Author Jacob Donley

My current failing (one among many) is time management. Starting the new job, dealing with my final masters class, and life an general have been keeping me from writing these past few weeks.

It's no excuse, but it happened.

My goal is set up a new schedule that deals with my new work schedule and the time I need to do homework. The amount of time I used to spend writing will more than likely be decreased, but it will still be more than what I have been doing lately.

It just goes to show that time management really is an important aspect of writing. I thought that I could just wing it without a specific plan in place. I was wrong!

I'll be going back to the scheduling drawing board and setting up a schedule that deals with all of the things that need to have time set aside so my writing doesn't suffer in the future. I would suggest that anyone who is writing should do the same. Whether it is a word count or set amount of time, set aside a space of time regularly to make sur…

While this isn't specifically a writing post, I'm sure it could be applied to writing in many ways.

Because of the loss that my family and I have recently felt, I had the desire to talk about this loss, the grief that I felt, and my own personal way of dealing with it in a healthy way.

This week my grandmother passed away following a stroke the week before. She was loved by all that knew her because of her kindness and empathy to others. She was a mother, a grandmother, and a great-grandmother. She doted on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren with particular zeal. While her kindness leaves a hole in our hearts that might seem it can never be filled, it can be. The memory of her and all that she stood for already fills that space that she filled during her life. Her actions and love will stand the testament of time teaching us the way to love family and friends. This isn't the time to ask why or to feel guilty about things we feel that we left unresolved. We loved he…

I am currently working on two novels. They aren't fully formed in my head as of yet, and I'm trying the pantser approach with both. They are tentatively called AWAKENING and DEATH'S EMBER. AWAKENING is in the science fiction genre and DEATH'S EMBER is an epic fantasy. They are both fresh in my mind, but time will tell if either becomes a full book.

I like both ideas for the books:

AWAKENING - Humanity is nearly extinct as their push further and further into the galaxy brought them face to face with a species that, bent on conquering and destroying, nearly wiped out human beings. Those still alive were enslaved and have been for hundreds of years. The protagonist, living on a slave mining world, fights back with the aid of a symbiotic species.

DEATH'S EMBER - The world is dying as a strange force is killing Gaia, the Great Mother, whose magic supports all living things. The protagonist gets wrapped up with those who are trying to find out what this strange force i…

I had the good fortune of knowing Richard Johnson for the short time that I attended Monmouth College. Much like he was during college, his book, DEAD DRUNK, was humorous and entertaining. At times, I had to put the book down because I couldn't hold my tablet straight enough to read as my laughter increased. While the book was admittedly funny, there are tender moments and sad instances in the book that pull at the heartstrings as well. I would fully welcome anyone who enjoys a good zombie book mixed with comedy full of insults and razzing to get their copy as fast as possible. I definitely give this book two thumbs up and enjoyed every minute.

A MINOR MAGIC, by Justin Macumber, is a coming of age fantasy story for a young teen, Skylar, who lives in a much changed Earth after mysterious fires raged across the surface about a decade earlier. Skylar, after abruptly learning she has magic, is forcibly made to leave from the only real home she has ever known since her mother died years before. Skylar is forced to deal with the landscape and the brutish world that it has become on her own for the first time in her life.

As the story unfolds, we watch as Skylar is forced to face guilt, shame, mistrust, and her strange new ability. A MINOR MAGIC is a wonderful story with interesting characters that are both believable and fun to learn about. Justin Macumber has done a great job weaving a tale that gives the audience a young, strong, female lead that doesn’t need to be dressed for the beach to impress. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a strong fantasy tale, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series w…