Tag Archives: Writing

The land of the dead

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Brian Bixby

I grew up among the dead. My local landscape was inhabited by stories about ancestors who had lived and died in nearby places for centuries. My mental landscape was haunted by ghost stories. I had relatives who ran a funeral … Continue reading →

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Chapter 8 of Martha’s Children, and the logic of enthrallment

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Brian Bixby

“It’s not that I don’t like you, I just want to kill you,” chapter 8 of Martha’s Children, is now up on my blog. Cops are loyal to their partners. But what happens when your partner turns up as a vampire? … Continue reading →

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Chapter 7 of Martha’s Children, and not much else

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Brian Bixby

In “Home is where the bleeding heart is,” chapter 7 of Martha’s Children, Ned finds himself  without Martha to instruct him in living as a vampire. So what does he do now? If you’re not reading Martha’s Children, my tale of cops … Continue reading →

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Writing to offend

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Brian Bixby

Writers have an almost unlimited opportunity to offend their readers: sex, violence, race, religion, politics, profanity, gender, class, and so on. Americans in particular live in a society that officially encourages freedom of speech, and at the same time says … Continue reading →

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Chapter 6 of Martha’s Children, and Chicago Bronzeville

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Brian Bixby

“Bleeding in Bronzeville,” chapter 6 of Martha’s Children, is now available. Ned finally gets  out of the basement to go visiting with Martha! But the friends of a vampire are, shall we say, a trifle unusual, not exactly the sort of … Continue reading →

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Review: Seanan McGuire, Midnight Blue-Light Special

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Brian Bixby

It’s time for another review of a recent book from a prospective author’s perspective. Today’s subject is Midnight Blue-Light Special, which despite its title is not about shopping, but an “urban fantasy” (according to the publisher) written by Seanan McGuire, a … Continue reading →

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Chapter 5 of Martha’s Children and Chicago sociology

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Brian Bixby

“Fighting Martha,” chapter five of Martha’s Children, is now available. Ned’s getting loose! Hooray! But the very next thing he has to do is fight Martha! Ned is going to find out just how tough the vampire Martha Fokker really is. … Continue reading →

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Chapter 4 of Martha’s Children, and looking for models in detective fiction

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Brian Bixby

“Of kings and rippers,” chapter four of Martha’s Children, is now available. Think Martha’s the worst thing that could have happened to Ned? Ned thinks so. And then he finds out he’s wrong. If you’re not reading the story, you can … Continue reading →

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Chapter 3 of Martha’s Children, and the evolution of monsters

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Brian Bixby

“Vampire Evolution,” the third chapter of Martha’s Children, my current serial, is now up. While bound in his coffin, Ned makes a friend. But in the topsy-turvey world of being a vampire, he soon regrets it. Yes, I’m posting the chapter … Continue reading →

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Criticizing others’ writing

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Brian Bixby

Back in December, I posted a query to readers, asking when and how it is appropriate to criticize the writings of others on their blogs. I should note I was thinking of literary blogs when I wrote this, though some … Continue reading →

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