Author Archives

I am a writer of adventure stories (although this is not an official category my writing spans YA, NA, Speculative Fiction, and Romance) who taught high school English in a past life.

I am a freelance writers and editor who loves giving creative writing workshops and advising about the self-publishing landscape. I'll have 3 books published in my Chronicles of Xannia series as of April 2017, 3 non-fic industry publications, three short stories in two anthologies, and one essay on the believability factor in fiction writing in a guide to writing.

I am a mother and a wife with an OCD bent toward organization - but I hate cleaning and anything related to it, so I'm definitely not a housekeeper! ;)

I learned how to shoot an olympic bow when I was in high school and I look forward to taking it up again in the future.

I enjoy playing adventure games on my PSIII, X-Box 360, and Wii.

I have a quick mind and a good sense of humour but I am not a humourous person, though I try.

• Fiction Friday #36 – Fractured: When Shadows Arise / YA Contemporary Fantasy

  By M.J. Moores on August 25, 2017 • ( 0 )

  

  Excerpt From FRACTURED: When Shadows Arise By Cathy Hird Although the sun was close to setting, heat made the air above the black road shimmer. Sweat formed on Korina’s neck, and for a moment, she considered skipping her evening run…. Read More ›

• Book Spotlight – Fractured: When Shadows Arise

  By M.J. Moores on August 21, 2017 • ( 0 )

  

    Step onto the rail trail outside a quiet Ontario town for an evening jog. A normal thing to do, until… As grade twelve exams finish, Dara anticipates a summer working in the family market garden and hanging out with… Read More ›

• How To Create Credible Female Villains

  By M.J. Moores on June 7, 2017 • ( 0 )

  

  If someone asks you to list off any three, iconic, female villains you might come up with a list consisting of several of the following: The White Queen (Narnia) Maleficent (Maleficient) Dolores Umbridge (Harry Potter) The Evil Queen (Snow White)… Read More ›

• Why Did the Editor Miss Errors in Your Book?

  By M.J. Moores on June 6, 2017 • ( 3 )

  

  What is the price of perfection? When you pay for professional editing, shouldn’t you be assured that your book will be error-free? Accuracy rates for professional editors today are quite high. Yet language and the art of writing don’t lend… Read More ›

• Tips for Creating Conflict

  By M.J. Moores on May 31, 2017 • ( 0 )

  

  Having something as intrinsic as story conflict broken down into easy to follow, realistic, and straightforward guidelines is every writer’s wish. Conflict is usually a grandiose idea that doesn’t always manifest to its fullest potential in a first draft. We… Read More ›

• Book Spotlight – 13 Steps to Evil

  By M.J. Moores on May 30, 2017 • ( 0 )

  

  Your hero is not the most important character in your book. Your villain is. Are you fed up of drowning in two-dimensional villains? Frustrated with creating clichés? And failing to get your reader to root for your villain?  Finally, there… Read More ›

• Book Review: 13 Steps to Evil/Writing Guide

  By M.J. Moores on May 29, 2017 • ( 2 )

  

  13 Steps to Evil: How to Craft Superbad Villains                                    Author: Sacha Black Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars. Highly Recommended Reading. Genre: Non-Fiction/Writer’s Guide.   I must say, this book is deviously fun! I’m a lifelong… Read More ›

• Book Review: Age of Becoming / Dark Fantasy

  By M.J. Moores on April 26, 2017 • ( 0 )

  

  Age of Becoming – Kallodhan Book 2                                    Author: Justin Wright Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars. Recommended Reading. Genre: Epic Dark Fantasy. Samantha’s life is far from perfect, and her lifelong admirer wants to see… Read More ›

• Editing Your Novel’s World: Not Just for SFF

  By M.J. Moores on March 3, 2017 • ( 4 )

  

  Whether you write general fiction or genre fiction, when it’s time to review that completed first draft and look for loop-holes in the substantive/content portion of your manuscript, WORLD BUILDING should not be taken for granted. Now, it’s true that… Read More ›

• Book Review: Treasures of the Forgotten City / Adventure

  By M.J. Moores on February 23, 2017 • ( 4 )

  

  Treasures of the Forgotten City – An “Ultimate Ending” Choose Your Own Adventure, Book 1                                    Authors: David Kristoph &     Danny McAleese Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars. Recommended Reading. Genre: Adventure.   “You are Donovan… Read More ›