Where does art exist? Is it in the image on the page or is it in the mind of the person viewing that image?
It’s almost an absurd question, but the implications are serious. Because what art means depends on whose space it shares. … More Creativity and Meaning
While this book features mermaids, undersea cities, ancient gods, Lovecraftian monsters, giant sea creatures, magic weapons and epic fights, I’m happy the jury focused on the character aspects in their evaluation. … More The Dark of the Sea is a finalist for the 2018 Burt Award
Romance becomes dramatic when your characters’ emotions converge, but their agendas diverge.
How do we get the best dramatic struggles to torment our lovers?
There are two ways that work in romance, one more than the other. … More Simple Writing Tips 3: Good Romance
Don’t be interesting. (And Don’t be Nice to Your Readers Either.)
In a book, you cannot afford to be polite. You want the reader to react and to be curious about the people and their world. Different words are needed. Specific words. HONEST words. Words with some effort of thought behind them. … More Simple Writing Tips 2: Don’t be Interesting.
The reader must begin your story with a great line, but you don’t have to begin your story by writing a great line.
Every writer knows you must kidnap your reader from their world and drag them back to yours from the first word. That’s what we’re told early in our author training … More Simple Writing Tips 1: Opening Lines
Of course I visited Mabaruma as part of the launch of Children of the Spider. After all, this is where our two heroes begin their journey.
Getting to Mabaruma is only possible by aircraft or river. As you can see in the satellite picture, it lies in a sea of green jungle, isolated in many important ways, but not out of touch, as I was about to find out. … More Discovering Sci-Fi at Mabaruma.
At the recent Essequibo Schools Science Fair, I came across one display of Otokooma larvae. The students said the giant worms were edible raw and I decided to give it a try. Click here to see the video And don’t forget to subscribe to my Youtube channel to get my next video. I think I’ll … More I just ate a raw worm!
It’s called The Demise of the Queen’s College Adventure Club and it’s one of six books up for this year’s Burt Award for young-adult fiction. … More My 2nd novel has been shortlisted for the Burt Award for Caribbean Literature, 2016
Artist Dandre Foster has produced an amazing spooky-cosmic painting for the cover of Children of the Spider. The closer you look at it, the more the image rewards you with details and mysteries.
You can see a high resolution version … More Cover Reveal: Children of the Spider
Children of the Spider, my first book, has a launch date now: June 2016. Or it could be July.
It depends. Some things are beyond my control. I just write the words on the pages. Not to worry though, there will be pre-launch copies available in some places as early as April. … More “Welcome to the fun and games. I’m your host, Imam Baksh.”
