N.E. White's Blog

As history has proven, one side invariably suffers after first contact with a new species. Alright, let’s be honest. The strongest often wipes out the weaker, because really, if you’re traveling to a new place, it ain’t because you want to see the local fashion. You’re after resources. And maybe even, a new home.

This begs the question, does an alien invasion always mean the death of one species for the benefit of another?

Before we answer, let’s get the standard introduction out of the way. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the publication of Ecotones: Ecological Stories from the Border Between Fantasy and Science Fiction, I’m reviewing all fourteen (14) short stories. Start here to read all mini-reviews.

This is the fourteenth–and last!–story in this ecology-related short story collection.

Paolo, Friend Paolo by Kurt Hunt

As suggested in my opening, this short, transformative story is a first contact tale. One in which a very powerful creature makes an accidental landfall onto our planet. But that’s about the last resemblance to a first contact telling. The author takes us on an otherworldly and terrifying adventure right here on our planet.

What I really enjoyed about this story is how the author imbued a lyrical, haunting timelessness quality to his sentences. As we read about Paolo and Friend Paolo–the two main characters–we are thrust into a modern world. But the sea and circumstances quickly strip that all away, leaving pocket or bubble of time where anything can happen.

With that said, there were times the story took a huge leap in logic. I know, I know, this is not only speculative fiction but science fiction, too. I should be able to tamp down my disbelief and run with it, but… I couldn’t. It gnawed on me, like a monster with their last bone.

With that said, this last story embraces the much wider implications of ecotones and–changes. Not only in ecology, but in our world and universe. While I wasn’t entire onboard with the plot, the Paolo, Friend Paolo vivid descriptions will spear your heart and drag it into the sea.

Until next time, enjoy a short story.

What is Ecotones?

ECOTONES is an anthology of speculative fiction featuring fourteen tales from best-sellers, award-winners and nominees, established talents, and up-coming authors.

Ecotones exist wherever different ecosystems make contact. Where forest meets field… where the land meets the sea… where swamp gives way to jungle… where the surface descends beneath the ground… these are borders across which different ways of life come into conflict, and sometimes cooperation.

But in speculative fiction we might envision other borders: where the mundane meets the fantastical. Where countries clash and cultures mix. Where technology is joined to flesh. Where the known meets the unknown. These are ecotones of the imagination — where anything could happen.

Featuring the work of Ken Liu, Lauren Beukes and Tobias S. Buckell, as well as eleven stories from members of SFFWorld.com’s writing community, ECOTONES is a collection like no other — a point of contact between fantasy and science fiction with a timely environmental theme.

If you’d like to follow along, Ecotones is available for free in Kindle Unlimited. Check it out.

Thus ends my mini-reviews of all fourteen stories in the Ecotones anthology. Next year, I’ll do You Are Here–Tales of Cartographic Wonders.

Until then, all the best,

Nila

There’s always two sides to a story, isn’t there? While I don’t agree with the underlying premise of today’s story, an anthology about impending ecological change can’t be complete without giving voice to the other side, right?

Before we answer that question, let’s get the standard introduction out of the way. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the publication of Ecotones: Ecological Stories from the Border Between Fantasy and Science Fiction, I’m reviewing all fourteen (14) short stories. Start here to read all mini-reviews.

This is the thirteenth story in this ecology-related short story collection.

The Grass is Greener on the Other Side by Igor Ljubuncic (award-nominated author)

I’m a fan of Mr. Ljubuncic’s short stories. They are always witty, funny, and heartfelt. But… he also presents an opinion I don’t often agree with. With that said, this military romance (yes, its a thing) with role-reversals and instant love, will make you go awwww at the end.

The details the author includes are very specific, creating a gritty vividness that makes it feel like you’re watching the story of a soldier learning that his world might be much bigger than he initially thought rather than reading it. I really enjoy this writing style. I also laughed-out-loud (lol) at his doctors’ advice and the silly prescriptions. As we follow along with Raun, our young, idealist combatant, we soon learn how some of our current, popular beliefs might play out in the future.

