2024: The Books I wrote and related topics I published the first book in my Land of Exile trilogy, By Blood, By Salt on May 14 2024. I had been working on and off on this trilogy for nearly 2 decades. I had gone the traditional publishing route and would have held to it, exceptContinue reading “Quite the Year: a summary in 4 parts”
Category Archives: Writing
It’s only because they KNEW better
If I open a book with low expectations, and the author precisely hits that mark, I probably won’t be angry. I will conjure a shrug or a “meh” and give it two or three lethargic stars on goodreads and say something like “it just didn’t make much of an impact.” This was the Divergent seriesContinue reading “It’s only because they KNEW better”
A Haunt for Jackals
Coming Feb 25 2025, Book 2 in the Land of Exile trilogy! And here is the cover by the artist Jeremy Adams: After capturing a jinn-devil and fleeing to the desert, Azetla has exchanged the threat of execution for the weight of high treason. Thousands of men are now under his command—for the Emperor’s brotherContinue reading “A Haunt for Jackals”
In the SPFBOX
I mentioned being in an indie fantasy book competition a while back, in this post. I set my expectations at: get a few eyeballs on the book, and maybe get a decent review from a judge. I did not (except in rare moments of what I would have called utter delusion) set my sights on:Continue reading “In the SPFBOX”
Dear Main Character
Dear (My main character), You might be wondering why I didn’t let you be as good and perfect and noble as I know you truly wanted to be. Why?–you might ask–did I not protect you from those moral dilemmas that you’re still not sure you dealt with the way you should have. Why didn’t IContinue reading “Dear Main Character”
Update in the form of a ramble, for no one’s convenience
I did not realize till yesterday that I had let a whole month go by since writing a blog post. Not that these are strictly necessary–they are a mixture of casual joy and helpful discipline–and certainly no one has been knocking at my door, demanding I explain why I haven’t written one in a while.Continue reading “Update in the form of a ramble, for no one’s convenience”
The Everlasting Trope: Enemies-to-Lovers
Well, well, well. If it isn’t the trope I’ve been avoiding like the plague. Not because I hate it, mind you, but because I hate that our collective obsession with it causes many of us to accept some very dumb plots/events/behaviors that we would never otherwise tolerate. Contrary to popular opinion, a sexy knife toContinue reading “The Everlasting Trope: Enemies-to-Lovers”
Update. In List Form. For Our Mutual Convenience
Book 1 Updates Book 2 Updates Book 3 Updates: Meanwhile I had my birthday last week and got a gift card and ordered some books. I am very excited about that too! Just in case you didn’t know (you did know) you can get my book on: Amazon and Barnes and Noble and you canContinue reading “Update. In List Form. For Our Mutual Convenience”
Aesthetics, Vibes, Tropes, and Premise
These are some of the most prominent tools people are using these days to discover (or pitch) their next book, because it’s a fast-fashion, low-attention world out there. I find them, for the most part, useless and exasperating. But not always. This isn’t meant to be a hoity-toity snobbish thing where I deride “the youths”Continue reading “Aesthetics, Vibes, Tropes, and Premise”
The Everlasting Trope: The Failed Hero
Closely related to the “Villain Arc” but not precisely the same. The villain arc simply tells you how a given character–regardless of their beginning state–becomes the villain. Often these are side characters or friends of the hero or a counterpoint to the hero. But when it’s the actual hero who falls, or fails, or succumbs,Continue reading “The Everlasting Trope: The Failed Hero”
J. L. Odom 