The Book Cover I Couldn’t Find
For months, I searched for the perfect cover artist for Pluto’s Revenge. I looked through portfolios. I contacted designers. I saved examples of covers I admired. I revised my vision…
The Distance Between Where You Are and Where You Thought You’d Be
For a long time, I thought distance was measured in miles. Later, I realized it’s measured in expectations. In 1997, I moved from Augusta, Georgia to Nashville, chasing a dream…
What 20+ Years in Creative Direction Taught Me About Design, Branding, and Burnout
After more than 20 years working in the design and branding industry, I’ve seen trends rise and fall, teams succeed and fail, and creative burnout take a real toll. These…
Creating Mood and Atmosphere in Photography and Fiction
The Mood Is the Message Whether I’m behind the lens or behind the keyboard, I’m always chasing one thing: mood. It’s not just how something looks or reads—it’s how it…
Why Science Fiction Was the Only Way to Tell This Story
 I grew up reading science fiction. Isaac Asimov. Douglas Adams. Orson Scott Card. I read fantasy too — Piers Anthony was part of that early mix — and while…
Pluto’s Revenge Started As A Planet
The idea for Pluto’s Revenge came to me years ago, sparked by the moment Pluto was officially demoted from planet status in 2006. I remember watching the news and feeling…