Happy New Year! The beginning of a new year is always interesting. It’s a time to reflect, plan, eye one’s holiday paunch, and join a gym(!) 2013 promises to be an interesting year for yours truly as I conclude The Tapestry and move on to new projects. As I write The Red Winter, it’s a bittersweet feeling. I’m both excited […]
Well, the holidays are upon us — a cherished time to reflect, snuggle with loved ones, quaff eggnog, and toss innumerable catalogs in the recycling bin. It’s also a time to coax one’s bewildered toddler into sitting on a stranger’s lap. I’m not certain which aspect of this photo is more upsetting; the fact that my son is howling or […]
People often ask what I do when I’m not writing. For the past year, the answer has been “chase after Charlie.” Hard to believe, but our baby turned one a week ago and is ready to take his first steps any day. The Maelstrom is Charlie’s book — dedicated to him. While I’d thought of the title before we ever […]
There’s a funny scene in the movie “A History of the World, Part I” in which an earnest caveman impresses his fellows by making the very first cave painting. Of course, as soon as the caveman completes his masterpiece, another strides forward, appraises the artist’s work, and urinates upon it. Art has been born and so has the critic. The […]
The world of children’s literature — indeed of all literature and certainly illustration — bid farewell to one of its titans recently as Maurice Sendak passed away. I never had the opportunity to meet Mr. Sendak, but he had a profound impact on me and my interest in children’s books and drawing. As many readers know, Max McDaniels was named […]
I’m happy to report that The Maelstrom has been put to bed and I’m already at work on The Tapestry’s fifth and final book. That volume will be titled The Red Winter and bring Max and David’s adventures to a close. While it’s bittersweet to work on the final book, I’m excited to give Max, David, Mum, Bob, Bram, Mina, […]
I’m happy to announce that there will be a fifth book to complete The Tapestry series. The development occurred as I was working on the manuscript for The Maelstrom and realizing that there were too many interesting aspects of the world and interesting story lines to explore to wrap up the series in a fourth book of manageable size (i.e., […]
Well, it’s been a little quiet on the Tapestry front but very busy at the Neff household. On Wednesday, my wife and I welcomed our first child into the world. Charles Raymond Neff is now on the scene – 21 inches and almost 8lbs. of swaddled fury. Mom and Dad couldn’t be happier and it’s nice to finally meet the […]
It sounds like an oxymoron, but I really do strive for “plausible fantasy”. I want the characters to seem real, the emotions to seem real, and for the world to hang together logically. Magic can stimulate our imaginations, but it can also threaten a fantasy story’s plausibility if the author isn’t careful to place it within some parameters. Take the […]
My mother is the first person who reads each new chapter of my books. I can always count on her to provide timely encouragement and constructive criticism as The Tapestry takes shape. On Mother’s Day I want to say a great big THANK YOU to the woman who brought me into the world and raised me. Without her, Max McDaniels […]