I am doing a world building workshop at the Maryland Writers’ Association Montgomery Chapter Saturday, April 11 at 10:30 AM.
Visit the MWA website to register and get the Zoom link.
Not a member? No problem. Meetings are open to the public.
Tag: Writing
-
SFWA Virtual Constellation Series March 21-22, 2026
I’ll be part of the SFWA Virtual Constellation Series On March 21, 2026
Registration is free.
Tracey Baptiste, Gabrielle Byrne, Michelle Knudsen, and I will be reading Saturday, March 21, from 2:00 to 3:30 pm Eastern Time.
-
Did I Really Do All That Last Year?
One of my non-writing goals for 2025 was to work through my “to be read list.” There are still many books in that pile, but I did read 36 of them.
Here are the ones I finished in the order they were read .
You may notice some repeated authors.
Everything Changes: An Anthology of Climate fiction – Angie Dell
The Collapsing Empire – John Scalzi
Autonomous – Annalee Newitz
In Our Own Worlds: 4 Novellas by Margaret Killjoy, Ellen Klages, Kai Ashante Wilson, and Jy Yang. My favorite was Passing Strange by Ellen Klages.
Dark Touched: Book 1 of the Glass Star – Elle Lewis
A Language of Dragons – S. F. Willimson
Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy – Tui T. Sutherland
Dragonfruit – Makiia Lucier
Wings of Fire: The Dark Secret
Daughter of Darkness – Terry Brooks
Wings of Fire: The Brightest night – Tui T. Sutherland
Wings of Fire: Moon Rising – Tui T. Sutherland
Burning Down the House – Jean Marie Ward
Artificial Condition – Martha Wells
Gold Dust – Catherin Asaro
Sister of Starlite Seas – Terry Brooks
The Calling – Ken Altabet
Ink & Bone – Rachel Caine
Song of Silver, Flame Like Night – Amelie Wen Zhao
Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White – Amelie Wen Zhao
Maus: A Survivor’s Tale I – Art Spiegelman
Maus: A Survivor’s Tale II – Art Spiegelman
Wings of Fire: The Hidden Kingdom – Tui T. Sutherland
The Wings Upon Her Back – Samantha Mills
The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood
Lilith’s Brood – Octavia Butler
The Study of Storms & Magic – Maria V. Snyder
Stain of a Nation – Bishop O’Connell
A School for Dragons – Amy wolf
For the Good of the Realm – Nancy Jane Moore
The Death of a Maven – Kathryn Johnson
Rogue Protocol – Martha Wells
Exit Strategy – Martha Wells
Fugitive telemetry – Martha Wells
Manufactured Witches – Michelle Rene
Network Effect – Martha Wells
I also:
Participated in 7 Conventions/Conferences.
4 Book Festivals/ Markets
1 Podcast
Published 2 books
I think that’s a pretty fine literary year.
Don’t forget to check out these books:
Sometimes it’s hard to be who you are meant to be.
Especially when your powers can get you killed.
Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.
Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble.
Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.
It’s Hanukkah, and Dragon is helping his family celebrate.
Have you ever made latkes or played dreidel? Come join the fun as Dragon makes latkes and lights the menorah. Then play the dreidel game and see where it lands!
Sometimes a blessing can be a curse.
Young Maya bears the mark of the moon goddess, a sign that would doom her to be sacrificed in her village where the death god is revered. Forced to dye her golden eyes dark, Maya lives in constant fear of discovery. To save her family and the village’s future, she must find the courage to stand up to the high priest before he can bring the death god into this world.
Plagued by memories not her own, a young hummingbird struggles to decipher the visions and powers that set her apart from her fellow birds. But the road to awareness is fraught with danger that could doom her to repeat history.
One step toward understanding.
One stride toward survival.
One leap toward flying free from the past.
A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret
Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.
But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.
-
Book Review – Gold Dust
Gold Dust, by Catherine Assaro, is the second Dust Knights novel. This is an exciting standalone story with a large cast of characters that centers around the Undercity kids who have joined the Raylicon Olympic team and their teammates. There is Bhaaj, a retired and decorated military officer turned private investigator and track and field coach. Mason, the city of Cries coach who discovers that the Undercity people are athletic prodigies. Angel, a strong psychic from the Undercity who is constantly underestimated by her city instructors. Ruzik, Angel’s husband and a great distance runner. Dice, heir to the Undercity’s Vakaar crime syndicate. Shiv, heir to the Undercity’s Kaja crime syndicate. Tam, a talented trans Undercity runner who is targeted multiple times because of her origin. Kiro, an incredibly strong empath from a wealthy and privileged family in the city of Cries. Hyden, an arrogant runner from another wealthy family who scorns all Undercity runners as beneath him, and Zee, Lamp, and Strider, Undercity runners who are drawn to Kiro and accept him into their family.
