Tag: writing

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My New Web Series

Find out more about today’s Vocab Menace video post PHARO and PHAROS below.

In almost every interview with a writer, the interviewer will ask, “Where do the words come from?”

They’re always talking about “the muse.”

My answer is “My brain assembles factoids into narratives. Oh, and childhood trauma. Also, adult trauma. And….” Then I gesture vaguely around, alluding to all the nonsense that pervades our common experience. The news, social media, and falling down rabbit holes on Wikipedia provide plenty of raw material to construct delightful fictional conflict.

When I think about where words come from, I take a more literal approach. I own a huge Webster’s dictionary from 1939 (pictured). I forget how it came into my possession, but I’m sure it must have come from a library sale or used bookstore. This particular edition was the inspiration for Jaimie Spencer’s beloved dictionary in my apocalyptic trilogy, This Plague of Days. I had to apply duct tape to keep it from falling apart.


My kids have big vocabularies. Partly, that’s osmosis from growing up in a home packed and stacked with books. Also, we always spoke to them as if they were little adults. As babies, they were no doubt confused at times. Nonetheless, I figured they’d catch up and eventually understand my words and sense of humour.

Recently, I decided to make a video series out of my fascination with words.

It’s easy to post on social media with rabid urgency, “BUY MY BOOKS! BUY MY BOOKS!” Easy, but not effective. I’m always looking for new readers, of course. Every author is. However, I’m allergic to marketing. I do it, but I don’t enjoy it. Exploring the meanings of words and where they come from, though? That gets the happy neural juices flowing.

Vocab Menace was born.

Why call it Vocab Menace?

  1. Words can be fun and interesting.
  2. Your challenge each day is to slip these rare or unusual words into casual conversation as if it’s no big deal.

Imagine the satisfaction you’ll derive from all that simmering, smarmy, and artificial sense of superiority!

Where to find Vocab Menace?

Hey, man, it’s 2025. Ya gotta be everywhere! I post on Substack, Medium, YouTube, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Facebook. (I don’t post on X. Fuck that. X sucks.)

Like, subscribe, and share. All that stuff is sexy.

PLEASE NOTE: I’m away from social media next week (July 28-August 1).

I’m taking a deep dive into isolation to work on my new novel, but Vocab Menace will continue after that brief hiatus.

About today’s post: PHARO and PHAROS

In today’s video, I promoted Lighthouse Legacies by Chris Mills.

Description:

Imagine living your life perched on a tiny island, without electricity, exposed to the fury of the sea, and always at the service of the mariner. This is how lightkeepers and their families spent their lives, even up until the 1960s. We are very close to losing the last of the people who lived this isolated life and experienced the heyday of lightkeeping in Canada. Lighthouse Legacies lets us share in the memories of those who kept the lights.

These stories are presented largely in the words of the people, with context and history by author Chris Mills. Each chapter deals with an element of lighthouse life and is complemented by photos from lighthouse family collections, the Coast Guard and Mills’ own collection.

You can purchase Lighthouse Legacies directly from Nimbus publishing here. (You’ll also find it on Amazon.)

My novel, AFTER Life Inferno, is free to download until midnight tonight! It’s the first in the AFTER Life trilogy about weaponized AI escaping from a genetic engineering lab in downtown Toronto. The fate of all humanity is at stake.

(The basis of the tale was inspired by a fan’s story of how authorities are ordered to handle a lab leak!)


Scan down the right-hand side of this page and you’ll find links to all my apocalyptic epics and killer crime thrillers. Enjoy!

And thank you for being a reader. Thor knows we don’t have enough of them.

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I was in a war with AI before it was cool

Get ready to fight to the death. You might even have to fight beyond death.

AFTER was constructed to save us. When the medical biotech is weaponized, AFTER becomes an agent of warfare. Infected humans transform into rampaging killers. No one is safe.

Task Force Officer Daniel Harmon has one job: Stop the epidemic before it escapes a military research lab. As the body count rises, he’ll discover a dark conspiracy that will change our fate forever.

They will call this Apocalypse. We call it Revolution. On which side will you fall?

From the author of This Plague of Days comes a fresh zombie trilogy about technology gone horribly awry. It will feel too real.

GET YOURS NOW (AFTER Life: Inferno is free to download from Amazon.com until Thursday, July 24, 2025.)

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Sometimes, you can ignore the best writing advice.

