The Official Blog of A. E. Costello

A. E. Reads: THE DEEP [Book Review]

THE DEEP is a 2019 novella written by Rivers Solomon and inspired by the song of the same name by clipping., which you can listen to on YouTube for free here. While searching for books written by black authors with black main characters, I came across THE DEEP. Once I saw the cover, I knew…

Read A Lot, Write a Lot

A. E. here. I ask you, why do you have to read to write well? The answer is quick and easy: Reading teaches you how to write. That’s the most simple clear cut way of putting it. If you don’t have time to read, then you don’t have time to write. You know who said…

On Stories: “End”

A. E. here. Today is one of my “On Writing” posts, where I talk about certain subjects and topics that deal with writing and the writing life. Today, I want to talk about the ending of stories, or rather, the fact that stories NEED to end. Let’s pretend you’re on book twenty-five of a series….

The Writing Journey: Zippy Mae and the Seven Kingdoms “Written So Far”

Welcome! A. E. here. Today is another “Written So Far” post about where I’m coming along in my Writing Journey with my upcoming novel Zippy Mae and the Seven Kingdoms. Said book is the first of a new series I’m kicking off about the titular character Zipporah Mae Freedman. Call her Zippy please. So today’s…

Excuses Will Kill You and Your Dreams

This post is a long one so get ready. If you don’t feel like getting a sharp kick on the butt, don’t read this. If you know you NEED a kick in the butt, read on! Any of the below sound familiar? I’m busy. I’m tired. I don’t have any time. I need to relax…

A. E. Reads: Patternmaster [Book Review]

Today is my final review in Ocativa Butler’s The Patternist series. Patternmaster, published in 1976 by Octavia Butler, was the first book to be published in the series but is actually the last book chronologically and therefore is the last book I read. I read the series chronologically, so I read Wild Seed first, then…