These kids just want to run, (and get food and clean water for their families) but are hit with prejudice and obstacles at multiple turns. Everyone “knows” that people from the Undercity are all no good, lazy, and stupid criminal thugs. At almost every race, the Undercity athletes are underestimated and ridiculed, accused of cheating when they win.
But this story is about more than that. There are surprising twists and revelations, power plays between two major corporations, all with family ties, interstellar intrigue, and a pair of star-crossed lovers. Can the city athletes look beyond their preconceived notions? Can the Undercity athletes overcome their many disadvantages and find acceptance? You’ll need to read to find out. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and look forward to more in this series.
Gold Dust releases on October 7, 2025
-
ConTinual : Fantasy Civilizations
It’s time to take off and visit creating fantasy civilizations in The Panel Room 196.
Join Jamie Garner, Kristin Jackson, Amy Kaplan, Gini Koch, Ken Lange, Wendy Van Camp, and host James P. Nettles III as they talk about some of their favorite fantasy worlds, and the influences they use to create their own!
-
To AI or Not to AI: The Question of Our Age
There’s been a lot of talk lately about the use of AI in the literary world. Some say it’s okay, right? Well…. There are a few things you should know before you dive into this technology.
In training their artificial intelligence platforms, the creators of AI software used other people’s writing without permission. By that, I mean they did not ask authors or even publishers if they could use the work. They did not purchase any of these books. They simply stole writing from authors. We are not talking about pieces that are out of copyright and in open domain, but contemporary books from authors currently writing and selling their creations. These are facts. I know authors affected by such theft.
Publishing is hard and costs money, especially if you are self-publishing. There’s professional editing, ISBN numbers [unless you are using the free ones from Amazon, but then big bookstores and independent bookstores won’t carry your books], printing, and the dreaded marketing. And what best sells your book? Why a cover of course, and purchasing a cover can be expensive, although I have seen some as low as $50. This all makes using AI to generate your cover very tempting. Which brings me back to how they trained that AI.
Stop now and ask yourself, how did they teach those machines? They took images from museums and from all over the internet, including art for sale and personal photos, without asking permission. I majored in Art [MFA Sculpture w/ceramics minor] so perhaps I have a slightly biased opinion, but this rankles the artist in me.
Let’s say you used AI to create your cover. Can you copy-write that creation? The answer is no. Legally it is not your art. You did not create it; it was generated by someone else. In this case an AI. Should you mention that on your copyright page? Yes.
I get the need to watch budgets. When I published my short stories, I created the covers using a program called GIMP, which is a free photo manipulation program. It is similar to Adobe Photoshop. I’m not going to go into the details of how it works here, that would be another article. I use my own photographs or get permission from other photographers to use theirs. The rest is drawn using the tools in the program. Even with the benefit of an art background, which gives me a slight edge, it is still hard work. I am proud of what I create.
Now let’s look at publishing markets. When AI-generated writing first came out, it wasn’t particularly good, but that didn’t stop people from inundating publishers with their dreck. So much so that many publishers were forced to temporarily close their doors to submissions while they figured out a way to sort through them. Now, every one of the markets I have seen clearly states that they do not accept anything AI generated; so, you had better check where you want to submit before jumping into this technology.
Within MWA, AI generated writing and art cannot be submitted to Pen in Hand. Nor are they eligible for our contests. Even Amazon now asks if AI was used. Authors are also adding language to their copyright pages explicitly saying their work may not be used to train AI. Here is an example:
“No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner for the purpose of training artificial intelligence technologies or systems.”
AI and its use in various markets is rapidly changing. You will have to decide where you stand, but really, why would you want AI to do your work? The whole reason I became a writer/artist was to bring my creations to life and share them with the world. Yes, it’s hard, and I’ve struggled at times, but creating is what I do. Why hand that off to a machine? I can see where it may be helpful to generate a writing prompt, but any writing should be done by you. Images should come from you, not a program. You are the creator. Leave the AI for self-driving cars and medical procedures.
