My life has been pretty simple. I grew up in Alabama and graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor's in Advertising. I have spent about the last ten years in web development. In 1998, a friend of mine and I started a web design company we ran for three or four years before deciding to close it due to the demands of school. Since then, I stayed in the web working with various companies in Alabama. I worked for a brief period with Southern Progress, namely with Southern Living magazine and Health magazine, in their web departments. While there, I also wrote for Southern Living magazine, Health.com., and the company's internal newsletter. I write as much as I can. For the last five years, I have been working on my first novel. I am on the third revision now and hope to be finished with this draft by the end of the year. I also write short fiction, though not as frequently as I used to due to the time I spend on the novel. My goal is to have my novel published in the next three years. Other interests include: History (particularly medieval and ancient civlizations), Reading, Foreign Language (I currently speak Spanish but plan to learn as many as I can), Landscape Photography, the outdoors, sports (especially college football), and Travel.
The year is 877 AD, and the Saxons have just defeated the Danes at Cynuit, though troubles for Alfred and his kingdom of Wessex are far from over. The Danes control three of the four major kingdoms in England — Northumbria, Mercia, and East Anglia — and they are continuing… Read More »Bernard Cornwell – The Pale Horseman (Saxon Chronicles Book 2)
Heriot Pronunciation: \hare-E-et\ Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English heregeatwe, plural, military equipment, from here army (akin to Old High German heri army) + geatwe equipment a) A payment which a feudal lord may claim from the possessions of a dead serf or other tenant, essentially a death… Read More »Medieval Term of the Day: Heriot
I came across this post on Pick the Brain that discuss George Orwell’s essay Politics and the English Language written in 1946. In the essay, Orwell focuses on how to communicate more effectively as a writer. His rules are quite simple and logical, much like Strunk’s advice on writing in The Elements… Read More »Rules for Effective Writing by George Orwell
This is one of those tough grammar questions in writing that even I have a tough time remembering. When do I use who and when do I use whom? The following is an easy way to remember this distinction. Use who when you could replace it with he or she. Example… Read More »Who versus Whom
Scutage Pronunciation: \?skü-tij, ?skyü-\ Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin scutagium, from Latin scutum shield Date: 15th century The sum that the holder of a knight’s fee may pay his lord in lieu of military service. Sometimes used as a form of tax.
I came across this article by Mark Schatzker on “How do medieval-themed restaurants get it wrong?” It’s an interesting read concerning the accuracy of food served at such restaurants as Medieval Times. He dispels several myths in regards to the eating habits of medieval people: Myth No. 1: Medieval food… Read More »How Accurate Are Medieval Themed Restaurants?
Here are a few of my recommendations for books dedicated to writing. Please feel free to share your suggestions as well. The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. – A classic. This is a must-have reference for all writers. A simple and logical approach to the basic prinicples of… Read More »Recommended Books on Writing
Some people feel J.R.R Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings are pure genius, with Tolkien being one of the most influential writers of his time, maybe even all time. Others find his writing a bit heavy and dull, as the novel is filled with hundreds of pages of backstory… Read More »J.R.R. Tolkien – Brilliant or Boring?
Constructed in little more than 12 months by Richard I of England (“The Lionheart”), Chateau Gaillard was an imposing castle upon the French landscape, built to deter King Philip Augustus of France from invading Richard’s Norman territories. The stronghold was placed along the Seine River on a cliff extending above… Read More »The Siege of Chateau Gaillard