September 14, 2022

This blog post was originally featured on an old blog I managed called Back to Being Gentlemen. That site is now defunct, but on a quick read, I found the content worthy of republication here with minimal edits. Hemingway is a bit of an acquired taste, but his influence on modern literature is unquestionable. His…

February 27, 2020

The Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson, is largely touted to be a gripping tale of the rise of America’s most notorious serial killer. I’m here to tell you that it isn’t true. It’s much more interesting than that. The tale that Erik Larsen weaves about the utter transformation of Chicago and America’s…

February 24, 2020

It took me a while to dig in Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere. It came out in 1996. But I’m glad I finally picked up a copy. An urban fantasy set in a magical world below contemporary London, the book has a lot to offer, and it delivers in true, witty Neil Gaiman fashion. If you haven’t…

October 4, 2019

Hey everyone, today on Instead of Writing I’m diving into a review of a book called The Affinity Bridge by George Mann. I also take this opportunity to dive into what that crazy thing called steampunk really is, and how it differs from gaslamp fantasy generally. The Affinity Bridge is the first in a longer…

June 3, 2019

I’m a bit of an Anglophile. Technically, I think that I can actually claim to be a citizen of Great Britain due to some of the Queen’s citizenship laws. It’s always fascinated me to see how much of western storytelling revolves around England during the reign of Queen Victoria or King Edward. I love that…

May 6, 2019

I’m a sucker for historical fantasy. I mean hey, that’s the genre I’m currently writing in. There’s something about the passing on of information and stories that shrouds reality in mystery. Plus, the collective world is much much to large to ever pass on to posterity in all its glorious variety and detail. In some…

April 1, 2019

Helene Wecker’s 2013 title is a methodical, unhurried dive into a blend of novel magic systems, historical novel, and cultural commentary. Her story follows two mythical beings. The first is a golem, Chava, created in old-world Poland by a rabbi for a paying customer who wants a bespoke wife. But, when the customer tries to…

January 3, 2019

If you haven’t picked up a copy of Pierce Brown’s Red Rising, you may want to do so before you miss the “read it before it was cool” boat. That window is vanishing quickly. In fact, it may have already passed. I may not be as cool as I think… Many hail this book to…

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My Books

Kenneth A. Baldwin's books on Goodreads
The Crimson Inkwell The Crimson Inkwell
reviews: 25
ratings: 33 (avg rating 4.09)

The Price of Freedom: An Urban Paranormal Short Story The Price of Freedom: An Urban Paranormal Short Story
reviews: 1
ratings: 1 (avg rating 5.00)

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