Peter Cruikshank - Author
@petercruikshank.com
Author of the High Fantasy series Dragon-Called. My goal is to write tales that whisk readers away to worlds of adventure; steep them in romance & wrap them in magic; creating a believable place & time with characters readers care about. I call SoCal home.
Pinned
My golf buddies joke that my scores so high, I pay less per stroke than them. I applied this same formula to what I should be paid for pages I’ve written. After book sales and expenses, I figure I must owe “someone” a lot of money just to be able to write 🥴
#author #writer #books #bluesky #booksky
#author #writer #books #bluesky #booksky
November 11, 2025 at 2:33 AM
I took a break from writing & went to the casino today—of course I lost 💰. However, when I consider the cost of my website, writing software, book covers, & other expenses, compared to what I made from book sales last year—I feel pretty good about today. 😏
#author #writer #books #bluesky #booksky
#author #writer #books #bluesky #booksky
November 8, 2025 at 3:32 AM
At a party, what I DON’T want to hear: “How many books have you sold?” or “Have you finished that book…Yet?” What I DO want to hear: “Wow, you’re really an author. You’re so cool!” or “I wish I could write a book. You’re so cool!” I think I see a trend here. #author #writer #books #bluesky #booksky
https://you.you’re
November 7, 2025 at 3:50 AM
As an author. I HATE Marketing, even though I taught college courses on it. “But a book is just another product. Right?” The difference is I’m not marketing a book, per se, I’m really marketing me. I’ve got a HUGE ego, but like many authors, I HATE doing it. #writer #author #books #booksky #bluesky
October 15, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Some days I write & I’m lost to the world for hours. Other days I stare out the window, just lost. I’ve learned it’s all part of the process. Sometimes lost to the world ends up as trash. Other times staring out the window leads to a break thru in the story. #writer #author #books #booksky #bluesky
September 27, 2025 at 2:39 AM
I write weekly at Panera Bread (bakery-cafe). I setup with laptop, books, & a 3D dragon in an egg. Patrons stop by all the time. “Are you the author?” Yes. “You must have a wild imagination.” Yes. Here, take a card. “Oh no. It’s not my genre.” No problem. 🙄
#writer #author #books #booksky #bluesky
#writer #author #books #booksky #bluesky
September 23, 2025 at 12:45 AM
More from Summer night concert.
September 7, 2025 at 2:21 AM
More from Summer night concert.
Enjoying an outside concert in San Marcos, CA - Fleetwood Mac tribute band. Naturally with a bottle of Cab Sauvignon and Brownies.
September 7, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Enjoying an outside concert in San Marcos, CA - Fleetwood Mac tribute band. Naturally with a bottle of Cab Sauvignon and Brownies.
One of the worse feelings an author can have is to be 2/3 of the way through a manuscript and realize the important supporting character created in the beginning doesn’t work. Even worse is when they discover this in the middle of the 4th book in the series!
#author #writer #books #bluesky #booksky
#author #writer #books #bluesky #booksky
September 3, 2025 at 5:39 AM
Panera Bread is a bakery-cafe w/2100 shops in US & Canada. For last decade I’ve written 3 days/week there & stop by other days for coffee. Everyone knows me & I get special treatment. I’m reminded of the Sitcom Cheers. Wait a minute, does that make me Norm? #writer #author #books #booksky #bluesky
August 19, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Heard of Runner's High? Writer’s block is real, but sometimes the words flow effortlessly, & I’m filled with a sense of euphoria that can only come from creating something new, something born of my mind & spirit, something that's a part of me. Author's High! #writer #author #books #booksky #bluesky
August 7, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Some days I grind out a few paragraphs or stare blankly hunting for the next line. But the days when I lose track of time and the words flow effortlessly, I get such a high that can only come from creating something new, something born of my mind and spirit.
