Category Archives: Writing

Writing Tips: Said-Bookisms, the Obscure Sin that Can Doom a Manuscript

Posted on January 25, 2012 by dbjackson

I’ve been writing professionally for more than fifteen years, and I’ve been reading avidly for far longer.  Over the years the publishing market has seen sea-changes in almost every respect, with ramifications for the business, the very act of reading, … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Ethan Kaille, Novels, Publishing, Reading, Short Fiction, Thieftaker, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Researching New Thieftaker Books

Posted on January 17, 2012 by dbjackson

One of the things that often strikes friends and family as strange about my work is the distance in time between “what I’m working on” and “what I have coming out.”  We are still six months away from the July … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, Ethan Kaille, History, Novels, Publishing, Reading, Research, Setting, Thieftaker, Thieves' Quarry, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

THIEFTAKER Galley Proofs

Posted on January 9, 2012 by dbjackson

This week I am proofreading the galley proofs — the typeset text — of Thieftaker, book I in the Thieftaker Chronicles (due out from Tor Books in July of this year).  This is the author’s final step in the production … Continue reading →

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Ethan Kaille’s Diary: January 1, 1765

Posted on January 1, 2012 by dbjackson

In researching the life and times of Ethan Kaille, thieftaker and conjurer, whose many adventures in Colonial Boston are the subject matter for the upcoming Thieftaker books (beginning with Thieftaker, book I of the Thieftaker Chronicles) I have in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, Character, Ethan Kaille, History, Politics, Thieftaker, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Title For the Second Thieftaker Book, and More!

Posted on November 17, 2011 by dbjackson

First of all, many thanks to all of you who contributed title ideas for the second Thieftaker book.  I’m grateful for the suggestions.  The title I came up with in the end was not one that I had considered earlier, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, Novels, Publicity, Thieftaker, Thieves' Quarry, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Help Find a Title for the Second Thieftaker Book!

Posted on November 10, 2011 by dbjackson

Over the past two weeks or so I have been revising the manuscript of the second Thieftaker book.  I turned it in some time ago, but delays in the publication of the first book (finally and firmly scheduled for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Fun, History, Novels, Thieftaker, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , | 19 Comments

This Week’s History Lesson

Posted on October 25, 2011 by dbjackson

For some reason, October was an active month in the 1760s.  You can look through history time lines for some months and find relatively little of consequence.  October, on the other hand, is filled with significant events. In 1760, on … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, History, Thieftaker, Writing | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Writing Short Stories in the THIEFTAKER Universe

Posted on October 11, 2011 by dbjackson

I often advise aspiring writers to step away from their novels now and again and work on short stories.  Why?  Well, for one thing, writing successful short stories is challenging.  The short form demands an economy of style that those … Continue reading →

Posted in "The Tavern Fire", Character, Fun, Novels, Publishing, Short Fiction, Thieftaker, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Writing Short Stories in the THIEFTAKER Universe

Revised Sample Chapters of THIEFTAKER Now Available!

Posted on September 25, 2011 by dbjackson

I’ve just completed a final round of revisions on Thieftaker, the first book of the Thieftaker Chronicles.  The book is heading into production this week, and in the next few months I’ll be able to share cover art, initial responses … Continue reading →

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This Week in Boston’s History

Posted on June 17, 2011 by dbjackson

During this week, in 1768, Boston’s royal customs officials, who on June 11 of that year fled the city for the safety of the British Garrison on Castle William, a fortified island in Boston Harbor, petitioned the Crown for military … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, History, Novels, Thieftaker, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment