James D. Best

A review of Hollywood productions and published fiction might lead the casual observer to believe that the traditional hero is dead. The an...

I'm pleased to have been invited to participate in the Kentucky Book Fair. http://kybookfair.org/ The central purpose of the Kentucky Bo...

Do book trailers help people select books? I haven't a clue. Even though I don't know if they provide value for book buyers, I went ...

The Western Writers of America reviewed The Shopkeeper in the August issue of the organization's Roundup Magazine . Best, James D. ...

Characterization is a crucial aspect of fiction. We know this because it's drilled into us at school, in workshops, and in all the how-t...

Everybody drives a car. Many fantasize they can race at the NASCAR level, but few daily commuters would actually venture beyond their daydre...

Here's your starter set. Good Luck! Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary Your book is in here.  Some assembly requi...

Open Range The movie Open Range started me thinking about plot pacing. Westerns films are supposed to be action/adventure, but Open Ran...