https://candicegilmer.com/blog/Book worlds, writing life, and updates from Candice Gilmer.en-ushttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/the-most-important-room-on-libra/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/the-most-important-room-on-libra/I've written starships and trade deals and a telepathic cat. The place that matters most in Ward is a kitchen.Wed, 07 Oct 2026 14:47:45 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/aldric-would-like-to-be-left-alone/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/aldric-would-like-to-be-left-alone/Tisha Made Him Lunch.Tue, 06 Oct 2026 21:42:40 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/behind-the-pages/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/behind-the-pages/How Heart Unlocked came together — the image that started it, why the worldbuilding stays small on purpose, and how I paced a slow burn that earns every spark.Sat, 25 Jul 2026 15:00:04 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/meet-willow-and-reig-and-the-colony-that-made-them/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/meet-willow-and-reig-and-the-colony-that-made-them/She's the sunshine. He's the wall of granite who read the fine print. Here's your introduction to the two of them — and the station that shaped them both.Tue, 21 Jul 2026 14:00:06 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/sunshine-is-work/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/sunshine-is-work/Heart Unlocked is a grumpy/sunshine romance, sure. It's also about what kindness actually costs — and what happens when somebody finally notices you paying.Mon, 20 Jul 2026 03:13:19 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/behind-the-black/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/behind-the-black/How Beyond the Black started with one image, one captain, and one quiet question — what does a working woman do when a war shows up in her cargo hold?Sat, 27 Jun 2026 13:30:03 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/meet-the-crew/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/meet-the-crew/A small ship. A long haul. A captain who doesn't ask questions about her cargo — until the cargo answers back.Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:00:12 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/duty-secrets-and-the-personal-cost-of-war/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/duty-secrets-and-the-personal-cost-of-war/When Zia took the contract, it was a job. Long haul, frozen cargo, no questions. Then the questions started asking themselves.Tue, 23 Jun 2026 01:36:46 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/behind-the-storm-crafting-a-reluctant-hero-and-a-living-rebellion/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/behind-the-storm-crafting-a-reluctant-hero-and-a-living-rebellion/I didn't set out to write a hero. That's probably the most honest thing I can tell you about how Beneath the Storm got made. I set out to write Brellen Storm, which is a different thing entirely.Sat, 30 May 2026 13:00:09 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/meet-brellen-storm-and-the-world-she-navigates/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/meet-brellen-storm-and-the-world-she-navigates/I want to introduce you to some people. Not because you need a character guide to enjoy Beneath the Storm — you don't. But because the people in this book are the reason I wrote it, and I think knowing a…Wed, 27 May 2026 18:00:04 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/writing-below-the-current/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/writing-below-the-current/Writing Below the Current: Inspiration, Worldbuilding, and the Slow-Burn Heart Every book starts somewhere weird. Here's where this one started.Tue, 26 May 2026 12:00:05 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/war-memory-and-the-price-of-staying-neutral/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/war-memory-and-the-price-of-staying-neutral/You're meeting Brellen Storm, a woman who's been with me for a long time. Through many iterations, but she's here. And she's not apologetic about herself. In Beneath The Storm, you get to see exactly who she…Wed, 27 May 2026 03:30:04 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/coreni-edi-veen-and-the-world-beneath-the-waves/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/coreni-edi-veen-and-the-world-beneath-the-waves/Coreni, Edi-Veen, and the World Beneath the Waves Below the Current is built on a simple but irresistible premise: what if the person prophecy has been waiting for had absolutely no idea? Here's who's at the…Mon, 25 May 2026 12:00:01 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/so-what-should-i-have-on-my-author-website/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/so-what-should-i-have-on-my-author-website/It's a debate. Should an author have a website? How important is it when you're an independant author, or a traditionally published author. I have very strong opinions on this, because I don't like the idea of…Mon, 25 May 2026 