The Mumbling Sage

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forums:	: My Forums
email	: Email
since	: 03-08-06, id: 516073, Profile Updated: 10-20-09
country	: United States
web	: Homepage

Author has written 20 stories for Sci-Fi, Essay, Historical, Fantasy, Family, and Fable.

Look for my story "Lord Shashensa" in Sword and Sorceress XXIV, coming November 15, 2009 from Norilana Books!

9/01/09: Today is Outer Alliance Pride Day.

As a member of the Outer Alliance I pledge to uphold the tenets of education, support, and celebration of LGBT contributions to the science-fiction and fantasy genres through my actions and work, online and in print.

For examples of my treatment of LGBT issues in my fiction, you can view my story "Heir of Life" here on Fictionpress, or read my story "Reila's Machine" in M-BRANE Science Fiction's anthology, "Things We Are Not."

For more information on the Outer Alliance, click here.

6/18/09: After cleaning out my desk, I've found a few pieces of writing that I feel like inflicting on--er, sharing with you. So expect some more fiction over the next few months. And perhaps some essays, too.

Hello, Readers. Welcome to the office of the Mumbling Sage. Please don't mind all the dust.

At this point in life, I'm working more on selling stories rather than posting them on Fictionpress, but I still post essays here and manage the C2. I'd love for people to check out my published work, obviously (most of it is free online). You can find a complete listing and all available links to my published work at my brag blog or my 'library' listing at Absolute Write Water Cooler.

As you can tell from the above, I love writing forums of all kinds--favorites include Absolute Write Water Cooler, Teenage Writers, and Deus Ex Machina Forums. I am also a moderator at the truly awesome new forum Drowned in Words. Walk-ins are welcome at all of the forums, and I'd love to see you there!

Anyway, a brief rundown of my stories:

AQUA VITAE: You won't find this one on Fictionpress anymore. I apologize, but I have what is, I think, a very good reason: I have rewritten it substantially and am trying to get the resulting novella published. The original story as shown on this site, along with all the reviews it received, are saved in a MS Word file on my computer for sentimental reasons, so if you reviewed it, your words are preserved forever. As for the story itself: A longer, better plotted, better structured (6 chapters instead of the original 3, plus an all-new epilogue), cleaner-prosed (no typos!) version should hit bookshelves...one day.

Knight of the Unicorn: Will never be finished. I threw out (deliberately) everything I had written in this as an attempt to simplify. Thoreau would be proud. If anyone is greatly distressed (since I did end on a cliffhanger), ask through email or PM and I’ll tell you the ending.

Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Epic Fantasy: Finished. You can tell I started out strong, and ended...not...very...strong. Enjoy it anyway. _

The Spirits Trilogy: At hold after ‘Spirit Lake’. I have a good reason! I’m concentrating most of my efforts towards writing a novel in this same setting, and I have plans for that novel.

Essays: Any one of these might be updated if I choose, but I probably won’t. It depends on if the muse bites or not. Enjoy them.

You won’t see me much on FP, but I’m always available through email or PM, especially in matters of my C2, Pay it Forward. PM me if you would like to join that or the Doorways (fantasy that breaks the mold) C2. And if you’d like me to review your stories, it won’t hurt to ask. I’ve never said no before.

Also, since I'm not active on Fictionpress very much anymore, I'm surprised to find that people are reading and favoriting my essays (I'm pleased, but surprised). If you want to leave a review for an essay (or anything of mine, really), I'd be very thankful to hear how you found me! Right now it's mostly a troubling matter of curiosity. Needless to say, I'm grateful to anyone who takes the time to drop me a line, I love you all, etc etc. Now get out.

Sort: Category . Published . Updated . Title . Words . Chapters . Reviews . Status .

1. Niri the WorldWalker
A short story of prophecy, doubt, and disaster. Is Niri A'Tawn the foretold World-Walker, and what will it mean for the empire of Xeocib if she is? Contains excerpt from the prophecies of Dahuan of Ilnar, Prophet, for the reader's edification .
Complete - Fantasy - Fiction Rated: K - English - General - Chapters: 1 - Words: 4,081 - Reviews: 0 - Updated: 10-6-09 - Published: 10-6-09

2. In the Face of Eternity
A prose poem The true epitaph of a human being does not lie in or on the grave, but in a place where for one moment, truly, they left their soul.
Complete - Fable - Fiction Rated: K - English - Spiritual - Chapters: 1 - Words: 239 - Reviews: 0 - Updated: 6-17-09 - Published: 6-17-09

3. Crushed
Sometimes you just have to abandon what's holding you back--if you can.
Complete - Family - Fiction Rated: K+ - English - General/Hurt/Comfort - Chapters: 1 - Words: 372 - Reviews: 0 - Updated: 6-17-09 - Published: 6-17-09

4. A Very Fundamental Introduction to Publishing reviews
Have a story, poem, or article you're thinking of publishing, or do you simply have a dream and no idea where to start? Here's the bedrock you can use to build the twenty-bedroom mansion or the house of cards your writing career turns out to be.
Complete - Essay - Fiction Rated: K - English - General - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,656 - Reviews: 3 - Updated: 5-22-09 - Published: 5-22-09

5. The StepByStep Guide to Writing Epic Fantasy » reviews
I've seen too many stories begin the same way. It makes me wonder if there's a guide out there, and if so, what it would read like... A series of observations on the genre that have probably been made before, but never by yours truly! Check it out!
Complete - Essay - Fiction Rated: K+ - English - Humor/Fantasy - Chapters: 3 - Words: 4,522 - Reviews: 19 - Updated: 1-31-09 - Published: 10-28-07