Everybody’s best writing advice was, “Never kill a dog in your story.” Then along came John Wick, and even that tried-and-true nugget was thrown out the window. To tremendous success, I might add. This reinforces (for the umptimillionth time) that William Goldman was right. “Nobody knows anything.”

Solid writing advice was passed on to me from a film producer:

“If it plays, it plays.”

Some things will work, and some things won’t. When it comes to fiction, often we don’t find out what works best until it’s tested in the marketplace. In The Night Man, truth be told, I killed off some dogs, but I hedged my bets. I saved a couple who became integral to the story.

But what’s the story?

In The Night Man, Easy Jack is a wounded veteran with a bum knee and a bad dad. When he returns home to Orion, Michigan, he plans to go back to training guard dogs. Unfortunately, he discovers the town has a long memory of his past deeds and his high school sweetheart is in deep trouble. Worse, dirty cops pull him into a billionaire’s bomb plot.

But how do you make the hard turn acceptable to animal lovers?

I love dogs. I get the aversion, but I did a few things in this thriller to make the conflict more palatable.

  1. It’s not gratuitous. I don’t care for gore, so the worst stuff happens out of the hero’s (and the reader’s) view.
  2. It makes sense for the plot. I didn’t throw it in there for shock value alone.
  3. This loss ups the stakes and steels the protagonist’s spine.
  4. There is revenge and redemption to be had following the hero’s loss.
  5. Two treasured dogs survive and are an ongoing presence through the thriller’s twists and turns.

    So, you love dogs. I love dogs. Trust me, you’re in good hands when you decide to try The Night Man.

    FIND OUT MORE AFTER THE JUMP:

Your universal Amazon link: https://books2read.com/u/3RMPDx

The bad guys have money, power, and a jet packed with explosives. To make his stand, our hero is armed with quick wit and a Smith and Wesson. Easy Jack also has a loyal German Shepherd named Sophie by his side. To combat the shady side of small-town America, this wounded Army Ranger will have to enter the darkness he hoped to leave behind.

From the author of the Hit Man Series comes a killer thriller. The Night Man won first prize in the genre category at the Hollywood Book Festival!

“You’re guaranteed a mighty fine read.” ~ Claude Bouchard, USA Today Bestselling author of the Vigilante Series.

Easy Jack isn’t a bad guy, but to survive, he will have to act like one.

Returning home after serving his country, Ernest “Easy” Jack hoped his family’s reputation had been forgotten. No such luck in Lake Orion. Small towns have long memories. Grudges run deep. Worse, his high school sweetheart is trapped in an abusive marriage. Family bonds, love, and loyalty will be tested when a sociopathic billionaire and a dirty cop conspire to use Easy in a deadly bomb plot.

Escape is unlikely. Easy’s odds are not even.

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The first review of Vengeance Is Hers

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Chute’s best.

Reviewed in Canada on June 29, 2025

Vengeance is Hers is set in the fictional town of Poeticule Bay, Maine, a community inspired by the author’s Nova Scotia upbringing. The story begins with a morally satisfying act of revenge, but as Molly grows into adulthood and pursues a life in academia, her motivations become more complex and unsettling.

This is a noir-tinged character study that spans more than a decade, exploring adult themes and emotional loss. A late twist surprised me, yet it felt exactly right.

I read this as a beta reader but received no compensation other than the pleasure of engaging with a smart, gripping novel. I highly recommend it.

(Thank you to ARC reader extraordinaire, Russell! I certainly appreciate it!)

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How I’m Turning My Life Around

The ways we live depend so much on how we feel. I’ve had a massive life change recently, and it’s boosted my writing career, too. I’m sleeping better. I’m also up very early in the morning, eager to start the day. I used to need a crowbar to pry myself out from under those cozy covers. Now, I’m up and at ’em. A healthier Rob is a more productive and happier Rob. This allows me to serve my readers better, too.

What changed?

A couple of months ago, I joined a program called LifestyleRx. It’s sponsored by the Canadian government to improve citizens’ health. It’s geared to people with diabetes and pre-diabetes, though the strategies apply to just about everyone.

It cuts way down on sugar, but they don’t push any one diet. You don’t have to do keto or become a vegan. It’s just sane, science-backed tactics. You’re encouraged to eat healthier, move more, de-stress from the distress, and live a better quality of life. Their mantra is, “Better, not perfect.”


When I took my medical training, the goals were, “Add years to your life and life to your years.” I’m finally doing it, and this feels very sustainable.

