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…
Category: Writing
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…
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:
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…
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,…
Rethinking ‘Cozy’ Fantasy and Talio’s Codex
So I’ve been thinking… My podcast, Lavender Tavern, was cozy fantasy. My next book, The Library at Eventide, is cozy fantasy. But Talio’s Codex…? Originally, I’d categorized it as ‘cozy fantasy noir.’ But now that people are reading it and giving me feedback, I’m having second thoughts. Cozy fantasy noir may sound like a contradiction…
COVER REVEAL: Talio’s Codex, coming July, 2024
I’m super-excited to reveal the cover of my next novel, Talio’s Codex, coming from Space Wizard Science Fantasy this July: I think they did a great job with Talio’s facial scar, the saffron robes of the Incarnites, the general Dutch/Venetian vibe of the city, and the airborne skyship traveling the magical watery skyline at upper…
Notable Mention in the Chapter One Prize Contest
I’m very pleased to announce I was picked as a Notable Mention in the Gutsy Great Novelist’s Chapter One Prize. Being chosen as top 20 out of a group of 930 is quite an honor. You can see a list of all winners, honorable mentions and notable mentions at https://gutsygreatnovelist.com/winners-2024 and read the first chapters….
Wyngraf Valentine’s Day 2024 Issue Released!
Wyngraf’s Valentine’s Day 2024 cozy fantasy issue is now out. It includes my story, “Mail Order Husband.” Silas is a dragon rancher who dreams of romance. But good men are hard to come by west of the Rift, and Silas’s personal ads in a newspaper back east have done nothing but annoy the editor… Goodreads…