The author employs the use of flash-forwards. Or, if you’d rather, the story is told in flashbacks within a framework of the story “now.” While Mr. Ljubuncic executes this style flawlessly, I felt like it interrupted the action and connection with the characters. When we were thrust into a different time and place, I had to keep recalibrating my attention to the story. I would have preferred a more straight forward presentation.

With that said, by the end of this tale, you’ll probably have a tender smile on your face. In the end, love conquers all–if you can ignore the meta-jibe the author takes at his audience.

Until next time, enjoy a short, romantic story.

What is Ecotones?

ECOTONES is an anthology of speculative fiction featuring fourteen tales from best-sellers, award-winners and nominees, established talents, and up-coming authors.

Ecotones exist wherever different ecosystems make contact. Where forest meets field… where the land meets the sea… where swamp gives way to jungle… where the surface descends beneath the ground… these are borders across which different ways of life come into conflict, and sometimes cooperation.

But in speculative fiction we might envision other borders: where the mundane meets the fantastical. Where countries clash and cultures mix. Where technology is joined to flesh. Where the known meets the unknown. These are ecotones of the imagination — where anything could happen.

Featuring the work of Ken Liu, Lauren Beukes and Tobias S. Buckell, as well as eleven stories from members of SFFWorld.com’s writing community, ECOTONES is a collection like no other — a point of contact between fantasy and science fiction with a timely environmental theme.

If you’d like to follow along, Ecotones is available for free in Kindle Unlimited. Check it out.

All the best,

Nila

Today, I’m delighted to introduce you to a long-time writing friend of mine: Robert Garbin. He’s working on a board game. Yes! A board game! He’s designing and inventing it himself.

It’s rather exciting, but I’ll get out the way and let him tell you about his project–that you can help with!

Hello, I am Robert Garbin and I am creating a board game: The Blind Lands.

It will be a simple one, possibly a two player co-operative with a monster battling board game set in the wild and wooly world of my mind. The artwork is hand drawn by me with color added digitally like an inked comic page.

This is a dream project that allows me to create to my hearts content, injecting my sense of art, humor, and writing into one project. I am hoping to create a game that feels like D&D without the need for a DM or extensive stat sheets. A game that is fun and short like a phone game, never being the same. Monsters will be generated by a shuffled monster deck depending on your location in the world. Battles will be determined by six-sided die for turn based hits and blocks. Damage is based on the number of the same six-sided die that you and your opponent can wield. Monsters always drop a treasure that is handled by other card decks. My goal it to make enough interesting monster and treasure designs to keep the play fresh and entertaining.

I could use the help of some adventurous souls to see this through. The game is designed for those of us who feel like we never fit in; maybe the sort of person with a monster or two sitting on our shoulders.

Let your inner monster out and join me.

There you have it from the creator himself. If you’re into board games and monsters, check out Robert’s Patreon page where you can support him at several levels.

Enter The Blind Lands

Until next time, let your inner monster loose.

Recently, I joined the Bookfox Academy.

I know. You’re about to say, “Nila! How could you have wasted your hard-earned dollars on useless online courses? His writing theories and tips can be gleaned from all over the internet!”

You’re right. Maybe.

Much of his advice isn’t rocket science. And I could probably buy a whole host of writing craft books to come to many of his same conclusions. Heck, he offers a lot of free writing advice on his YouTube channel. And someone even told me: “He looks funny.”

Please, people. Let’s not be shallow.

The truth is, I’ve been watching his posted videos, and all his begging to buy his courses finally got to me. And you know what? I’m glad I did!

Only two-thirds through the first course I chose to take, Splendid Sentences, and it is, well, splendid. I’m learning a ton. His mini-lessons help me see my writing in a refreshing and objective light. I can now recognize the nuts and bolts of my stories, and–here’s the good bit–notice where I can make them better.

Okay, okay, after completing his courses, I’m not saying I’m gonna be the best novelist ever. Not at all. But I’ll be a more conscientious and deliberate writer.

