THE READING ROOM
Notes from
other worlds.
Book recommendations, mythology, science fiction, favorite tropes, and occasional dispatches from behind the stories.
FEATURED READING
Found Family in Sci-Fi and Fantasy: Why the Crew You Choose Hits Harder Than Blood
Sci Fi · Tropes & Worldbuilding · Uncategorized
Found Family in Sci-Fi and Fantasy. There’s a moment in almost every great sci-fi or fantasy story where it happens. The ragtag group of misfits (the ones who […]
LATEST FROM MSK
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Choose a doorway: deep water, distant planets, beloved tropes, or the stories behind the stories.
Shifter Fantasy
Basing Fantasy Creatures on Real Animals: Creature Design Tips
When designing fantastical beasts for YA fantasy novels, one technique authors use is basing their made-up creatures on attributes of […]
Tropes & Worldbuilding
YA Tropes: Cliche or Classic?
Love 'em or hate 'em, YA tropes are here to stay. As a hardcore YA fiction fan, I have a […]
Book Recommendations
The Intricate Dance of One of Us Is Lying
I recently dived into Karen M. McManus's One of Us Is Lying, and let me just say—wow, what a ride. […]
Tropes & Worldbuilding
Befriending Fictional Characters: A Revisit to “The Catcher in the Rye”
Remember how I mentioned I recently reread The Catcher in the Rye? Well, I’ve got a few thoughts about it […]
Fantasy Deep Dives
Juggling Projects and Introducing Izzy: The Half-Leprauchaun
Sometimes, life as an author feels a lot like standing at the center of a three-ring circus, trying to keep […]
Book Recommendations
Journeying Through Adolescence with Judy Blume: A Personal Reflection on Sex Education and Coming-of-Age
I can still recall the first time I stumbled upon a Judy Blume book. Hidden among the neat rows of […]
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OTHER WORLDS. STORIES THAT STAY.
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