#author #writer #books #bluesky #booksky
#author #writer #books #bluesky #booksky
August 2, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Finishing my High Fantasy series after 13 years. Now, obsessed with Urban Fantasy - might say bewitched. What will the new series be: Male or female protagonist? What type of paranormal? What’s their obstacle? This is the really fun part of being an author. #author #writer #books #bluesky #booksky
author.author
July 23, 2025 at 3:59 AM
I admit it. I love writing. But it can be stressful. How should this scene go? Is this character believable? Does the dialogue sound real? I agonize over these things. Will it be popular? How many will I sell? Doesn’t matter. I’m an author. It’s what I do. #author #writer #books #bluesky #booksky
July 8, 2025 at 12:52 AM
My politics are my own, but when I listen to Tom Homan, Ice agents, & others, it’s like Adolf Eichmann (Holocaust) & the Gestapo all over again. They can’t hide their reprehensible actions behind “I’m just following orders. Just doing my job”. It’s no excuse. #author #writer #books #bluesky #booksky
July 3, 2025 at 4:10 AM
My politics are my own, but when I listen to Tom Homan, Ice agents, & others, it’s like Adolf Eichmann (Holocaust) & the Gestapo all over again. They can’t hide their reprehensible actions behind “I’m just following orders. Just doing my job”. It’s no excuse. #author #writer #books #bluesky #booksky
Asked: Why I write females so well? I think because a lot of material to work with. Generally, male (char)acters repress emotions, whereas females draw upon a multiplicity of emotions & thoughts. I’m able to create complex & more compelling chars.
#author #writer #books #bluesky #booksky #amwriting
#author #writer #books #bluesky #booksky #amwriting
June 29, 2025 at 8:06 PM
People ask me: What makes one want to be an author? Everyone is different, but for me, when a preteen I’d read Sci-Fi books & found myself thinking “I would have done this or that”, or I’d envision a different ending. There was only way to do that. #author #writer #books #bluesky #booksky #amwriting
June 28, 2025 at 1:07 AM
People ask me: What makes one want to be an author? Everyone is different, but for me, when a preteen I’d read Sci-Fi books & found myself thinking “I would have done this or that”, or I’d envision a different ending. There was only way to do that. #author #writer #books #bluesky #booksky #amwriting
At my coffee shop for 2 hours, on 2nd cup, reread what I’d written yesterday, & stared blankly at my screen. Zippo motivation. Then someone came up to me. “Read your 1st book. Loved it. On 2nd one.” Amazing how easy it was to write rest of the day. #author #writer #books #bluesky #booksky #amwriting
June 26, 2025 at 4:16 AM
At my coffee shop for 2 hours, on 2nd cup, reread what I’d written yesterday, & stared blankly at my screen. Zippo motivation. Then someone came up to me. “Read your 1st book. Loved it. On 2nd one.” Amazing how easy it was to write rest of the day. #author #writer #books #bluesky #booksky #amwriting
After 14 years on my Dragon-Called series, I’m still excited, but REALLY want to finish. Lot’s of ideas for other stories & want to dip my toes into Urban Fantasy. More than 70 bible verses mention patience, but for some reason I don’t feel better. #author #writer #books #bluesky #booksky #amwriting
June 19, 2025 at 4:00 AM
After 14 years on my Dragon-Called series, I’m still excited, but REALLY want to finish. Lot’s of ideas for other stories & want to dip my toes into Urban Fantasy. More than 70 bible verses mention patience, but for some reason I don’t feel better. #author #writer #books #bluesky #booksky #amwriting
I have a crossover vs sequential series & it’s hard to find beta readers. By book 3+, they have to read the previous books (600 pages each) to truly grasp the concepts & characters. Looking at virtual beta reader app from ProWritingAid. We’ll see. #author #writer #books #bluesky #booksky #amwriting
June 18, 2025 at 1:41 AM
8th costume change. Great show.
June 15, 2025 at 3:38 AM
8th costume change. Great show.
Queen cover group at outside concert in San Marcos, CA - this is Freddy’s 6th costume change.
June 15, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Queen cover group at outside concert in San Marcos, CA - this is Freddy’s 6th costume change.
I posted asking about ChatGPT & have gotten a lot of responses. I understand AI is evil. A threat to all of us creative humans. I didn’t say I was using it. I wouldn’t want to use it to create content. Just trying to find out if it would be helpful to narrow down resources to research.
June 4, 2025 at 4:26 AM
I posted asking about ChatGPT & have gotten a lot of responses. I understand AI is evil. A threat to all of us creative humans. I didn’t say I was using it. I wouldn’t want to use it to create content. Just trying to find out if it would be helpful to narrow down resources to research.
I write fantasy, currently High Fantasy - Elves, magic, dragons and the like - Medieval themed. Though plan on Urban Fantasy next. For ever hour of writing I spend 3 or 4+ hours researching. I’ve been told ChatGPT can help with that. Any thoughts/experience? #author #writer #books #bluesky #booksky
June 4, 2025 at 3:35 AM