No, I’m not trying to convince you take the plunge. If you’re not open to it, don’t waste your time with online writing courses. But if you’re struggling or feeling like you’re in a rut, perhaps consider putting yourself in a position to deliberately learn. Even old, grizzled writers can learn a thing or two (or a dozen, in my case). Don’t feel obligated to check out Bookfox. Or any other online gimmick. Explore the offerings from your local community college. Or find a critique group (Scribophile can be a great investment for serious feedback).

Whatever you do, remember, we never stop growing and expanding our craft.

Until next time, learn something new.

Could flowers be the spark of insurrection? The delicate petals fuel for a fire that will change everything?

Perhaps, but before we answer those burning questions, let’s get the standard introduction out of the way. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the publication of Ecotones: Ecological Stories from the Border Between Fantasy and Science Fiction, I’m reviewing all fourteen (14) short stories. Start here to read all mini-reviews.

This is the twelfth story in this ecology-related short story collection.

The Theft of Flowers by Stephen Palmer

I have to admit, after reading this story twice, I have no idea what it’s about. But it’s cool!

Best line:

A mixture of dog-eat-dog and callous exploitation; human greed dissolved into silicon lies.

This very short story follows Djeneba as she struggles to survive in the Ouagadougou Market; but this is unlike any market you or I might visit on a pleasant, sunny afternoon. This is an information market.

And that’s pretty much all I could figure out. The setting is surreal; a mixture of African savanna and something akin to the digital world of Blade Runner. But the stakes are high–it’s either life or death for Djeneba and the market. In the end, she might survive by giving her compatriots up, but at what cost? Was it too high?

While I didn’t like that I was confused for much of the story, the words had a natural rhythm that spurred one to keep reading. And there’s a lot of repetition, but you welcome it, because you know it’s a clue. The knowledge we seek is just beyond our reach. Very much like reality is at the cusp understanding for the characters, but they’ll never quite get there.

It’s the sort of story that will keep you up at night thinking about how we give up control in the blind hope of securing it.

Until next time, enjoy a perplexing short story.

What is Ecotones?

ECOTONES is an anthology of speculative fiction featuring fourteen tales from best-sellers, award-winners and nominees, established talents, and up-coming authors.

Ecotones exist wherever different ecosystems make contact. Where forest meets field… where the land meets the sea… where swamp gives way to jungle… where the surface descends beneath the ground… these are borders across which different ways of life come into conflict, and sometimes cooperation.

But in speculative fiction we might envision other borders: where the mundane meets the fantastical. Where countries clash and cultures mix. Where technology is joined to flesh. Where the known meets the unknown. These are ecotones of the imagination — where anything could happen.

Featuring the work of Ken Liu, Lauren Beukes and Tobias S. Buckell, as well as eleven stories from members of SFFWorld.com’s writing community, ECOTONES is a collection like no other — a point of contact between fantasy and science fiction with a timely environmental theme.

If you’d like to follow along, Ecotones is available for free in Kindle Unlimited. Check it out.

All the best,

Nila

Heh–I know, the title suggests I was gonna give you an update first and then reveal the cover, but we all know it’s all about the cover!

So there it is. In all it’s glory. I’m happy with it. I hope you like it, too.

Natalia Junqueira, over on Reedsy.com, again delivered the goods. She does an excellent job of integrating the cover art I chose, picking the right font, and assembling it all into something I hope will entice adult readers.

I know, the art suggests a young adult or even middle grade genre, but I’m hoping the blurb will keep it firmly in the adult category. It’s not that a kid couldn’t read the story. They could. It’s just not geared for them. But there is a kid in the story that features large so this cover art seemed especially fitting.

By the way, the image is created using paper cuts, arranged just so, and then back lit. Cool, huh? I discovered the image on DeviantArt (yes, real, non-AI artists still hang out there). Here’s the artist’s link: https://www.deviantart.com/gs-papercut

Do consider supporting his art on Twitch! Also, just so you all know, here’s the original image.

