At the Forge – Dennis D Montoya

The Polar Bear Plunge!

A split-second of panic, a ten-foot drop into 39.9°F water, and a lesson I didn’t know I still needed.
My first Polar Bear Plunge didn’t just steal my breath — it reminded me what resilience really feels like.

Pedal Optional: The Rise of the Electric “Bike”

I wanted exercise. I found technology. Somewhere between sweat and smugness lies the modern commuter’s dilemma — a place where effort meets innovation, and maybe, just maybe, a little bit of magic.

An Old Light, Still Burning, for Altruism

For centuries, faith and science walked hand in hand. Monks brewed beer with chemist’s precision. Sisters ran hospitals when no one else could. And somewhere between a prayer and a telescope, humanity learned how to ask questions that mattered.
This essay isn’t about religion. It’s about curiosity — about how devotion once meant studying the world, and how maybe, in a new form, it still can.

⚔️ Chronicles of the Workweek

An accidental saga of caffeine and camaraderie — how a few weekday texts between friends turned into an epic quest for survival, humor, and the last pot of coffee.

Holiday Traditions

A few years ago, I joked about volunteering at the food bank—and then felt guilty for not meaning it. Since then, I’ve learned that giving back can take many forms. This holiday season, I raise a glass to friends, family, and the small ways we make a difference.

Autumn Update: The Work Between the Lines

I’ve always believed the real work of writing happens quietly — in the revisions no one sees, in the long stretches between inspiration and completion. Lately, my days have been full of that kind of work. I’m deep into the next phase of The Witch’s Mandate, carefully moving through my editor’s notes and finding new layersContinue reading “Autumn Update: The Work Between the Lines”

The Death Of A Cosplayer

Dylan had heard the stories, creatures prowling the night, hunting for bodies. Ghouls, zombies, vampires. Vampires were his favorite version. No one really believed them. Not even him. The comic convention had been a bust. Maybe a dozen people showed up in costume, and not one recognized his Strider cosplay. Disappointed, he ducked out early,Continue reading “The Death Of A Cosplayer”

Independent Vs Traditional Publishing And Agents

I went to a comicon, that is geek speak for comics convention in Seattle also known as Emerald City Comicon and hit every writing seminar I could find. All of the writers were super interesting, amazingly creative and fearless. Among them, were advocates for self publishing and a few traditional publishers and a few agents.Continue reading “Independent Vs Traditional Publishing And Agents”

KISS, a Monday Concert? that’s weird…

KISS, a Monday Concert? that’s weird… Kiss is all about entertainment!! You are swept up in rock and roll all night, and party every day for two hours while at the concert. – Ace Frehley I have an expectation problem. a few years ago, my friend Eric said, “Avatar is the best move I had everContinue reading “KISS, a Monday Concert? that’s weird…”