately detailed explanation of the mission to Mars. “We launched...
Sometimes, you fall on your face
I have a motto in business that I've adopted from the tech industry: Fail Fast. Fail Upward. This said, failing still sucks. Early in 2024, I had a grand scheme to start a space merch store. I created a bunch of designs, utilizing my developing digital drawing skills...
Why I Love Doing Fan Art
If you follow me on social media, you'll notice I've made quite a bit of fan art in the past several months. I've had tremedous feedback from you all, noting how much certain pieces resonate with my audience. But it's more than the feedback from fellow fans that...
The Driver by James Bez
It was a hot day. Ridiculously hot. I climbed into my open-top car waiting outside Sarajevo Station. I touched my hands to the leather steering wheel and immediately pulled them back.“God, that's hot!” Even in the shade of the station, the steering wheel burned my...
Alternative Lord of the Flies by James Bez
This short story is a reimagining of the classic Lord of the Flies by William Golding in which the point of view is a character of James's own creation. I awoke suddenly, confused by my surroundings. I smelled burnt plastic and metal. I heard creaking and...
Fun With Fan Art
It's been several weeks since I last wrote or did writing-related tasks. I've been on a break and during that time, I've discovered a love for creating fan art. And wouldn't you know it, other people are loving it too?! I'm thrilled that something that started out as...
Journey to Vega is underway
If you haven't read a good science fiction horror tale this year yet, might I suggest you try A Dark Genesis? It's a quick read, perfect for weekend readers and anyone who doesn't have a lot of time to spare, but still loves picking up a fun, fast-paced read.What's...
The special connection between science fiction and society.
July 23, 2020 – Presentation for TNR Libraries I was recently invited to do a talk via Zoom by the Thompson Nicola Regional Library and the Kamloops Society of the Written Arts. It was a real honour to be asked to do the talk and I chose to focus on how science...