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Equal parts Romance, equal parts Fantasy, please

Equal parts Romance, equal parts Fantasy, please

We’ve all heard of those movies or stories in the fantasy and sci-fi genres where they add a romance plot for absolutely no reason. I’m looking at you The Giver. I actually read Lois Lowry’s book (as a child), which the movie is based off of, and I’ve never seen the movie, but I’ve read about how the producers included a romance plot despite Lowry’s wishes. No story should be encumbered by an…

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From The Muse to The Medium to The Reader

From The Muse to The Medium to The Reader

Just like the idea for this post that you’re reading right now, usually when I write a story inspiration has struck me. It has delivered to me the general idea of the story that I want to write, and more, and continues to flow as I write my hopefully copious notes for that story. As the writer, almost like a prophet, I am the medium through which “Divine Inspiration” is choosing to speak. All I…

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Updates 9/20

You might be wondering what I’ve been doing recently: 1) I decided not to attend the National Black Book Festival this year since its date conflicts with my niece’s birth and other challenges. 2) By the end of October, I expect to complete The Village Hidden in The Vale (Oracle, Book 2). I made a lot of progress on it in recent months–look forward to more on this novel soon. 3) This November,…

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Writing for Whom and for What?

Writing for Whom and for What?

So I’ve written on this blog before on how I feel about writing for money first. I’m against it. My goal is not to have my writing be about money. If I can get a comfy deal where my writing is mine but I get paid for my books, I’m sure I won’t say no, but my I want my writing to be about writing first. It is part of the reason I have chosen to be an independent author. Even though I write my…

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Surprise! Halloween Publication

Halloween is upon us and I decided to begin serializing Alexandria’s Knight for the occasion. Soon-to-be demon Queen of the Underworld, Alexandria has one little problem standing between her and the crown–and his name is Adriel. Dria has loved Adriel since she was a teenager and there’s no one else she wants by her side and in her bed. However, having been her protector for years, it seems…

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My Interview at the 2021 National Black Festival

My Interview at the 2021 National Black Festival

I said I was going to post last year’s interview but I’m not sure where it is and its kind of a hassle to find your time stamp in a video that has a bunch of other author interviews in it. I’m making up for not posting last year’s by posting this year’s on time. In no way was I prepared to talk to a person live tonight but I did my best. You can see my interview for the 2021 National Black Book…

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2021 National Black Book Festival

2021 National Black Book Festival

It’s that time of the year again! Time for National Black Book Festival. Its virtual again this year because of Covid-19 and ready to go. I will be presenting virtually Friday, October 22nd at 9:25PM Central Standard Time via Zoom. Here’s a link to the fabulous lineup of my fellow authors and presenters. To be completely honest, I had no intention of participating this year. Buutttt, as the…

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Typos, typos, typos

Wearing all the hats–author, editor, proofreader, cover artist, publisher–is hard. My friend says I’m being hard on myself. The trouble is I went into writing my novel, Oracle, wanting it to exceed expectations for a self-published novel, especially since I’ve always gotten the impression that the publishing industry and reading audiences tend to think and operate as if self-published work is of…

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Update

This month I am participating in National Novel Writing Month. Writers around the world are writing 50,000 words this month, donating to the cause and participating in virtual events (all virtual this year because of Covid-19). Last year, I wrote about breaking an almost 10-year streak writing and winning. I “lost” by about 7,000 words and I was devastated. This year I’m not doing so good either…

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Infinity Second, serialized on Wattpad

Infinity Second, serialized on Wattpad

THE WRITING IS DONE!!!

So sit back and read now that I have published the final chapters of Infinity Second on Wattpad. Once I’m done publishing all the chapters, I will label the book as complete. (I wanted to enter this story in the Watty Awards 2020 but its about 9000 words short and I worked too hard on it to go in and fluff it up for the extra words.)

Everybody knows that everybody dies.…

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Black Writers Weekend 2020

Black Writers Weekend 2020

I found out about Black Writers Weekend (August 27th-29th) though Wattpad where I currently serialize my work. This year the event was virtual because of the Covid-19 pandemic which was convenient for me since I otherwise wouldn’t have gotten the chance to participate.

Hearing Octavia Butler and Harry Potter basically in the same sentence was a joy for me when it came down to a discussion of…

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Yep, I was there. It was a good learning experience for me. The turnout wasn’t all a Black author (especially a Black fantasy author) looking for exposure could have expected and paid for. Still, I think I’ll give it another shot next year.

Most of the writers this year were children’s author so it was cool to see so many writers talking to Black children and children in general. Including myself, there were three other fantasy fiction authors at NBBF this year. I had at least two people ask if we were the mystery section!

I think I learned to pitch Oracle pretty well and a lot of readers seemed interested in addition to those who actually bought the book. It was very nice to meet A.L. Riley, the author of Eerth Awakening, who was sharing her fantasy/sci-fi book on my right which I’ve had the pleasure of reading after the Festival.

It was a little difficult to get around the room and meet other authors since I had to watch my table by myself without an assistant. Half the time I looked up, someone looked like they might be stopping at my table to look at or talk about my book. The other half of the time I was too nervous I’d miss someone if I left the table. BUT I did manage to meet other authors and publishing professionals.

