November Already

Seems like we just did this a few days ago but I went back and read last year’s post.

Yeah. About that Cat…

Status

The Wizard’s Cat
I’ve been saying it for a while. You’d think I’d be further ahead. I know I was thinking I’d have this out by now instead of still trying to corral the beast. That’s the bad news. Good news: The story is finally, finally coming along. Some brainstorming sessions. A figurative trip to the “time out corner” where I could meditate on the error of my ways. The time has come to follow Ray Bradbury’s advice: Don’t Think. I think it’s working.

Everything Else
Ishmael is still on my mind as is Tanyth. I’m stocking up ideas for when I go back into the Deep Dark or visit Korlay again. EJ is still working on her half of the Salt sequel. All of that is tucked in a box and stashed in the closet until I get the Cat off to the editor.

What Am I Reading?

Honestly, I’m still reading my way through Pirate Aba’s The Wandering Inn series. I’m almost done but I took a break from it last week to find another space opera I can recommend.

And it’s a doozy.

Anthony J. Melchiorri has captured the essence of found spaceship, human thrust into a universe of aliens for which he’s hardly prepared, a talking plant, and his faithful sidekick – Jacques. It’s a modern take on an old favorite story. Melchiorri manages to make all those things work smoothly together as the main character, Fin, bumbles his way through fatal encounters with deadly aliens with a shiny veneer of politics and bureaucracy.

With five volumes out already, I know where I’m going when I get done with The Wandering Inn.

But don’t take my word for it. Why don’t you grab a sample and see what you think?

A white man in a black wet suit stands watching an alien space ship rise from the bay. His faithful dog stands beside him as the angular ship splashes green-ish seawater with its thrusters.

About the Newsletter
I’m still publishing it on the 15th of the month. They’re not all getting delivered but you don’t
need to subscribe to get a mid-month update from me. You can find them archived on my ConvertKit public page.

Looking Ahead

Another month of car issues which have now been mostly resolved. I’m waiting for some final paperwork on the second vehicle in three months. I have to say, I’m getting really tired of dealing with cars. On the upside, I should be good for a while. At least until I have to visit the dealership again for maintenance.

The best thing I’ve found in the last month has been writing again. As in, keeping the word processing document open on my desktop all the time. As in, visiting Roger every day and seeing what’s happening in Shackleford House. I’ve let the story develop on its own, not trying to shape it into some preconceived idea of what the cat should be doing. I’ve tossed out all the contrived ideas. I’m just writing. For the first time in months, perhaps years at this point, I’d rather write than play because writing has become play again. Can I get this thing finally drafted by the end of the month?

I don’t know. It’s certainly possible, but even if I only manage a few hours a day on it, that’s more than I’ve been capable off since The Year Of Cancer kneecapped me.

Believe me when I say, nobody wants to see this book out in the world more than I do right now. Maybe not for the same reasons all of you want to see it but our goals align. Not that they didn’t before, but I’m feeling the rush of a good writing session again and the satisfaction of concrete progress that doesn’t feel like re-hashed cardboard.

Finally.

Until next month, safe voyage.

– N

October Fest

I’ve always liked October and November. The cooler weather. The changing leaves. Pumpkin pies. Fresh apples and cider. It usually invigorates me. I can feel it ramping up as September rolls by.

Status

Shackleford House
Not as much progress as I’d hoped, but not as little as I feared. I’m slowly (very slowly) getting the rhythm back. Fingers crossed.

Everything Else
No changes here. Tanyth is still in limbo. Ishmael and company are off doing whatever they do when they’re not on the page. Tanan and Suketai are – presumably – riding off into the steppes and might make an appearance early next year. EJ has been making some inroads on it but I haven’t seen it yet.

What Am I Reading?

I spent most of the month catching up with old friends in various series. Sarah Painter’s, Unholy Island series, a follow on series to Crow Investigations, took up a solid chunk of the month. I had two Bob and Nikki’s to catch up on. Honour Rae’s next All the Skills book.

In all that I picked up Shannon Eichorn’s debut novel, Rights of Use. An interesting story of alien abduction, political intrigue, and galactic conquest in a wrapper made of consent – or lack thereof.

I’ve known Shannon for a while. We’ve crossed paths online and at various conventions over the last few years. I’ve looked forward to seeing her fiction get out into the world. This book didn’t let me down. A fast moving story with a lot of parts, some great characters, and the intriguing setting kept me turning pages. I’m looking forward to book 2.

But, as always, don’t take my word for it. Grab a sample of Rights of Use and see for yourself.

A blue black sky filled with planets and stars makes up the background. A flying saucer zooms in from the upper left. The title Rights of Use takes up the center of the page. The author's name is at the bottom.

About the Newsletter
I’m still publishing them on the 15th of the month. They’re not all getting delivered but you don’t
need to subscribe to get a mid-month update from me. You can find them archived on my ConvertKit public page.

Looking Ahead

Car issues dominated my focus in September. One car needed to be replaced. The other has a broken window and only eBay has window glass for 30 year old Plymouth vans. I’ll find out tomorrow if the replacement part works.

In spite of that, I’ve written more Shackleford House this month than last. It’s coming along. It feels good but getting back into the groove is still a work in progress. I’m feeling good about this story and think it’ll be a worthy successor to Butler.

The Cat is a hoot to write. I should write more of him.

But until next month, safe voyage.

-N

September Harvest

Car troubles resolved. Awnings installed, just in time for fall. Oh, and writing happened.

Status

Shackleford House
I’m still writing almost every day. “Don’t Think” has served me well so far. I think I’ll continue not to do it when it comes to thrashing words together for the Cat.

No Change
I’ve made no progress on getting the audio for Tanyth Fairport sorted, work on the sequel to Salt, or (obviously) any new Solar Clipper stories.

What Am I Reading?

I spent a good portion of my reading time working through my samples in August. Lots of pretty good but Sarah J. Hoodlet’s Way of the Wielder stands out for its excellence.

Great cast of characters. Loved the world-building, especially the magic system. The plot’s intricate folds opened at just the right pace to keep me reading and reading.

The only downside is that volume 2 isn’t due until late November.

But don’t take my word for it. Maybe grab a sample of Way of the Wielder and see if it works as well for you as it did for me.

A young woman with a flowing ponytail gazes raptly into a crystal sphere held in her right hand. She wears a gown and a gauzy cape. A shadowy village hides in the foggy background and stylized flowers adorn the cover's borders

About the Newsletter
I’m still publishing them on the 15th of the month. They’re not all getting delivered but you don’t need to subscribe to get a mid-month update from me. You can find them archived on my ConvertKit public page.

Looking Ahead

The fires are out for now. The smoke has cleared. Autumn’s cool, clean air has begun pushing aside the broiling heat of summer. I expect we’ll still have a chance for more 90F weather but it feels like summer has moved on.

I’ve set a goal to get a draft of the Cat done by the end of November. I don’t know if I’ll make it. Life has a way of playing games with my focus. I’m also working on a way to salvage some of the old files from the Solar Clipper Diary without installing another WordPress instance, mostly to cut down on the number of hackable opportunities. It’s a different kind of writing, but one that massages the proper nodes in my brain. The little wins there translate directly into new words for the Cat.

Fingers crossed that it continues because I’m liking it. A lot.

Until next month: Safe Voyage.