LAURENCE MACNAUGHTON

Tag: behind the scenes

  • Where does Neil Gaiman get his ideas?

    Every writer gets asked about ideas. Where do they come from? How do you find them? What inspires you? Uber-cool author Neil Gaiman suggests that you should ask yourself questions and start filling in the blanks: – What if ___ ? – If only ___ . – I wonder what/why ___ . – Wouldn’t it…

  • Greatest American Hero creator Stephen J. Cannell dies

    A moment of silence, please, for the passing of author and producer Stephen J. Cannell.  He wrote a ton of 70s and 80s action TV shows: the Rockford Files, the A-Team, Hunter, Hardcastle & McCormick and others. All favorites of mine.  He was also the bestselling author of the Shane Scully novels.  As cheesy as…

  • AlphaSmart Neo: the writing tool I freakin’ love

    In an age of smart phones, iPads and Google Docs, there doesn’t seem to be much of a place for an old-style word processor.  Unless, of course, you happen to be a writer.  Nothing’s worse than struggling to write a heart-wrenching scene of your next Great American Novel on a cramped keyboard, only to watch…

  • Brand New Look — But No Surveys?!

    It’s the end of an era.  (I’ve always wanted to say that.)  Thanks to the spectacular new “Template Designer” feature on Blogger, SciFiBookshelf.com now has that cool sprawling starfield background I’ve always wanted. But there’s only one problem:  No surveys!  Where once sat my beautiful surveys (okay, maybe not beautiful, but amusing, at least) there…

  • Science fiction novel giveaway this Friday!

    I’m thrilled to announce the very first SciFiBookshelf free book giveaway!  I’ve been working hard to fit it in with all of the award-winning author interviews, science fiction news and fun stuff you can use.  But the time has finally come for our first contest. No sweat, though.  Trust me, it’s an easy one.  All…

  • Sci Fi Bookshelf interview: Harry Connolly on Child of Fire

    Harry Connolly is making waves with his debut novel Child of Fire, the start of a new urban fantasy series that mixes explosive action with magic.  Harry was kind enough to share some insights with Sci Fi Bookshelf about dark heroes, inspiration and the fatal mistake made by most aspiring writers. Sci Fi Bookshelf: For…

  • SciFiBookshelf.com interview: Mike Resnick on Flagship (Starship, Book 5)

    Mike Resnick is the leading award winner for short fiction among all science fiction writers, living or dead. He has won five Hugo Awards, a Nebula Award, and has been nominated for 30 Hugos, 11 Nebulas, a Clarke (British), six Seiun-shos (Japanese) and a mind-boggling array of other awards. He has sold fifty-eight novels and…

  • CHECK, PLEASE

    Encouragement is like chocolate. You want just enough to look forward to, but not so much it’s unhealthy. Right? So if someone tells you that you’re doing a great job, maybe you really are. Or maybe they’re just hoping you’ll smile and go away so they can sneak into your office and eat your chocolates.…

  • The Hottest Writing Tool? Old School.

    There are little lies we tell ourselves all the time. “Oh, I’ll clean out the garage when I have some free time.” Or maybe, “This year, I’m really going to go to the gym twice a week. I mean it this time.” Or my personal favorite: “I’ll just check my email. It’ll only take a…

  • As the Rush Comes

    Like a lot of kids, I dreamed about flying. But it was never the actual “floating over the neighborhood” part that captured my imagination, looking down at everyone and waving. No, it was the sense of acceleration. The feeling of moving fast enough, with enough force, to defy the elemental pull of gravity. To leave…