C.M. Skiera

Biography

C. M. Skiera currently lives in San Diego, California, a long way from Michigan, where he grew up, graduated from Michigan State University, and started a career as an environmental engineer. He and his wife are devoted dog-lovers who share their home with two rescue Chihuahuas.

Crimson & Cream is C. M. Skiera’s debut epic fantasy novel. He started writing Crimson & Cream in 1999, and after many twists and turns, 13 drafts, plenty of rejections, the arrival of the 21st Century and the advent of online self-publishing, the ebook was was self-published on Smashwords and Amazon in 2012. Mirrors & Mist, Book II of The Oxbow Kingdom Trilogy is his latest release, and he is currently writing Warlock & Wyrm, the final book of the series.

Smashwords Interview

Who are your favorite authors?
I love George R.R. Martin and Robin Hobb, as well as the late, great Ray Bradbury and Elmore Leonard, but honestly, there are too many to list.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I have trouble keeping away from video games--they're my guilty pleasure, especially RPGs. I also spend time with my wife and dogs and have a day job that pays the bills.
Read more of this interview.

Where to find C.M. Skiera online

Books

This member has not published any books.

Smashwords book reviews by C.M. Skiera

  • Smashwords Style Guide on Aug. 14, 2012

    The Smashwords Style Guide was a great help in formatting my novel. Not only mandatory for publishing on Smashwords, it also contains some good advice on formatting in Word. My only pet peeve was that there was too much 'white space' between sections of text, which necessitated more scrolling than needed. In summary, an excellent guide. Thanks for making it free.
  • The Secrets to Ebook Publishing Success on Aug. 14, 2012

    The Secrets to Ebook Publishing Success is a must-read for any self-publishing author. Possibly a little wordy with some obvious instructions, it's still chock-full of excellent advice, tips, and resources. Although I liked The Smashwords Book Marketing Guide a little better, they are a great companion set. It's well-written and organized in a logical manner. Definitely a steal for free, as it is easily worth paying for.
  • Smashwords Book Marketing Guide on Aug. 14, 2012

    The Smashwords Book Marketing Guide is a fantastic resource. It's the 'Bucket List' of ebook marketing; I find myself returning to it again and again to make sure I'm covering all the bases. It's my personal 'do-list.' This guide is even better than Mr. Coker's other free gem, The Secrets to Ebook Publishing Success, which is also a must-have. The Smashwords Book Marketing Guide is a lean and mean instruction manual for turning over every stone. Thank you for this great resource!
  • The Book of Deacon on Oct. 20, 2012

    I enjoyed The Book of Deacon. Mr. Lallo creates a vivid world and a well-developed main character; Myranda. Her motivations are straightforward and linked inextricably to the world around her. A strong-willed individual, she has strengths and flaws and the story focuses on her chance encounter with a magic artifact, and the chaos the unfolds after the event. Mr. Lallo chronicles Myranda's growth and development with vivid detail as she encounters a varied cast of characters to help (and hinder) her arduous journey. Her dangerous travels and personal growth keep the pace relatively slow and dampen the sense of urgency somewhat, but the progression is consistent throughout the book and the tension builds along the way. Magic plays a large role in this story and the mechanics of its use are explained thoroughly. As Myranda learns to become a spellcaster, the reader is with her every step of the way. Other reviews have mentioned the unconventional lack of chapters and cited some grammatical errors; however, I must admit this did not detract from my enjoyment of the story. If you like a well-described, detailed fantasy world, and are curious about the inner-workings of the magic in contains, you should enjoy this book.
  • Put the Cat In the Oven Before You Describe the Kitchen on March 20, 2014

    Put the Cat In the Oven Before You Describe the Kitchen By Jake Vander Ark is a great little guide book. With 20 important and helpful tips that are clearly explained, this free book is a must have for any author, whether as a new learning tool or a refresher.