This article was originally published in the Maryland Writers’ Association 2025 Spring Newsletter.
Resources:
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) Statement on AI/ML Use
SFWA Members Weigh in on AI & Machine Learning Applications & Considerations
Writer Beware: Turning Copyright on Its Head: The UK’s Proposed AI Copyright Exception
“Clause Relating to Authors’ Use of AI
Authors shall not be required to use generative AI or to work from AI-generated text. Authors shall disclose to Publisher if any AI-generated text is included in the submitted manuscript, and may not include more than [5%] AI-generated text.”“Cover Design Clause (For Book Contracts)
Publisher agrees not to use AI-generated images, artwork, design, and other visual elements for the book cover or interior artwork without Author’s prior express approval. For purposes of clarification, a human designer may use artificial intelligence technologies as a tool to assist in the creation of artwork for the Work, provided that the human artist has control over the final artwork and the artwork substantially comprises human creation.”Creative Rights in AI Coalition
More than 40,000 people have signed the Creative Rights in AI Coalition’s Statement on AI Training, which calls for the end of unlicensed use of creative works by GAI companies.
https://www.aitrainingstatement.org/
Evolving AI Transparency: The Generative AI Copyright Disclosure Act
https://katzarov.com/evolving-ai-transparency-the-generative-ai-copyright-disclosure-act/ which requires GAI companies to disclose their use of copyrighted works
Gov.UK
Open Consultation: Copywrite and Artificial Intelligence. Published Dec. 17, 2024https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/copyright-and-artificial-intelligence/copyright-and-artificial-intelligence
-
I’ll be at Awesome Con 2025!
Awesome Con runs from April 4-6, 2025, and I’ll be there on Saturday.The Writer’s Ally Presents: How Authors Craft Great Characters!
Whether novel, movie, TV series, or comic book, the key to any great story is a great character. But what makes a character great? How do you craft a character who is dynamic and compelling–a character who compels readers and viewers to keep reading? This discussion will bring together a panel of published authors to discuss the mechanics of top notch characterization: defining characteristics, fatal flaws, conscious wants and unconscious needs, and character arc. In discussing the characters they’ve created and the characters they love, they’ll teach you how to build characters—main characters, supporting characters, heroes, villains, and everything in-between—that readers will never forget.
Panelists: Harrison Demchick, William Ray, A. L. Kaplan, Mayonn Paasewe-Valchev, Katie Aiken Ritter
Date: Saturday, April 5, 2025
Start Time: 10:00 AM
End Time: 10:45 AM
Room/Location: Room 206Awesome Con
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
801 Mt Vernon Pl NW
Washington, DC 20001 -
MY SCHEDULE FOR BALTICON 57
Balticon is one of my favorite Science Fiction and Fantasy conventions. It is held on Memorial Day weekend an comprises of four days of fantasic programing. I’m loaded up on programing this year. Here is where you can find me.
When Muses Collide (Sat 10:00 AM) Balancing your WIPs when you have more than one kind of creativity. How do you decide what you want to do? A. L. Kaplan moderator, Heidi Hooper, Sarah Pinsker, Eric Hardenbrook, Ariel Burgess
Am I a Real Writer Now? (Sat 1:00 PM) At what point does a writer become a real writer? How does a person go from having a novel or a few stories to being a real Writer? What can people with a few things written do to make this a career? Early career writers talk about what they have done. Joshua Bilmes moderator, Jack Campbell, A. L. Kaplan, Elektra Hammond, Bjorn E. Hasseler
Limits on YA (Sat 5:30 PM) There is often a problem with defining YA and it often boils down to whatever the publisher declares is YA. But are there limits to YA? Is there anything that cannot be included in YA or whose presence makes the book not YA? Dr. Jim Thorne, Michael A. Ventrella, A. L. Kaplan, Michael M Jones
I’ll also be working as a judge’s clerk for the Masquerade Saturday night.
