Charlie Foxtrot

Exploring Relationships in Cosimo’s World

This is the opening of the story that introduced Cosimo and his world in Families of the Empire. “This is a bad idea,” I said softly as we walked toward the grand entrance of the Amorperdita Club. Elaine squeezed my hand and gave me her shy smile. She was the reason I had agreed toContinue reading “Exploring Relationships in Cosimo’s World”

Exploring Cosimo’s World: A Closer Look at the Climax

Here’s another excerpt from Cosimo’s story. The lab building was chained shut, but father had provided keys and a letter from the current lien holder allowing me to inspect it for possible purchase. Twelve gave a shudder as she read the name on the placard beside the door while I removed the lock and unwrappedContinue reading “Exploring Cosimo’s World: A Closer Look at the Climax”

Catch Editing Mistakes Easily with Speechify

Editing can be a tedious process. Recently, I’ve been using Speechify.com to read sections of the work I’m editing to help catch mis-cues in the narrative. It’s a good tool that I felt others might appreciate. It has much better voices and smoother pacing for reading works aloud. I’ve been listening to it read, while following alongContinue reading “Catch Editing Mistakes Easily with Speechify”

Cosimo and Samantha: A Dance of Wits and Charm

This is an excerpt from Cosimo’s story. This scene is from about one third of the way through Cosimo’s tale and shows Cosimo meeting Samantha for the second time. Enjoy. “You look as bored as I feel,” a warm, soft voice said next to me. I glanced, appreciating her sharp profile in the dim lightContinue reading “Cosimo and Samantha: A Dance of Wits and Charm”

Finn and Elara: Exploring Boundaries in a New Realm

Editing, Editing, Editing…when do I get back to writing? I am happy to say I’ve finished my editing and re-write of sections of A New Past to create a less explicit version of the story. I’m not getting the final formatting sorted out and posted on Amazon for publishing. It’s been a lot of workContinue reading “Finn and Elara: Exploring Boundaries in a New Realm”

Another Past: Book One

If you are interested in reading a less explicit version of A New Past, you can now find the first book in the series, re-edited and toned down, on Amazon. Book One is available for Kindle and Kindle Unlimited. It will be out in paperback and hardback later this moth. Books Two and Three willContinue reading “Another Past: Book One”

Revising Romance: Enhancing Character Arcs in A New Past

Funny how focus shifts. I began re-working A New Past to make a non-explicit versions of the story as a means to find some creativity for my other work. It has quickly become my primary focus for writing. I’m happy to say Book One is complete, and will be published under a different author nameContinue reading “Revising Romance: Enhancing Character Arcs in A New Past”

Help Me Choose a New Cover

I plan on removing Technomancer from my Charlie Foxtrot pen name. As part of this effort, I’m updating the cover for the ebook and paperback as well. If you’re interested in lending a hand, help me choose a new cover. No registration, tracking, or shady stuff happening, just a simple poll. You’ll also be “inContinue reading “Help Me Choose a New Cover”

Oxford Comma vs. No Oxford Comma: What Writers Should Know

Which is the best for comma usage in fiction? To be, or not to be? As I’ve been revising and editing “A New Past: Book One” to make a non-explicit version, I’ve run into an inconsistency in my editing tools. In the review tools built into Ulysses, where my definitive content lives, Oxford commas are used. This suggestsContinue reading “Oxford Comma vs. No Oxford Comma: What Writers Should Know”

Secrets, Surveillance, and Survival in Technomancer

An excerpt from Technomancer. “Elara!” Finn called out sharply as he watched one of the feeds from the neighborhood spy-cams he had set up. The three-person team in cheap business suits were too well organized to be random pollsters. He watched as they stopped people on the streets, showed them a paper, and then askedContinue reading “Secrets, Surveillance, and Survival in Technomancer”