02:53:06 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/between-prophecy-and-proof/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/between-prophecy-and-proof/Between Prophecy and Proof: The Themes at the Heart of Below the Current If you pick up Below the Current expecting a straightforward sci-fi romance, you'll get one. But you'll also get something a little…Mon, 25 May 2026 03:33:42 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/behind-the-pages-cyborg-unclaimed/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/behind-the-pages-cyborg-unclaimed/How Cyborg Unclaimed Actually Got MadeThu, 14 May 2026 14:37:50 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/meet-morrigan-and-luke/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/meet-morrigan-and-luke/Two Broken People Who Probably Shouldn’t Work — But DoMon, 11 May 2026 17:26:13 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/the-question-at-the-heart-of-cyborg/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/the-question-at-the-heart-of-cyborg/What do you do when your act of mercy creates a monster?Sat, 09 May 2026 21:00:03 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/so-lets-talk-about-it/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/so-lets-talk-about-it/It's been a very trying year. Correction, a trying last few years, for me, and that chaos finally broke.Tue, 11 Nov 2025 18:04:56 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/because-in-the-middle-of-the-night/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/because-in-the-middle-of-the-night/Thoughts are rampantTue, 07 Oct 2025 06:32:32 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/rocket-to-the-stars/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/rocket-to-the-stars/Ever feel like someone strapped you to the back of a rocket and said “hold on,” without any seatbelt or warning? That’s how I’m feeling right now. The thunder of the engine shakes me in my seat as I’m trying…Sat, 07 Jun 2025 20:57:47 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/my-little-helpers/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/my-little-helpers/So today, while I was doing laundry, my kids came in my room where I'd been working on my computer, and started reading on the book I was working on cleaning up. My daughter and son decided to help write the…Tue, 09 Jul 2024 00:18:19 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/what-to-bring-to-a-book-signing/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/what-to-bring-to-a-book-signing/Whether it's Indoor or an Outdoor Event, there are things you always need. I’ve done a ridiculous amount of indoor and outdoor events over the last fifteen years. I enjoy interacting with readers and engaging…Mon, 15 Apr 2024 05:16:09 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/claiming-my-emotions/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/claiming-my-emotions/So, my 37th book, Claim, released today, December 30, 2023. It’s been a helluva road to get it here and available. There were points when I didn’t think I’d ever get it finished. More points came up when I…Sat, 30 Dec 2023 05:38:07 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/my-stupid-stomach/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/my-stupid-stomach/Medical issues stink. They really do. Especially when it’s stupid. Like mine for the last, oh, I don’t know, let’s say, for argument’s sake, it’s been a few years anyway, that I've been having stomach issues.…Wed, 04 Oct 2023 07:13:02 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/2023-events/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/2023-events/So I'll be at a few events this year, here's the current list: Events* 2023 Live Event Appearances April 15-16 -- Spring Great Plains Renaissance Festival June 24-25 -- Smallville Comic Con August 5-6 -- Guest…Wed, 07 Jun 2023 04:21:04 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/the-jock-nerd-love-story-and-why-we-love-them/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/the-jock-nerd-love-story-and-why-we-love-them/Who hasn’t fallen for a jock in high school? I know I have. Had several jock-crushes, as a matter of fact. I was that girl, stalking them in the hallway, knowing when they would be in “C” hall or “D” hall, and…Sun, 12 Mar 2023 21:24:49 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/real-love-in-a-time-of-war/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/real-love-in-a-time-of-war/A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, a very special love existed between a scoundrel and a princess that changed the way many of us looked at love stories. No longer did the princess have to swoon over…Sun, 12 Mar 2023 21:44:14 GMThttps://candicegilmer.com/blog/back-to-the-future-writing-style/https://candicegilmer.com/blog/back-to-the-future-writing-style/Everyone remembers Back to the Future, it is a classic movie that does an amazing job at moving the story along and generally keeping you engaged, without being overly complicated, even though it deals with…Sun, 12 Mar 2023 17:32:12 GMT