Autographs (Sun 11:30 PM) A.L. Kaplan, Leah Cypress
Is SF/Fantasy Mere Escapism? (Sun 1:00 PM) Many critics dismiss SF/Fantasy as unrealistic and escapist. Is this true? Is there SF that rises above escapism? Or is entertaining the reader/viewer enough? Carl Cipra moderator, Ken Schrader, A. L. Kaplan, Walt Boyes
Readings (Sun 4:00 PM) A. L. Kaplan, D. H. Aire
Out of Control Characters (Sun 5:30 PM) Some authors tightly control their characters, requiring them to follow an outline. But other authors say there are things their characters won’t do. What do authors do when their characters go off script? Do you try to regain control (and how?) or go where the characters take you? Jennifer R. Povey moderator, Alan Smale, “Amy” A. L. Kaplan, Scott Edelman
When I’m not busy on a panel or volunteering, You can find me wandering the halls with Fifi or helping out at the Maryland Writers’ Association table.
May 26-29, 2023
Renaissance Harborplace Hotel
202 East Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Hope to see you there.
Sometimes a blessing can be a curse.
Young Maya bears the mark of the moon goddess, a sign that would doom her to be sacrificed in her village where the death god is revered. Forced to dye her golden eyes dark, Maya lives in constant fear of discovery. To save her family and the village’s future, she must find the courage to stand up to the high priest before he can bring the death god into this world.
Sometimes it’s hard to be who you are meant to be.
Especially when your powers can get you killed.
Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.
Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble.
Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.
Plagued by memories not her own, a young hummingbird struggles to decipher the visions and powers that set her apart from her fellow birds. But the road to awareness is fraught with danger that could doom her to repeat history.
One step toward understanding.
One stride toward survival.
One leap toward flying free from the past.
A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret
Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.
But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.
-
My Sunday RavenCon Schedule
RavenCon 16 is this weekend at the Virginia Crossings Tapestry Collection by Hilton, in Glen Allen, Virginia.
Here is where you can find me on Sunday, April 23, 2023:
11 am (Panel) Author’s Favorite Tools / Henry (Jefferson Building, 3rd floor)
Are you organized but looking for your next suggestion? Or perhaps you’re not at all organized and have always wondered how others do it. Maybe you’re tired of your current organizational suite and are looking for the next best thing? Our panelists will discuss their favorite tools—everything from writing tools, to productivity, to planners, and beyond. Panelists: L.R. Gould, Kelly Griffiths, A.L. Kaplan, James Maxey (M)
Noon (Signing) Dealers Room / Henrico Ballroom (Madison Building, 2nd Floor)
2 pm (Panel) Costuming Characters in Your Writing / Henry (Jefferson Building, 3rd floor)
Dressing a character in a story is far more complicated than you’d think. Writers need to consider all manner of things when clothing the people in their stories; from movement to warmth and from practical materials to extravagant accessories. Panelists: A.L. Kaplan, Cass Morris (M)
Sometimes a blessing can be a curse.
Young Maya bears the mark of the moon goddess, a sign that would doom her to be sacrificed in her village where the death god is revered. Forced to dye her golden eyes dark, Maya lives in constant fear of discovery. To save her family and the village’s future, she must find the courage to stand up to the high priest before he can bring the death god into this world.
A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret
Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.
But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.
STAR TOUCHED
-
Daring to Write: A ConTinual Panel
Being a writer isn’t just about getting words to paper. It’s taking ideas and making them coherent. It’s taking dreams and sharing them with an audience. What’s it really like to bring your work into the world? Find out how Linda D. Addison, D.S. Dehel, Alledria Hurt, Selah Janel, A. L. Kaplan, Gini Koch, L. Marie Wood, and host James P. Nettles as they talk about writing, process, marketing, fans, and the blood, sweat, tears, and lost sleep that make up the world of the writer!
Click here to view the podcast
#ConTinual, #ThePanelRoom, #Writing, #WritingProcess, #WritersLife, #WritingTips, #Author
Sometimes it’s hard to be who you are meant to be.
Especially when your powers can get you killed.
Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.
Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble.
Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.
Plagued by memories not her own, a young hummingbird struggles to decipher the visions and powers that set her apart from her fellow birds. But the road to awareness is fraught with danger that could doom her to repeat history.
One step toward understanding.
One stride toward survival.
One leap toward flying free from the past.
Sometimes a blessing can be a curse.
Young Maya bears the mark of the moon goddess, a sign that would doom her to be sacrificed in her village where the death god is revered. Forced to dye her golden eyes dark, Maya lives in constant fear of discovery. To save her family and the village’s future, she must find the courage to stand up to the high priest before he can bring the death god into this world.
A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret
Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.
But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.
