May didn’t go well, in spite of a reasonably good start. Too much going on beyond my control.
Status
The Wizards Cat
I’ve started word sprints again. They’re one of the best tools I have for getting things flowing. Mostly in fits and starts but it’s more start than fit. Fingers crossed for the rest of the month
Everything Else
Still virtually frozen in storage. I have no idea what project I’ll take on after this Cat starts prowling, but everything will be on the table again.
What Am I Reading?
I stumbled on some early Michael Chatfield a couple of weeks ago. His Emerilia series whet my appetite for litRPG after getting started with Matt Dinniman’s Dominion of Blades. I’ve been through a couple of his other litRPG series but finding an early space opera made my month.
The Recruitment Rise of the Free Fleet, book 1 of the Free Fleet series, starts when Earth gets invaded by alien slavers, capturing our hero, James Cook and his merry band of top tier video gamers on the cusp of their championship game. The story and universe unfolds, step by step, as Cook and his fellow slaves become trained up as cannon fodder for their captors, a group calling themselves the Planetary Defense Force.
This series is straight up Big Guns and Bigger Ships military/space opera in a sprawling universe. Much war. Many set backs. Ships cracked, broken, boarded, and exploded.
If you can handle the warfare, you might like this series as much as I do.
Maybe grab a sample and see what you think.
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
Slow progress is still progress. I keep looking for that spark that has me fighting to get back to the keyboard and push the story ahead. So far, each spark has fizzled. I’m still writing something every day. Sometimes not much more than a few hundred words but they count. The word sprints show improvement, albeit irregular, but I’ll take it.
I’m my own biggest obstacle these days, but with some help from my friends and the support of people like you, I think there might still be a chance I can finish this book before I kick the bucket.
Fingers crossed.
Until next month, safe voyage.
-N
I’ve just taken a whirlwind tour through the history of the solar clipper, in order minus the prequels. Sir, you’re not an obstacle, your brain just hasn’t figured out how to tell your old stories yet. Immersion Immersion Immersion. Book Req – The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson (the sequel is excellent too) and for something completely different the Zoey Ashe series by Jason Pargin starting with Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits. Take a breath or two, there’s more of us out here thinking of you than you know and we’re not in a hurry for you to write a book. We’re waiting patiently for you to become whoever you are now and hope you share it with us.
I’m sorry to hear that your month didn’t go well. Michael Chatfield is one of my favourite authors. You are also not allowed to die until after the Cat is published.
Thank you for your wonderful books and solar clipper universe. It is so wonderful to read books about progress through cooperation rather than big battles to defeat a foe! If enthusiasm from a fan will help with your motivation to write please read on. However, if it would feel like unneeded pressure feel free to ignore. I found your writings in August of 2021 with The Wizard’s Butler on Audible. Loved the book and eagerly looked for a sequel. Eventually I read/listened to all of the existing Ishmael books followed by the Smuggler’s Tale books then Tanyth and the available Solar Clipper universe books. I was eager to read the SC Marva Collins books when they were released. I am excited to see what is next for Roger and what the future holds for Ishmael and company. As for other solar clipper universe books, I would love to read Maggie Stevens’ back story (or entire story). I know that you need to do one thing at a time and then follow your inspiration to the next project, but I am hoping I can prime that inspiration to move in the direction of the solar clipper universe. :-). Please hang in there, you have many stories left to tell.
Simply: You can do the thing!
Good luck!
I’m here to lend my support to your struggles. I shall patiently await the infamous Cat.
I left a nice comment but it never showed up. I tried.
Sorry. It got hung up in moderation.
I need to get better about checking them.
I am still working through the Eric Ugland recommendation from April. I thought I’d read one or two to hold me over until the new Joe Abercrombie book came out… here I am 15 books later and still going strong. 🙂 I think I might start my annual Golden Age re-read after this. 🙂
Thank you for the wonderful content and I wish you all the best. If you ever want to vacation in Monterey California drop me a line. 🙂
Many blessings to you. My children and I LOVED The Wizard’s Butler and are looking forward to The Wizard’s Cat. I really appreciate your blogs, book suggestions, and keeping us updated. You are awesome!
Have a lovely month 🙂 .
All the best,
Peggy 🙂 .
Sometimes I swear it isn’t the chemo etc while you are going thru it, rather digging oneself out of the hole afterwards. Being almost a year out from round the second, there are still days which I count as good in number of stitches placed in pieces of fabric. Energy return and brain power aren’t the same for everyone. As much as I would love to read the Wizard’s Cat – your family, you are more important
Take care, don’t beat yourself up or feel an obligation to the rest of the world. Spend your time doing what brings joy. And just maybe struggle will become easier. If not? Do or write something else…
I’m sorry you are having such a hard time. Chemo is hard time for most.
If I can be of help to you, I’m offering my Psychologist services as a thank you for all your amazing work. Ishmael has inspired me in many ways, including my own writing.
I have spoken to other psychologists who love your work, and they too will gladly help.
Oh my gosh, a Maggie Stevens three-fer would be amazing. She has been everywhere and knows everyone in the Deep Dark that there are plenty of gems for you to unearth for us.
If you prefer a shorter novella, consider how Captain Giggone came to be aboard her grandmother’s ship. Maybe even a flashback to that famous strike that created the modern shares system.
It might be fun to explore Pip’s missing ten or twelve years.
Me: Found the butler, stayed for the clipper ship, eagerly awaiting the cat. ProTIP – even after reading the entire series multiple times over a few cold winters, I am finding new enjoyment listening to Ish make coffee while I am at the gym. Plus, I finally know how to pronounce ‘Giggone’.
Thank you for the amazing stories. We are here to support you!
Ill tell you what I tell myself, and my kids, even slow progress is progress. Your books have encouraged me and inspired me during times difficult and good. I look forward to whatever you offer.