Still Writing

Another year winds down, somehow we're all (most of us) still here. I call it a win. Still writing, sort of (barely). I used to pass this house on my way to and from a job years ago. I should drive out there and see if they're still putting up these decorations. My writing focus …

To Whine, or Not To Whine

My tree this year is an 18" decoration I picked up at Target close to 30 years ago. I couldn't be bothered setting up the big tree. So, is it time for my annual self-indulgent Christmas whine? You bet it is! This time of year always causes those feelings to resurface, and it's not as …

Where I’m At

Ok, bad grammar. But it needs to be something innocuous. So if the bird site totally falls off a cliff (as is looking more likely every day) here is where else I can be found: https://linktr.ee/ddsyrdal Below is just a photo. Click the link above to get the live links.

Language in Fantasy and Science Fiction

One of the things that really pulls me into a story and transports me to a fantastical or future setting is the language, specifically the invented slang and terminology for various things. For example in Star Trek we have "phasers," "beaming," "transporters," "replicators," "tricorders," "hyposprays," "Jefferies tubes," "Turbolifts," and on and on. Firefly didn't have …

A Year of Loss

As years are wont to do, this one is at last beginning to wind down. This has not been one of my best. It started January 4, with the sudden death of my younger sister. I've been very sad to discover I have no recent pics of her, and none of us together. It had …

Read a Preview of Revenants Abroad

Direct link to preview of Revenants Abroad

Side

Kicked aside. Left by the side of the road. Sidelined. Side against. Not as shiny as that thing over there. Out of sight. Off to the side. Something on the side. Side dish. Sidetrack. Brushed aside. A side note. That's my life.

COVID-19 and Corporate Life

I hope you're all doing well out there. I haven't been moved to write a blog post in a very long time, but the topic of this post keeps coming into my line-of-sight and I have a few thoughts on it. For most of my adult life, I have been a cube dweller in Corporate …

Author Interview – Karissa Laurel, “Touch of Smoke”

Today I am honored to interview Karissa Laurel on the release of her latest book Touch of Smoke, a paranormal romance available as both e-book and paper book. Tell me about your book, and is it a standalone or part of a series? Touch of Smoke is a paranormal romance that takes place in the …

Thoughts on Mortality

Decks pictured (clockwise from top left) Bohemian Gothic, Sacred Rose, Arcus Arcanum, Starchild, Tarot of Prague, Wild Unknown, Sun and Moon, Wildwood, Alexander Daniloff; center - Alchemists Oracle: Connected and Free, Celestial Stick Figures I'm inspired to put some thoughts down by a video Katey Flowers posted on YouTube of her year with the "Death" …