Category Archives: My Books

Publication Day! A Book about Exiles, Languages, and War

So today, as I post this, my book is now published! I’ll spare you the long saga–and it is quite long–of how this book came to be, how I wrote it, and all the hills and valleys between then and now. It’s a good story, actually, but not for today. Today, I’m just going toContinue reading “Publication Day! A Book about Exiles, Languages, and War”

The Everlasting Trope: Redemption Arc

An established villain–with all the sinister character and crimes to prove it–begins the story in darkness, and ends it having inched towards the light. On the face of it, this trope really is that straightforward. And I might have thought that, of all tropes, it has the most universal appeal. But I have learned thatContinue reading “The Everlasting Trope: Redemption Arc”

Bit by Bit

We’re getting there. My book is now up for pre-order on Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/by-blood-by-salt-j-l-odom/1145031237?ean=9798990024403 And on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Salt-Land-Exile-Book-ebook/dp/B0CVV8BR37?ref_=ast_author_mpb [UPDATE: The goodreads discrepancies have been resolved! Wonderful!] And I’m having some issues with goodreads–it added a paperback edition that wasn’t available, and I associated my author goodreads page with that edition, and now goodreads hasContinue reading “Bit by Bit”

Language and Dialect

In my book, language and dialect are very important. Not in a Tolkien way–I did not invent languages for the purpose of the book–but in a contextual way. Language and dialect matter to the characters and influence actions in meaningful ways. They are a geography to be navigated–well or poorly, depending on the character–and theyContinue reading “Language and Dialect”

The Why of the Thing: Part 2

I wrote in my last post about all the factors the led to me writing my book. But the truth is, those factors would not a good story make. They were the reasons to start…not the reasons to finish. If all I had was desire and ideas, it wouldn’t have been enough. Flesh and bloodContinue reading “The Why of the Thing: Part 2”

The Why of the Thing: Part 1

Back of the Book Blurb [Cover and Links coming soon!] When the enemy of your enemy is your only friend, in the end you stand alone Azetla has served the Maurowan Army for fourteen years. There are six left to pay. A pariah and a debt soldier, he is a commander with no rank, aContinue reading “The Why of the Thing: Part 1”