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.

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.

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!

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.

We’ve moved into summer, officially. The period where we celebrate days when the temp only reaches 90F. Yet there’s some encouraging news this month.

Status

The Wizards Cat
The sprints didn’t last long, but something else happened. I just started writing spontaneously. Keeping the file open on the desktop. Yesterday I wrote for about an hour before I realized what I was doing. Felt good. Natural. Like maybe … no. I won’t jinx it.

Everything Else
Still on hold. I’ve had glimmers of Ishmael and Zoya stories peeking out around the edges. It will be good to get back together with them eventually.

What Am I Reading?

The most significant reading has been Paul Loomans’s I’ve Got Time. It’s not a book I’d recommend for entertainment but it has really helped me rebuilding my practice. It’s working (as evidenced by the recent writing) but it will take some (pardon the expression) time.

Book of the month? I spent a lot of time with Cássio Ferreira’s Hidden Class: Handyman series. It hit all the right buttons for me with a doofus turning his life around by playing in virtual reality. Fun, occasionally funny. A bit silly at times but I enjoyed the first three volumes.

It might not be your cup of joe, but maybe grab a sample and give it a try. You might like it.

About the Newsletter
I’m still publishing it on the 15th of the month. You don’t need to subscribe to get a mid-month update from me. You can find them archived on my newsletter’s public page at Kit.

Looking Forward

Reading the Loomans book has helped me re-organize my daily routine by making it less about “getting things done” and more about “letting things happen.” Like the writing. Letting it happen instead of making a production of it.

I might have been over-thinking it. Trying to hard to make it happen. Loomans has me rethinking the way I organize everything. I’ve shuffled my morning around to minimize the distractions. Making the first couple of hours of the day flow comfortably instead of rushing, pushing to get things done as soon as possible so I can do whatever. The things I want to get done, get done. I still have my checklist but it’s a safety belt against ADHD instead of a rigid set of commands.

I feel like I can breathe again after much too long.

Will it work for awhile? Probably. I’m still working through the 7 lessons.

Will it last? Time will tell.

Until next month, crew, safe voyage.

– N