A.L. Riley,  Eerth Awakening

Mwalim, Land of The Black Squirrels

Dr. Deitrick Gorman, Relaxed & Ready

Ernest M. Fountain, Songs of Poetry From the Heart

Keturah Kendrick, No Thanks

Angela Monay, The Test of Time

Angela Adley, Growing Up Without my Daddy

Edwina Fort, Redemption

Linda Murray, Stop Being The Apple That Fell From The Family Tree

Traci Byerly, Unapologetically Gray

Freddie Smith, Your Birth Is Not In Vain (audio)

I met A LOT of authors and business folks so I’ll name a few more: Claudette Milner, Roderick D. Talley, Julia Royston, Rhonda Lawson, Myran Jones.

One thing I seriously thought about: I have a Kindle and have had an Amazon account since 2001 if I’m not mistaken. Most of the books I read are from the Kindle store though I’m fairly critical of Kindle’s literary content, particularly its romance genre. But KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) does reach a lot of readers so I’ve considered publishing there, just for the sake of outreach.

Don’t forget! Oracle by S.T. Rucker is available to read for free online at Wattpad or you can get your copy on Lulu.com.

National Black Book Festival 2019 Yep, I was there. It was a good learning experience for me. The turnout wasn't all a Black author (especially a Black fantasy author) looking for exposure could have expected and paid for.

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For the first time since 2008, I “failed” at writing 50,000 words during the month of November. By 5:18PM on November 30th, looking at a 7,160 words left to go, I gave myself permission to simply stop.

I admit: I cried a little. I berated myself. I felt adrift and like the world made no sense. I thought, How could I fail at this?  How could I let anything come between me and this fruitful yearly goal?

Let’s be real, this year alone, I’ve had–

an incompetent property manager threaten, verbally abuse, and attempt to evict me.

had the same property manager protect the upstairs noise nuisance tenants who have harassed and stalked me since I signed my lease last December

been harassed at work for over two months to the point where I almost had to file a federal lawsuit

ended my relationship with the remaining abusive members of my immediate family

been repeatedly reminded that half the healthcare “professionals” in Fresno are useless and shouldn’t be practicing medicine.

This chronic stress level included but was not limited to: food poisoning caused by a co-worker (who also got sick from her tuna salad but saw no connection in both of us getting sick the same day), multiple sinus infections, an ulcer, migraines, anemia, chronic anxiety and panic, 8-day starvation/no appetite, depression, suicidal thoughts and ideation, eight Emergency Room level pain attacks that led to a gallstone diagnosis, chronic indigestion, and vision changes. That’s just for starters and I dealt with all of this by myself while everyone stood by and watched.

After the most recent fiasco with the assistant property manager and the upstairs residents in my apartments and a severe pain attack on Nov 30th at 1:00AM in the morning, I just couldn’t do it anymore.

I know that I did the best that I could under the circumstances. Because I knew that, I gave myself permission to let go of my current streak and JUST SLEEP and recover from the pain attack, depression, and exhaustion. Instead of cowering in shame at 2019’s November failure, I will try to look forward to building a new streak next year. Or die trying!

Here’s to valiant attempts–NaNoWriMo 2019 For the first time since 2008, I "failed" at writing 50,000 words during the month of November.

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'Oracle' by S.T. Rucker at the National Black Book Festival 2019

‘Oracle’ by S.T. Rucker at the National Black Book Festival 2019

I am pleased to announce that this year I will in be in Houston, Texas at the National Black Book Festival exhibiting my novel, Oracle.

  Special Limited Edition Cover

Oracle by S.T. Rucker is available to read for free online at Wattpad or you can get your copy on Lulu.com.

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Hey I [Want To] Read Something!: Brown Sugar Fairies by Aiysha Sinclair

Hey I [Want To] Read Something!: Brown Sugar Fairies by Aiysha Sinclair

I LOVE Black girl magic. It’s what my work in the fantasy fiction genre is all about.

So whenst (yes, “whenst”) I stumble across a book by a Black woman concerning a Black girl and a Black-freaking-fairy on a website called blackgirlnerds.com, I get a little excited. Brown Sugat FairiesL Saroja’s Quest is exactly this. I’m looking forward to trying this one.

Image from blackgirlnerds.com

Read Bro…

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ORACLE (Book I)--complete

ORACLE (Book I)–complete

So things haven’t improved all that much since the last time I wrote here. But I’m still writing though and gearing up for National Novel Writing Month.

Oracle (Book I) by S.T. Rucker is complete. You can head over to Wattpad and read it totally free.

Welcome to Oracle–a sprawling school of magic overlooked by a crystal mountain, surrounded by fields and forests beneath whipped clouds and endless…

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Monetizing Creativity: 3 Red Flags in Jeff Goins' Four Keys Webinar & 5 Bits of Advice

Monetizing Creativity: 3 Red Flags in Jeff Goins’ Four Keys Webinar & 5 Bits of Advice

I signed up, I logged in, I saw, I listened and seriously thought about what Jeff Goins has to say. Now here’s what I have to say:

Goins’ presentation was a nice, long, sensitive way of saying “You’ll have to sell out quite bit but don’t think of it that way”.

His advice is great…for people actively seeking to write for money.As a low income/no income author, I know how tempting it is to use what…