Work In Progress

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Progress is being made, even if it’s got very little to do with me.

Status

The Wizard’s Cat
The manuscript is with the editor. She’s taking her time and doing it up right. It’ll be a little longer before it’s back but I expect it by mid-month. Ditto cover. Waiting on the artist but expect that soon, too.

Everything Else
Nada. I’m letting the world spin on its own for a bit. See more about what’s going on below.

What Am I Reading?

I did a lot of catch up with some series in progress but picked up a clever take on cozy fantasy and inhaled the three existing volumes over the course of a few days.

I’m a sucker for a good magic system and Delemhach has set up a fun take on how a wizard’s power gets implemented in The House Witch. It doesn’t hurt that the main character, Finlay Ashowan and company, bring just the right level of humor, action, and interaction to a rich feast of a story.

Did I mention he’s a cook? Yeah. Icing on the cake.

But don’t take my word for it. Grab a sample and see if this is the story you’ve been hungry for, too.

A fanciful depiction of a caldron hanging in an arched fireplace. A broom sweeps and a tea pot pours on their own.

About the Newsletter
I publish a newsletter every month on the 15th. You don’t need to subscribe to get the mid-month update. You can find them archived on my newsletter’s public page at Kit.

Looking Forward

October was a month for recuperation. I knew I was running on fumes toward the end of August but had no idea how deeply I’d dug into my reserves. Getting the book off my desk took a massive load off. I spent the month playing games and reading. Along with an extended series of dental procedures to repair some of the damage the radiation did to my teeth. I thought I’d dodged a bullet but apparently it only needed time to become apparent. It took part of September and most of October but it’s done for now. We’ll revisit in January.

The “two out of three” walking days managed to hang on through October. Even when I missed a walking day, I made it up by walking on the not-walking one. I celebrated 120 miles in 3 months yesterday.

Bottom line, I’m in much better shape now than I was a month ago. I still have a lot of ground to make up in terms of getting my physical and mental health in order but I’m feeling good about the prospects going forward. We’ll just have to see how it all shakes out this month.

Until next month, safe voyage.

The Cat Came Back

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Seems like it has been forever but finally, finally, finally, things have started coming together again in ways they haven’t for – literally – years.

Status

The Wizard’s Cat
I got the manuscript off to my editor yesterday. I need to see if I can get a cover for it while she works her magic. It’s not going to happen immediately, but I’m expecting this book will hit the store before year end.

Everything Else
I still plan to write some more stories with Ishmael and company. The Tanyth Fairport audio is a mess and I’m going to need help sorting it out. I’m peeved that my take-down request did not happen and people have managed to get books 1 and 3 but can’t get 2. I don’t expect to get back to that fiasco this year, but the year is already winding down.

What Am I Reading?

I read so many samples this month. That’s not really a good thing. It means I didn’t find too much that grabbed me. It happens. A couple of bright spots in the SF realm, Ken Lozito’s Genesis (First Colony, Book 1) set the stage for an interesting colonization tale. Quite engaging but didn’t push me immediately to book 2.

Noah Chinn’s Lost Souls, Book 1 in his Get Lost series, however, did. I had to look past the title listing on Amazon but I didn’t really see much of it to begin with. The sample grabbed my by the nose and pulled me along. Yes, there’s some humor in it. A few running gags. But what got me was the world building, a main character who wanted to be a pirate but kept doing good things, and a cast of supporting actors that made me want to keep reading. I’m almost done with book 3 and I’ll be sorry to see it end.

But, as ever, don’t take my word for it. Grab a sample and check it out for yourself. For the Future!

A blue tinted image with gold block letters. person stands back to the viewer, apparently looking at a space ship in a hangar.


About the Newsletter
I publish a newsletter every month on the 15th. You don’t need to subscribe to get the mid-month update. You can find them archived on my newsletter’s public page at Kit.

Looking Forward

For the first time in a very long time, I have a book in production. It will be frustrating, as it almost always is. There will be delays. There always are.

But the key point is that the story is drafted, for better or worse. The heavy lifting is done. All that’s left are the mechanics of getting up for sale.

I don’t know how to adequately describe the sense of relief.

The new “two out of three days” of walking held through September, even on rainy days. I got a second 40 mile month out of it. I look forward to October and a much needed break from wrestling with characters and stories.