The Girl and the Dragon; Original art by Marcus Wachter

So… if I’m revealing the cover for The Legend of Damndrake, I must be finished, right?

Well, sort of.

In January of this year, I had hoped to have the first book of the Draghi Chronicles wrapped up and in your eBook readers by now, but I had to rewrite the darn thing. So, everything is a bit behind.

However, I can confidently assure you all that The Legend of Damndrake is finished! Yay! It is currently going through a final round of critique, and is due to my editor by September 15th, 2025. If everything goes to plan, I’m anticipating a mid-November release date.

That may seem like a long time from now, but it’s not! There are so many tasks, big and small, that go into creating a book, particularly one that is part of a series. But I’m very proud of what I have created with my team of writing partners (you know who you are), artists, and editor. And I sincerely hope you enjoy The Legend of Damndrake.

Without further ado…

After twenty four years surviving the brutal White Wastes, Damndrake has stopped searching for her parents. She has Blaze now—her fierce, fire-breathing adopted sister—and trying to build a stable life in human-dragon society is challenge enough.

When Damndrake loses a coveted Drakengard job, even that fragile stability begins to crack, until she’s unexpectedly recruited to the Draghi Firegard in the city of Qar. Things finally fall into place—new purpose, new home, maybe even the spark of something more—until Smoke returns. The same dragon who tried to steal Blaze a decade ago is back, and this time, he’s not leaving empty-clawed.

To protect Blaze, Damndrake must confront not only Smoke, but the darker parts of herself she’s tried to bury. Because if she doesn’t, Blaze won’t survive.

Soon to be published at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and many other venues (large-print, too!).

Humble bow,

Nila

By the way, if you’re looking for a cozy, late-summer read, the entire Mapmaker Trilogy is available for under twelve three dollars. It’s a steal! Get it on Amazon here or Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and other venues here.

This week, I’m holding a huge sale on the entire Mapmaker Trilogy. For only 99 cents each (less than $3), lock into a journey across land and sea to freedom!

Okay, not quite freedom from your family, obligations, and crappy job, but wouldn’t you enjoy an adventurous escape into a wonderful world with a winged cartographer? WWWWC? Should that be a thing?

It is now.

Join the Adventure

Praise for Mapmaker–Book 2 from a reader in Germany:

I also couldn’t put the second book in the Mapmaker Trilogy down and had to devour it within two days. Aleeya’s story had me hooked from the very beginning and kept me hooked until the end. The worldbuilding is just so captivating and vividly written that you can dive right into it and only emerge again at the end. I can’t wait to read the last book in the trilogy!

If you’ve already read the books and liked them, please consider writing a review. Doesn’t have to be long. Independent authors live and die by your recommendations.

Until next time, don’t forget your adventure cape!

There are authors who shove an entire novel’s worth of story into a short story. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t.

I am that kind of writer. Years ago, I tried very hard to kill the impetus to write a novel with less than five thousand words. I failed. So, now I write trilogies. Ha!

But today’s reviewed story tried to do just that–offer us a big idea in a scant number of words. Does it succeed?

Before we answer that question, let’s get the standard introduction out of the way. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the publication of Ecotones: Ecological Stories from the Border Between Fantasy and Science Fiction, I’m reviewing all fourteen (14) short stories. Start here to read all mini-reviews.

This is the eleventh story in this ecology-related short story collection.

The Pattern Box by Christina Klarenbeek

This is a space opera, and the story begins with an intense scene. The author introduces us to our main character while he’s thrust from a stasis chamber. The ship is under attack. We soon learn exactly who our MC is, the enormity of the problem, and what can be done. We’re then introduced to a very foreign character who will play a pivotal role in ensuring whether the ship’s inhabitants ultimate goal is achieved or not.

I really enjoyed the smooth, easy reading of this story (though I did find a couple of typos!). The author immerses us into their world quickly and efficiently. There’s no time to explain much because they are under attack! That urgency comes through in the pacing of the story. And I thought the author did a great job giving us an ‘other’ perspective.

