I’m getting the mojo back. It’s a slow process but it is a process and it’s working.
Status
The Wizards Cat
The story grows a little bit almost every day. I’m still looking for the spark that turns my little candle into a bonfire but the fact that I’ve kept it growing most of the month keeps me coming back to it.
Everything Else
All the long form fiction stuff – more science fiction, more fantasy, different formats (notably the audiobooks for Tanyth), are all on hiatus. Virtually frozen in storage against the time when I can think about them again. Not my wish, but a simple recognition that I’ve gotten very limited in my ability to process multiple projects with any kind of reliability.
What Am I Reading?
I ripped through Eric Ugland’s “The Good Guys” series. Fifteen volumes in a couple of weeks. LitRPG and highly recommended but that niche is an acquired taste that many of you don’t share.
More pertinent, I also read the first three volumes of J J Green’s Space Colony One series. I picked them up as a virtual boxed set and plowed through them in about 4 days. The story concerns what happens when a generational starship finally makes landfall on a habitable planet after six generations in space, the successes and failures. Balancing on a genetic knife edge as they struggle to maintain a viable gene pool.
It starts very slow. Some of the characters get little more than a sketch. A couple are as cardboard as Leon Rosset. It’s slow enough I was tempted to DNF, but I’m glad I went through to the end of volume 3, and not just because I’m cheap and already owned it.
I felt like Green’s storytelling picked up as the series continued. The plot’s careful weaving in the first book became more engaging the deeper I got into the story. Ethan and Cariad, the two main characters, took on more depth. I became more invested in the story as I went along and will be going back to pick up volumes 4-6 when I get a chance.
But don’t take my word for it. I’d suggest you grab a sample but the box set is free as of this writing. Maybe check it out for yourself.
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
I know I say this every month but the story really is coming along. I’m closing in on the halfway mark, finally. I’m not sure how the story ends, but I have a feel for where it’s going and how it might get there. I just need the energy to get it done.
Perhaps more important, I’m feeling better than I have in, well, years. I’m still not 100%. Maybe this is my new 100%, I don’t know. I’m more optimistic about this story than I have been in a while. All I can do is keep plugging away.
Eventually, it’ll get there and we can all move on to something else.
Until next month, safe voyage.
-N
I enjoyed Butler and am looking forward to Cat.
Thanks for creating this world.
Did you do Bad Guys by Eric Ugland? Because I liked them even more.
Looking forward to The Cat – whenever it lands.
I did not, but I may have to give it a go. Thanks for the tip.
I liked Bad Guys more too, though enjoyed all his books despite them not being my usual genre.
I have listened to Ishmael and his friends, and enjoyed them very much, but I adore the Butler – this is the fifth time I’m listening it; Tom Taylorson brings the story alive and it is such a joy!
Thank you very much for these special stories; you have an amazing talent with dialogue and character.
Wishing you much success and inspiration for your writing!
I’ve been a listener for a while and recently picked up the shamans tales books which I really enjoyed. I listen to the first six Ishmael books whenever I need motivation to study, both with your narration and Jeffery Kafer’s.
I recently picked up Wizards Butler as I had been meaning to and I just finished a reread of the golden clipper series. It was fantastically charming and I am so excited for Cat whenever you finish.
I just wanted to be another voice sending you some positivity and appreciating your steady work on Cat and getting you Mojo back.