6. Guide to Things a Fantasy Author should Never Do » reviews
After much painful research, I have brought you a master list of 23 things that will never work in your writing. Ever. Ouch!Sorry, I sort of choked on the tounge in my cheek.
Complete - Essay - Fiction Rated: K+ - English - Parody/General - Chapters: 2 - Words: 3,245 - Reviews: 40 - Updated: 9-17-08 - Published: 7-10-07

7. Dialog Tags and SecondBest Words reviews
Two issues I've seen frequently on the various writing sites I belong to. Some musings and advice.
Complete - Essay - Fiction Rated: K - English - General - Chapters: 1 - Words: 834 - Reviews: 13 - Updated: 9-16-08 - Published: 9-16-08

8. Good Prose reviews
Prose: Literally, anything written that is not poetry. The text, the words on the page, the stuff the reader is actually reading. Here’s what you need to make a reader want to read.
Complete - Essay - Fiction Rated: K - English - General - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,874 - Reviews: 9 - Updated: 6-22-08 - Published: 6-22-08

9. Description: The hows, whens, and whys » reviews
Some thoughts on description in fiction and how to handle it.
Essay - Fiction Rated: K - English - General - Chapters: 2 - Words: 3,694 - Reviews: 26 - Updated: 6-17-08 - Published: 5-16-06

10. Prose Mistakes that Amateurs Make reviews
Want to make your writing sound more professional? View the nitpicks within--and learn to avoid them!
Complete - Essay - Fiction Rated: K - English - General - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,206 - Reviews: 21 - Updated: 5-15-08 - Published: 5-15-08

11. Spirit Lake » reviews
It seemed like a routine, if mystical, errand. Even if it did have strange company. But after this, nothing can be the same...for anyone. From the same setting as Heir to Life, though not a sequel.
Fantasy - Fiction Rated: T - English - Adventure/Romance - Chapters: 15 - Words: 26,073 - Reviews: 86 - Updated: 1-20-08 - Published: 5-11-07

12. Parody: A Working Definition reviews
Provided as a public service to all those reading the essay section who wish to avoid making fools of themselves! If you aren't sure what a parody is, or have every found yourself shaking your head and saying 'This CAN'T be real', come on in and see it is
Complete - Essay - Fiction Rated: K+ - English - General/Parody - Chapters: 1 - Words: 379 - Reviews: 5 - Updated: 11-22-07 - Published: 11-22-07

13. Burning You Way Through the Library reviews
A helpful, informative guide of what to scorch first, and why. Perfect for whenever you're stuck in a library and need some heat or light! Also known as 'what happens when the library pages get rebellious'
Complete - Essay - Fiction Rated: K+ - English - Humor - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,303 - Reviews: 9 - Updated: 10-21-07 - Published: 10-21-07

14. The Subtle Strife reviews
A discussion read: rant of subtlety and the lack thereof. I'd say more, but I don't want to clobber you over the head with it.
Complete - Essay - Fiction Rated: K - English - General/Humor - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,361 - Reviews: 8 - Updated: 9-21-07 - Published: 9-21-07

15. The Feng Shui of Review » reviews
An entire essay dedicated to that FictionPress staple, the review. Everyone who reviews gets a special treat!
Complete - Essay - Fiction Rated: K - English - General - Chapters: 2 - Words: 2,253 - Reviews: 40 - Updated: 5-16-07 - Published: 2-15-07

16. Knight of the Unicorn » reviews
The world may end tomorrow, but yesterday still happened. The fates of Earth and the planet Aracia are entwined at the end of all worlds. Set in the same universe as Aqua Vitae
Sci-Fi - Fiction Rated: T - English - Fantasy/Spiritual - Chapters: 15 - Words: 54,589 - Reviews: 33 - Updated: 4-22-07 - Published: 5-2-06

17. The Heir of Life » reviews
Perera the storyteller has disappeared, leaving a young ward behind. Now Renner must discover not only the whereabouts of his mentor but also the truth about himself. I am returning reviews on this story
Complete - Fantasy - Fiction Rated: T - English - Supernatural/Adventure - Chapters: 11 - Words: 13,747 - Reviews: 60 - Updated: 4-1-07 - Published: 1-3-07

18. How to Write a Fictionpress Summary reviews
In this essay, I explain how a summary can me made to draw in the most attention with the most information about your story. You can use up to 255 characters in your summary--make them count!
Complete - Essay - Fiction Rated: K - English - General - Chapters: 1 - Words: 693 - Reviews: 20 - Updated: 3-29-07 - Published: 3-29-07

19. Selling My Soul Using DECA reviews
I'm selling my soul using the DECA retail merchandising associate level performance indicators! Watch me DEMONstrate my product. But I have a very limited target market...
Complete - Essay - Fiction Rated: K - English - Humor/Parody - Chapters: 1 - Words: 653 - Reviews: 6 - Updated: 12-20-06 - Published: 12-20-06

20. A Long Night reviews
In World War II a chaplain's assistant in the South Pacific awaits a telegram bearing the Catholic Church's answer to a contraversal topic. This is a true story.
Complete - Historical - Fiction Rated: K - English - General - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,296 - Reviews: 5 - Updated: 12-6-06 - Published: 12-6-06