However… there was just so much that I think we lost a bit of the nuances that were touched on, but had to be abandoned because of the length.

With that said, the reveal at the end delivered on this story’s ‘grand notion.’

Until next time, enjoy a short story.

What is Ecotones?

ECOTONES is an anthology of speculative fiction featuring fourteen tales from best-sellers, award-winners and nominees, established talents, and up-coming authors.

Ecotones exist wherever different ecosystems make contact. Where forest meets field… where the land meets the sea… where swamp gives way to jungle… where the surface descends beneath the ground… these are borders across which different ways of life come into conflict, and sometimes cooperation.

But in speculative fiction we might envision other borders: where the mundane meets the fantastical. Where countries clash and cultures mix. Where technology is joined to flesh. Where the known meets the unknown. These are ecotones of the imagination — where anything could happen.

Featuring the work of Ken Liu, Lauren Beukes and Tobias S. Buckell, as well as eleven stories from members of SFFWorld.com’s writing community, ECOTONES is a collection like no other — a point of contact between fantasy and science fiction with a timely environmental theme.

If you’d like to follow along, Ecotones is available for free in Kindle Unlimited. Check it out.

All the best,

Nila

I remember when I used to associate ‘pitching’ with the game. You know, baseball or softball. Ah, those were simpler times, weren’t they?

No, they weren’t. We were just young and oblivious and erroneously thought the world was ours for the taking when we were lied to just as much then as we are now.

But I’m already off tract. What was I talking about? Oh, yeah, pitches (not politics).

It wasn’t until I became a writer, and had stars in my eyes thinking I could be traditionally published, that I came across the word used in relation to books. All of a sudden, that humble five-letter word was brandished about like a new fangled mantra: Book Pitch.

Pitch me your best line. Pitch me your story. Pitch me your best novel idea. Pitch it to me, baby!

Whoa whoa whoa. What the heck do they mean by ‘pitch it to me’?

When I first encountered the idea and tried to apply it to my story or writing, it felt like a contest I was woefully unprepared for. You know, it still kind of feels that way…

But let’s tackle it together. To parse its meaning, we’ll divide the term into its nascent, implied parts.

Well, if we were talking baseball, the connotation is clear. Pitch it to me implies: throw the ball directly to me so I can easily catch it.

So, there’s two parts there, and both hinge on communication.

The first part starts with you, by throwing the ball. For a book pitch, that means you’re going to throw the best ball you have. That ball has to fly through the air, unencumbered by twisty plot lines and heavy adverbs. It’s gotta be sleek and streamlined–straight to the point.

The second part ends with them, whoever is catching the ball. That could be an agent, a publisher, or a reader. You can’t control ‘them,’ whoever they may be. But you can anticipate who they might be and what they might be interested in–just as a baseball pitcher will take into consideration the skills of his catcher and/or the hitter.

Clear as mud?

Yeah, I don’t get book pitches either. It’s like trying to come up with a golden ticket. Or catch that winged snitch thing from Harry Potter.

Well, believe it or not, there are some folks in the world who love devising book pitches and are great at it. Who knew?

And a few of them held a Book Pitch session during Seattle Worldcon.

Pitch Perfect: Developing a Solid Book Pitch (Sunday, August 17th, 2025, 12:00pm) with K.C. Aegis, Amanda Cherry, Deanna Sjolander, E. C. Ambrose, and Robin Jeffrey

Each of the presenters are well respected editors and authors (both traditional and self-published) with years of experience. Here’s what I came away with:

You should be able to say your one-sentence book pitch within a single breath. (Yikes!)Forget setting. That’s for the book description (or back cover blurb).Focus on who the character is (what do they do?), what they want, and what’s at stake if they don’t get want they want.Don’t bother with names in your one-sentence pitch. Again, save that for the book description.Practice, practice, practice. And then practice some more in front of a mirror.Practice writing a book pitch for well-known books.Prepare more than a one-sentence pitch! Once you have your one-sentence pitch, expand it to a couple of sentences. Once you have that down, expand it further to a paragraph or two.Tailor your pitches (and pitch length) to your audience.When pitching to agents and publishers, the use of genre terms is acceptable and, maybe, encouraged.Steer away from genre terms when pitching directly to readers, instead focus on some sort of goal or movement towards a goal.Be careful using obscure terms, but try to “bake in” your worldbuilding into the pitch (whatever the length).Consider developing your book pitch *before* you write your novel. It can serve as an overarching guide.

