Thanks to a fun little exercise at ConvertKit (my email provider, believe it or not), February got back on track and I made up three of the days I blew off in January. I also got my first vaccine shot a week ago and should get the second Real Soon Now.
No bad news this month. I just let the world go on without me while I worked on the 2k a day habit.
Status
Salt – Book 1 of the Barbarians – came back from Karen over the weekend. I let my co-author have first crack at it but I’ll be digging in over the next coupld of days.
New Ishmael
I’ve been beavering away on this story all month and it’s not over yet. I talked about it in one of my recent podcasts. I know where I want this story to go. I have some ideas about what it might look like but none of these characters are cooperating. Right now I can’t tell if I’ve got one book (that will need some serious pruning) or two books that might serve as the first two legs of a trilogy. The trilogy? That’s probably going to need sequels.
Wizard’s Cat
Every time I turn around, this story slaps me. I really need to clear Ishmael off my desk so I can get to this. Ever had a cat lick your arm and not stop? Yeah. Like that. But my brain. Stay tuned.
Tanyth Fairport
A lot of people have been asking questions on social media. Questions that I answered with “Tanyth Fairport.” Clearly, I’ve been thinking of her a lot. Salt is set in her universe, just not with her.
Audio
Dark Knight Station: Origins is due from Podium on April 20. It’s still in production but it’s getting closer.
Tanyth Audio
The producer (not Podium) still hasn’t given me the files. I need to find him again and get an update. If he can’t do it, I know somebody who can.
What Am I Reading?
I read so much in February. Tons of Glynn Steward. More litRPG. Deanna Chase. All three of T. A. White’s Firebird Chronicles. I just dove into those books like a 12-year-old cannon-balling into the hotel pool.
But somebody recommended this quirky book by C. Litka – The Bright Black Sea.
I’ve seen this book come through my various timelines off and on but the cover and the subtitle turned me off. “The Lost Star Stories, Volume One.” Made it sound like a collection of shorts and I’m too old to read short stories. This time something made me give it a try and I’m really glad I did.
The writing is quirky, atmospheric. The pacing is slow, almost glacial, but the story keeps strolling along. It takes a bit to find the rhythm of it but it’s clearly done with purpose. It’s almost steampunky in flavor but without all the steam powered rocket ships. The characters–specifically the captain Wil Litang–bring this story to life.
I’m about halfway through it but I’m enjoying every page. Maybe grab a sample and think what you think?
Last Words
February was a transformational month. I’ve got my writing going again, at least for the moment. I’ve had my first vaccine shot. Over the last few days I feel like I’ve gotten my feet back under me. In the metaphorical as well as literal sense.
It’s too early to claim victory in my war of the words. I’ve got a solid month behind me, a lot of momentum, and stories that I want to tell. I’m cautiously optimistic about finishing up the first quarter strong with at least one new book in the pipeline even while we work to get Salt produced and out for you to read.
In the meantime, stay safe. Keep reading.
“Iām too old to read short stories”
Are you kidding me? I love your work, and please don’t take this the wrong way but:
That’s one of the goofiest things I’ve ever heard come out of a writer.
Not everyone is into short stories, and your tastes are your own. I’m certainly not going to tell you that you should be reading short stories – they don’t work for you, and that’s fine. That doesn’t mean you are too old for short stories, just that you don’t like them.
Please don’t say silly things like that too often – the world gives me enough stuff to roll my eyes at, I don’t need additional strain.
Looking very much forward to the Wizard’s Cat!
I’ve said much goofier things in my day.
Maybe not out loud. š
The point I failed to make is that I have only a finite amount of time left and I probably won’t finish all the novels I want to read so I have no time left over for shorts (which I’m sure I’ve talked about in the past.)
I just found your blog. I’ve been reading your books for a while. I LOVE your universe. I’m amazed by how prolific you are. Please continue. I want to read more and more. I live with these characters as much as you do.
Ishmael will tell you when he’s done.
Looking forward to where Ish and Co. travel. Very good stories, Southcoast series as well! Always a willing reader of your work here, looking forward to many more years of stories to escape with.
If you get a chance, check out the Bobiverse books by Dennis E. Taylor. They’re about a guy who dies and wakes up as an artificial intelligence.
Already there. Read them. Much fun.
Just finished Dark Knight, and the one thing that really stood out to me from prior Solar Clipper books was the lack of dates at the start of each chapter (and locations, though that wasn’t as important in this book). I was just wondering if this was a conscious decision or something that just slipped through.
Is it possible for us to get the start date for the book, or maybe the date of some key event(s)?
Anyways, loved the book as always.
The book starts about 50 years before Quarter Share. A few years before South Coast.
I don’t have dates because I just never calculated what they are.
Thanks for the info. The dates are one of the little touches that no one else does that helps to ground your stories in reality in my opinion. Might be a pain to do, but something to consider. I’m not sure how others feel about that. Sometimes it’s the little things…