Ridgewood Beginnings

I was 13 when I created a fictional rural town that became Ridgewood, Pennsylvania. I was an eighth-grade high school student who owned a portable Remington typewriter. That instrument and my imagination allowed me to escape from the ordinary world. I’m not saying my life was boring or difficult, but like the child who turns … Continue reading Ridgewood Beginnings

Hell Hound Cover Update

Earlier this month I shared with you the new cover for my ebook Night of the Hell Hounds and Other Stories from the Ridgewood Chronicles, available at Amazon.com. I wrote that the illustration is quite dark and that dark illustrations don’t copy well via Amazon KDP’s POD paperback book market. (I have a couple failed … Continue reading Hell Hound Cover Update

2011.12.13 Writing: Fictional Characters

Thank you for joining me today for another post from the past with reflections about writing and my life as a writer. If you’re a writer of fiction, you likely subscribe to the newsstand magazines that publish articles on how to write better fiction. Lately, I’ve seen articles that claim story characters react more to … Continue reading 2011.12.13 Writing: Fictional Characters

Criticism

Over the years I’ve learned that there are some commonalities between being an artist who paints landscapes and wildlife, and an author who self-publishes his books. First, obviously, is that I “self”-publish my art as well as my books. But more importantly, both my art and my books go into the world and are judged. … Continue reading Criticism

Finally, Book 1 Is Final

I recently corrected some printing problems, which means the absolute last version of Night of the Hell Hounds and Other Stories from the Ridgewood Chronicles is finished and at Amazon in both ebook and paperback formats. I haven’t written much about the cover, so I’ll do that now. I kept the cover simple to make … Continue reading Finally, Book 1 Is Final

Characters Who Stay

I was fourteen when I created my first book character: David Evans. His name came from the popular daytime gothic horror TV show in the US, Dark Shadows. His first name came from the boy character, David Collins, and his surname came from the waitress, Maggie Evans. Both characters had no siblings and lived with … Continue reading Characters Who Stay

My Older Books

Hello, readers. I am offering links to places that still have ebooks that I wrote and published as Steven L Campbell before 2017. I plan to discontinue them after 2024 and revise them in paperback form at Amazon, but I don’t know when they’ll be available again. If you like what I write, please get … Continue reading My Older Books

The main character is based on some authors I know. Some are full of self-importance; some aren't. Some just write…

Healing implies an end, but writing Hadestown was more like learning to walk with a limp. You don’t fix the damage, you…

Thanks, purplegoatee, glad you're enjoying this.

I make comments as I read. Lines I particularly like. For example, "Mark would’ve called that “too on the nose,”…

Great observations, Joseph, and sadly, so true about writers. The writing group I presided over for many years ended up…

I used to attend a writer's critique group and I always tried to frame comments in a positive manner and…

Thanks Joseph. Wishing you a wonderful 2026.

Congrats on the getting the new book to proof reading. We have been getting a lot more snow than normal…

Thanks Max. I like the rocking Kenny too.

Glad you are getting it done Steve! Love that Kenny Rogers song as well...I like the rocking Kenny.