Wow. That’s a lot to take in. And notice, we still don’t know exactly what a book pitch is for. That’s because, in the end, it’s about what you aim to do with your book pitch. Do you want an agent to ask for the full manuscript? Are you after someone asking, “Oh, tell me more?” Or do you want a reader to buy your book? While all very similar because ultimately, hopefully, they’ll all read your book, but exactly how to entice each will be a bit different.

Okay, enough with all that. Let’s actually try this. After applying their tips to my debut trilogy, Mapmaker, here’s what I came up with:

A winged cartographer struggles to return home before her magical abilities are discovered and used against her and those she loves.

Well… that’s not terrible. It does get the basics of the story across. What do you think? Do you have a novel? If so, pitch it to me in the comments.

Until next time,

Nila

Hey Folks!

I don’t normally gush about my writing. But recently, someone posted their review of Book 1 of my Mapmaker Trilogy.

Since they didn’t put it on Amazon or GoodReads, I can’t easily point at it, nor can I expect folks to see it when they purchase my book. But it was a huge confidence booster so I wanted to note it somewhere. If not my own website, where else?

So, here it is. Almost in its entirety. And here’s the link to the original post.

Book Review*: Mapmaker (Book 1)

“Mapmaker” by N.E. White is a self-pubbed fantasy novel that has been on my TBR ever since I read about it here last April. In the meantime she’s also been featured on the AuthorAlly podcast with our very own Jonathan Writer. WOW was I impressed with her book! The writing is very well executed, the story world immersive, and the plot intriguing.

The story takes place in a fantasy world populated by wingmen, beings somewhat like humans only endowed with batwings complete with wingclaws that can fly. Aleeya is an Eastern Wild variety of wingperson, a slave in the Western Helacon city of Ka’ai. The Western Helacons have a Roman-style republic that is intent on conquering other nations, although this does not figure hugely into the plot. Aleeya was seized as a slave as a young child, and yearns to escape to her Eastern Wild homeland of Gwich’an.

This is not a cozy fantasy! Aleeya suffers indignities as a slave, she is discriminated against over and over due to her race, and she is to be sold as a sex-slave. Fortunately Aleeya is resilient and persistent in following her dreams. With the help of her adopted brother Gallus and a pair of not-so-helpful smuggler siblings, Aleeya attempts to make a break for it. She is pursued over mountains and across seas due to an ability which she had long suppressed – as a mapmaker, she apparently has the ability to map new realities physically into the world!

Highlights for me were the alien seeming Xianit, a race of wingless humanoids that seem disturbingly … human. The conspiracy surrounding Aleeya’s escape is also well done – it is hard to tell who she can trust in a complicated web of ambitious plans surrounding her abilities. The best part for me was the writing style – so clean and descriptive, with I think only one typo in the whole book. I heartily recommend reading this book to see the potential of a self-pubbed author – N.E. White sets the bar high!

I struggle to mention anything that I disliked about the book. For me, the romance sub-plot was a bit tedious, but I fully recognize that I do not like romance in general and am certainly not the target market for such. I think what rubbed the most was Aleeya’s complete infatuation – while understandable given her age and lack of experience with love, it was a little cringy for an old goat like me. But, given that romance is by far the most popular genre out there, I’m sure most readers would feel otherwise!

There you have it. While the reviewer may not have liked all aspects of the story, it seems they were impressed with the world-building and plot. Yay!

Have you read Mapmaker? If you liked it, please consider leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Independent authors live and die by their reviews!

Humbly grateful,

Nila