When “Should” Writers Use a Pen Name?*

* Note: This is a re-post of a post that originally appeared in December 2014. I’m out of town at the Left Coast Crime Convention this week (seahorse fans, never fear…my husband stays home to fish-sit), but the question “Should I use a pen name?” seems evergreen, so I’m running this post again. To clarify from the outset: I don’t think there’s a single answer to the question “should I use a pen name?” Use of a pseudonym involves multiple legal, business, and personal issues, and is a question each author needs to answer on his or her own (if appropriate, with the assistance

Read more

Synchiropus splendidus (But We Call Her Flutter).

One of my favorite reef-dwelling fish is Synchiropus splendidus–common name, Mandarin Dragonet.  Wherein lies the problem: unless you can train a mandarin dragonet to recognize “dead” foods, or you’re willing to pay $20 a week to buy live “Tigger pods” to repopulate your reef, the mandarin is likely to starve in captivity. Ironically, a seahorse tank provides the perfect environment for mandarin dragonets to flourish. Despite their vacuous expressions and generally peaceful tendencies, most mandarin dragonets are intelligent fish that can and will learn by observing others. Specifically, they watch the seahorses eat from feeding bowls and figure out that whatever is in the

Read more

A Visit to Inis Mór (Part 1)

Last August, I had the opportunity to teach at a writing retreat and tour in Ireland with Ireland Writer Tours.   In addition to teaching writing courses, we visited many landmarks and historical sites, including the largest of the Aran Islands, Inis Mór (sometimes written “Inishmore”). The trip to the island took about an hour by boat (at least, that’s what I’m told–I fell asleep almost the moment we left the dock and didn’t wake up until the boat arrived, much to the chagrin of the queasier members of the group). Here’s the view from the arrival dock: After leaving the boat, we stopped for lunch at

Read more

Ninja News – February 21, 2016

Been a while since my last news update, but you can expect them more regularly now that spring is upon us! The Shinobi Mysteries are receiving a facelift with the upcoming installment, The Ninja’s Daughter, which releases August 2 from Seventh Street Books. I’ll give the entire scoop when we have the cover art finalized, but suffice it to say, there’s exciting news ahead! (For those who don’t wait to wait…The Ninja’s Daughter is now available for pre-order in trade paperback and ebook formats, at all online retailers and from your local Barnes & Noble or your favorite independent bookseller.) This

Read more

An Introduction to Japanese Nō Drama

The dramatic art of Nō (sometimes written “Noh”), or Nōgaku, originated in Japan around the 14th century. Although the art form owes it origins to an older Chinese form called sangaku, which came to Japan from China during the 8th century, the rigid discipline and technical aspects of a Nō performance are uniquely Japanese. In fact, many people consider Nō to be an entirely, and uniquely, Japanese dramatic form. Nō is a form of play composed of chanted verses, some of which are spoken by solo actors and others by a chorus. The play is accompanied by four musicians: three drummers and a flutist. Some of

Read more

Why Every Writer Needs to Understand All Publishing Paths

The best way for writers to protect their works and their legal rights is to learn what’s normal (and what’s not) in the publishing industry. In the past, it was often enough for an author to understand the model he or she chose–either traditional publishing or the self-publishing model. However, it’s increasingly important for authors to understand the various publishing options–and not only for the reasons you might expect. Here are just a few of the reasons why it’s important for authors to understand all of the publishing models, no matter which they choose to pursue: 1. Ignorance makes authors legally vulnerable to scams

Read more

Photobombing Crabs of the Reef

I take a lot of aquarium photographs, both for myself and to share on the blog and social media. When I can, I take the time to frame the shots to minimize the need for edits–and when I can’t, I often crop the photographs for best effect. When you spend enough time photographing a subject, you notice certain patterns–some the result of photographer’s bias (for example, my tendency to photograph Magellan more than the other seahorses on the reef) and some that emerge from the subject itself. Three porcelain crabs (the pictured one is my oldest female, Ripley): Crabs, and hermits particularly, fill an important role

Read more

How to Hunt a Shogun

How do you stop a plot to kill a man who’s been dead for five hundred years? In my case, it required a map, a tour guide, and a ninja. My second Hiro Hattori novel (Shinobi Mystery), Blade of the Samurai, involved a plot to assassinate the 13th Ashikaga Shogun, Japan’s military leader from 1546 to 1565. In the novel, the shogun’s cousin is stabbed to death inside the shogun’s palace, and master ninja Hiro Hattori (along with his Portuguese Jesuit sidekick, Father Mateo) must find the killer and stop the plot – or face execution in the killer’s place. Writing historical mysteries

Read more

Here Comes the Sun (Coral)

Many people think of corals as “plants” or “flowers;” it’s easy to do, given their brilliant colors and generally sessile nature. However, corals are animals, and while some are photosynthetic (like plants), many are carnivorous–including one of my favorites, the sun coral (Tubastrea sp.): The coral gets its name because, when open, it looks like the sun, with its mouth at the center. If you look, you can see the mouths (they look like slits when closed) on every polyp: The coral on the upper right is actually a child of that parent colony, as are these baby suns growing underneath my filter intake:

Read more

Tips for Publishing Success

Many authors believe that the key to becoming a successful author is “writing a book” or “getting lucky enough to find an agent/publisher/contract offer.” Although there are undeniably elements of luck involved in publishing–perhaps more accurately explained as “being in the right place, with the right manuscript, at the proper time”–there are also some important things authors can do to increase their chances of being on the spot when the lightning strikes. First and foremost: KNOW THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY. Publishing is an art, but it’s also a business, and savvy business people learn about the way the industry works–regardless of whether they’re

Read more