Which isn’t to say I’m not already thinking of the next book. There will be one, because I’m not ready to hang up my keyboard just yet. I’m just trying not to think too far ahead. I need a break desperately.

One where I’m not recovering from some malady or other. Where I’m not fighting the frustration of a story that just won’t come together.

Sure, I’ve got the mechanics of publication going on in the background but compared to everything else that’s happened in the last four years? Yeah, I’ve got room to breathe again.

And I’m going to take some time to enjoy October before firing up the word processor again.

Until next month, I’ll keep you posted.

Safe voyage.

Showing Up

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A theme emerged from the shambles that was July. The universe hit me with notes about “showing up” and “the first five minutes.” A zen monk might have contributed.

Status

The Wizard’s Cat
At long last, I’m within a few words of the end of this initial draft. I’ve written more this month than I have in the previous year and it feels great.

Everything Else
Back seat on all of it. I know there are things that need doing to clear up old issues but getting the Cat off my desk has my sole focus.

What Am I Reading?

Looking back at my content library, I apparently read a lot of less than engaging samples. The book(s) I can recommend this month are the continuation of Sarah J. Hoodlet’s Way of the Wielder series. I recommended book 1 in last September’s post. Books 2 and 3 have come out since then and I just caught up with the story and it’s just as good, possibly better, than I remember.

It’s fantasy with a unique magic system and some extensive universe building. Each member of the cast of characters each brings their own contribution to the tale. It’s a story I loved spending time with and enjoyed every moment.

Some notes: The series gets a little racier (what the kids call “spicy” these days) as it goes on. Very tastefully done. There’s a hint that there might be a new series in the final chapter. It’s not exactly a cliff-hanger but very much a story thread that could grow into something in the future.

I really liked this series, but – as always – don’t take my word for it. Grab a sample and see what you think.

About the Newsletter
I publish a newsletter every month on the 15th. You don’t need to subscribe to get the mid-month update. You can find them archived on my newsletter’s public page at Kit.

Looking Forward

Something about August seemed to snap everything into focus in the middle of the first week. The “better place” I mentioned in last month’s post bore some fruit.

First, I decided to give up the idea of walking every day. I was failing at it regularly so I re-calibrated my expectations to be a 40 mile month. That’s just two out of three days. Surely, I could do that. The month became a series of 1, 2, and 3 days. Take the date, divide by 3. If the result is zero, no walking. Otherwise, walk.

Seems silly but it worked. I walked 42 miles last month.

Second, along with the walking came the mental and physical health boosts of getting up and moving first thing in the morning. This fed directly into my writing time and yielded major dividends. With almost 50k new words, the story got through the mushy middle and pushed through to what I think is going to be a satisfying ending for book 2 (wink, wink).

It’s still going to be weeks before I get this through the editing and publishing process. I’ve learned not to predict this stuff. Still, this first complete manuscript is the key milestone toward releasing the Wizard’s Cat into the wild.

I thought a lot about “showing up” and the importance of applying it. Early in the month I was reminded of the importance of sticking through the first five minutes. Those first five minutes always suck. For months, getting through them had been problematic. Sure, a few days I could get some words down. Some days it felt like I turned a corner only to run into a brick wall by the end of the week.

The walking helped all that. So did playing games. So did the Bradbury advice: Don’t Think.

So I showed up, threw away all my word sprints and gamification and planned interruptions, and just wrote for an hour at a time. Yes, I timed it so I would take a break and walk around a little between sessions.

And thanks to the Paul Loomans book, I’ve Got Time, I discovered that relying on intuition actually helped. By doing less scheduling, simpler planning, and working on kairos rather than chronos1 time my ADHD became much less of an obstacle.

Will this new found energy stick around as the weather turns cooler? I hope so. Racing the sunrise to walk before the day heated up gave me a non-negotiable starting point for the day. Throwing out the “streak” mentality by enforcing a regular reset helped a great deal. Having the 40 mile goal gave me an achievable milestone to shoot for without having to be “perfect” to get there.

Most of all, the satisfaction of finally seeing this story come together, however flawed it is at the moment, has put new wind in my ancient sails.

I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Until next month, safe voyage.

  1. Ancient Greeks Had Two Words For Time