I was so excited to speak to Elizabeth Miles on the Power to Pivot Podcast about cozy-adjacent fantasy, my writing, Talio’s Codex and a whole bunch of other topics (how to introduce kids to adult topics, for example)! She’s a great interview – have a listen!
Talio’s Codex Is Now Available!
I’m very proud to announce that my new novel, Talio’s Codex, is now available for purchase. This universal link should take you to the appropriate online bookstore(s). It’s been a long time coming. I started working on it in early 2022, and found a publisher almost exactly a year ago. Thank you to everyone who…
Talio’s Codex – Deleted Scene (“Sex With Cale”) – Reader Discretion Advised
Here’s another bit I cut out of a very early draft of Talio’s Codex. Originally I deleted this scene for length, and then I decided it was better left out. First mention of ‘personal grease’ (lubricant). Cale’s original name was ‘Ched.’ This scene was intended to be a compare-and-contrast between Cale and Pazli: while sex…
Talio’s Codex – Deleted Scene (“Visiting the Auranian Incarnite Temple”)
Here’s a bit I inserted into a late draft of Talio’s Codex, but decided to remove. After their eventful evening in Aurania on the committee junket, Talio decides to seek spiritual counsel at the local Incarnite Temple. This played up the theme of religious difference and Talio’s lack of belief, and finally showed at least…
Talio’s Codex – Deleted Scene (“Laundry Day”)
Here’s a bit I cut out of a very early draft of Talio’s Codex. Note that in the version Dovuta is the one accused of murder, ‘Magistrate Jilani’ is ‘Magistrate Palane,’ and ‘source and return gutters’ are ‘service and utility gutters.’ Lots of non-canon things in this excerpt. This scene was intended as worldbuilding to…
Early Reviews of Talio’s Codex
Here are some excerpts from reviews for Talio’s Codex:
Talio’s Codex – Deleted Scene (“On the Spot at Law School”)
In this deleted scene from Talio’s Codex, Talio attends Clemente Jilani’s class, only to find himself quizzed on legal knowledge (in the final version, Jilani’s lecture is a bit more pertinent to the plot and much less technical…). This scene served a few purposes: to show Talio’s quick legal thinking, to show that Clemente is…
Guest Blog Post on John Scalzi’s “The Big Idea”
Author John Scalzi has graciously given blog space for authors to write about what inspired their novels. I’m happy to have been chosen to talk about Talio’s Codex and what it’s all about. Take a look here. “A society’s culture comes from its laws. The things that tell us what we can and cannot do….
Talio’s Codex Paperback has Arrived!
This has been such a long time coming. I remember starting to brainstorm the novel back in March 2022. Some notes:
What My Father Taught Me About Writing
My father, Sidney Jessel Cohen, died in 2019, at the age 86, after 16 years of mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and finally Alzheimer’s. It’s been almost 5 years. 4 Father’s Days. Like me, Dad was a perfectionist. Unlike me, he was very neat and tidy. His desk and filing system were always organized with precision,…