About

Enter the shadow’s edge and discover the liminal realm between the dirt, ink and chemicals of true-crime thrillers and the wisp of nebulous alien that is the realm of the supernatural. Author Silver James has been writing tales of supernatural forensics and romance long before Mulder wanted to believe, or Dale Cooper stopped for that fateful slice of cherry pie on his way to Twin Peaks, and her gift for spinning deceptively engaging webs of invitation into the shadow of the unknown can be enjoyed in the samples of her writing she shares on this site. It’s easy to take this genre for granted, given its current international appeal and wide range of participating authors — why not take a look at an author whose work, like Chris Carter’s and David Lynch’s, is wildly ahead of its time.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Silver James?

Come back later….I haven’t had my coffee yet. What? You still here? Persistent, aren’t you. So, what do you want to know? Why yes, I am a bit snarky first thing in the morning. I like to think it’s part of my endearing charm. So…you still want to know about me? As Inigo Montoya said in The Princess Bride, “Let me ‘splain.” Silver James is the nom d’plume (or pen name for those of us who don’t speak French) for the writer formerly known as Penny James. Like that rock star, she uses a symbol instead of her name. That is the alchemic symbol for silver, by the way. Inquiring minds wanted to know.

Please tell me you are kidding?

I am, actually. ‘Silver’ is a nickname that has evolved within my writing group and I like the sound of it. Besides, it’s more glamorous than ‘Copper’. Penny James is known for technical writing and forensic photography within the fire, law enforcement and emergency services communities. She is also an award-winning fire photographer. Did I mention that I’m a little silly and sarcastic when I’m caffeine deprived?

Oh Rly? Seriously, tell us about yourself.

Hello. I’m Silver James and I write romance novels filled with magic and mystery! I’m a proud member of the Oklahoma Outlaws – the wonderful ladies of Oklahoma Romance Writers Association, RWA, and ESPAN, the digital chapter of RWA. I’ve been married to my best friend, who also happens to an attorney, for twenty-seven years. Our wonderful daughter is a museum studies honors graduate pursuing her Masters in history, a love she came by honestly from her dad and me both. Over the course of my lifetime, I’ve been a military officer’s wife, state appellate court marshal, airport rescue firefighter and forensic fire photographer, crime analyst, and technical crime scene investigator. I’ve since retired from the “real world” and live in Oklahoma. I spend my days at the computer with my two Newfoundland dogs, the “lolcat” who rules us all, and myriad characters all clamoring for attention. Eventually, I’ll get around to telling each of their stories.

How long have you been writing?

I suppose it would be trite to say, “All my life.” While I have always been a storyteller, even as a small child, I committed my first romance novel to paper when I was thirteen. “The Talisman” had a decent plot along the lines of “Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” but was processed through the brain of an adolescent girl. Needless to say, it was abysmal. Really. In other words, it sucked.

What do you write about?

As a writer, I have the inconvenient habit of being in the right place at the wrong time. I was “either/or” but never “just right”. I hoped that would change some day and it finally has. My novel FAERIE FATE released on April 9, 2010 from The Wild Rose Press. My second book, FAERIE FIRE comes out on September 17, 2010. While my work traverses a wide range of genres – paranormal, romance, mystery, thriller, fantasy – they all have one thing in common – a touch of the macabre, the mystical, the play of light on dark, a glimpse of life in the shadows.

What have others said about your work?

See what’s being said In the Words of Others for yourself.

Where else do you hang out?

On Twitter, I’m silverwriter. I also make rare appearances on Live Journal at Silver James. Mainly, I’m here so be sure to check the daily blog posts and leave a comment to say hello.