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?

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

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.

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

I think things are coming together. It’s still slow, but there might be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Status

Marva Collins Series
School Days and Working Class are both available on Audible now. Rumor has it that Hard Knocks will be up for pre-order soon but I haven’t had any solid word from Podium on that yet.

Shackleford House
You know how in the springtime, everything’s cold and frozen? Then one day you step outside and there’s water dribbling in the gutters, that pesky patch of ice near the back stoop has melted, and you think maybe – just maybe – spring is on the way?

Yeah. That. Small trickles but I feel like the story might be thawing out a bit. Fingers crossed on that.

What Am I Reading?

Looking back over the last 4 weeks, I’ve read a lot of different things. More next books in a series, most of which I’ve already mentioned here. I tried some of James Haddock’s fantasy and really enjoyed Wizard’s Alley. Bruce Sentar’s Magic Mantle (book 1 of Ard’s Oath) is actually better than the cover would have me believe. For lack of a better description, I’ll go with “strong polyamory” content, so fair warning.

But Kristina McMullen’s Space Girl From Earth, book 1 in the Kyroibi Saga, hit all the right buttons. A really interesting space opera involving secrets and mysteries that Ellie has to deal with, often in the most frustrating ways possible, in order to figure out what the heck has gotten her mother’s knickers in a twist.

Honestly, I’ve been passing this over for weeks. It kept popping up in my recommendations but I always has something else ahead of it in the sample queue. I got to it the other day and I’m glad I did.

But don’t take my word for it. Maybe grab a sample and see if it works for you, too.

Looking Ahead

I’ve been bitten by the fountain pen bug and really enjoying the new experience of writing with pen and ink. I’m trying to improve my penmanship which means I’m doing a lot of hand writing drills, but I’m also doing a lot of writing. Organizing the story with pen and paper has given me some more insights and started me chipping away at the Cat’s frozen story.

The progress is slow, still, but I’m working with the idea of momentum. The writing engine has been all but frozen for the last six months but the words are starting to come back with the spring. The direction feels much better – more authentic, less forced.

Fingers crossed that this new sense of fun and some warmer weather will thaw out my brain and get the Cat purring along this month.

Until next month, safe voyage.

-N