For those interested in trying it out, a few more details:

  • You get extensive, free blood tests (and you take waist, BP, and weight measurements).
  • Consultation with a physician (who shares the test results with your GP).
  • Weekly group calls with other patients like you. The doctor and a dietitian are on the call to provide information and guide the discussion.
  • The option for one-on-one counseling with a dietitian. (This costs, but is often covered by insurance)
  • A community that shares the journey, plus plenty of healthy recipes and general support.
  • Weekly accountability (which is crucial for me).
  • An education program with videos and printouts.

    I’m getting a lot out of LifeStyleRx. Besides losing weight, getting stronger, and feeling better, the biggest change is my level of energy. That translates to more creative energy.

    If you can’t do LifeStyleRx, there are plenty of other ways to do something similar. I encourage you to do so. It feels wonderful to get out of bed every day with a feeling of purpose and the newfound ability to achieve that purpose.

But wait! There’s more!


I’m on Substack now, and here’s my latest piece. This gives you a hint of my writing process behind the scenes. I’m doing the daily diary as fiction thing! Confused? You’ll see at the link.
(It’s on Substack, but all access is free, so don’t worry about that.)

Click here to read how I’m writing another book faster than before.
READ VENGEANCE IS HERS NOW

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How do you forgive and forget?

Hint: You don’t.

Forgiveness versus Vengeance is one of the central themes of my next vigilante justice thriller. From Luigi Mangione’s actions to burning Teslas, this is a timely topic. Many turn away from these highly publicized acts of violence with little more than a shrug. There are good reasons for this. In the battle between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala, fear wins. Fear is the emotion poorly hidden beneath anger. It’s a neurological response, and schadenfreude is baked into our brain’s wiring.

“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.” ~ Yoda

Yoda is quotable. It’s a good line (and you heard the Yoda voice, right?) However, I think he’s got it backward (which fits his typical grammar). Fear is a protective mechanism. Wariness of dangers increases our odds of survival. Frustration and fear lead to anger and resistance. The Jedi weren’t a bunch of pacifists. Hence, all the cool lightsaber duels. Those Jedi knights were down and out for quite a while but rose again to fight the Empire. I agree, don’t succumb to evil, but don’t be a chump, either.

For Mere Mortals, Forgiveness Isn’t So Easy.

Sixty-seven percent of people surveyed say they believe in forgiveness. Sounds good and upright, doesn’t it? Dig deeper. Fifty-six percent admit they don’t practice that virtue. I don’t blame them. Most would agree that forgiveness is healthy for the person doing the forgiving. However, no one instructs us how to forgive and forget. Instead., we get guilt-ridden platitudes that deny our humanity and our reality.

To err is human, to forgive divine, but we’re no angels.

I have an excellent memory, so how am I to forget? Frontal lobotomy? And if I forgive you your trespasses, do either of us learn anything? By refusing to forgive, I deny the offender the opportunity to trespass against me again. Sounds to me like carrying grudges is a safer course.

I asked my psychologist if she believes in forgive and forget. (When I say “My psychologist,” I refer to She Who Must Be Obeyed, AKA my wife.) She holds a doctorate in psychology and is the most sane person I know. That’s why I was so surprised when she did not hesitate to answer, “No.”

She acknowledges that forgiveness is difficult. In many cases, it’s an unreasonable expectation set by out-of-touch purists. The good doctor offered hope, though. She suggested, “Maybe the best you can do is to get to a place and time where you just don’t care anymore.”

“Or,” I countered, “write a massive hit thriller that’s packed with clever revenge fantasies to plague your real-life enemies!”

She’s going to start charging me for these sessions, isn’t she?

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New on the Menu

The writing workshop in Toronto is coming up in a couple of weeks. I am preparing to pitch literary agents for Vengeance Is Hers. Four agents I would consider partnering with are at the workshop. I have three others in mind, as well. Part of the prep work is to have the partial ready for their review. I have a sample ready.

Hot tip:

If you are pitching to agents or just want to give away a sample of your work for a book fair, a signing, or some other such trial by fire, get a QR code. I do have a presentation package for agents, but I won’t be lugging around a manuscript like some early 19th century peasant. I’m a modern ink-stained wretch. Instead, I’ll just give the QR code to link to the partial. If they want more, I’ve provided an email for further inquiries.

What’s New?

I have added menus to this website. Above, you’ll find links to my bio and what reviewers say about my work. The pitch and partial for Vengeance Is Hers is found under For Literary Agents. Of course, if you aren’t a literary agent but want a sneak peek of a badass story about a young woman on a righteous quest for revenge, enjoy a taste of vengeance!