The new year begins with Big New Year Energy. It’ll probably fizzle by tomorrow before I hurt myself.
Status
The Wizard’s Cat
Still not where I want it to be. December showed me the way forward. It’s on me to follow that path. I’m cautiously optimistic.
Everything Else
Solar Clipper and Tanyth Fairport remain as they were. Look for the Solar Clipper Diary to disappear by month end as I pull the content I want to keep into here as pages. That site has just been a spam magnet and hacker target for far too long.
What Am I Reading?
I’m between books, working through my sample pile, but I just finished Jamie McFarlane’s The Oldest Starfighter and really liked it.
Fair warning: It’s straight up pew-pew, underdog military, beat-the-evil-invader while losing friends and lovers along the way with a healthy helping of “Are You Trying To Lose This War?!” thrown in. Honestly, it’s the curmudgeonly old MC who’s given a new lease on life (and some questionable choices) that drew me in.
I’ve read McFarlane’s work before (his Junkyard Pirate series) and liked the writing but didn’t like getting novellas when I expected novels. I’m hoping he doesn’t do that with this series.
Feel like taking a chance on a new series? Maybe grab a sample and see if you like it.
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 newsletter’s public page.
Looking Forward
I’m adopting a new word of the year – Practice. I want to develop a mindful practice where I have the head space to continue what has been, in hindsight, a year of recovery. I like the layered meanings that “practice” brings. I want to develop a structure that allows me to practice writing and publishing again. One that allows for experimentation and flexibility. Yes, for failure as well.
I’ve just finished my second year of writing a haiku a day and that practice has taught me a lot about how “doing the thing” with intent while accepting that every day isn’t going to be a great one. Sometimes it’s not even a good one. The point is the doing. It’s putting in the practice. It’s seeing what develops over time.
Thanks for being with me on the path of discovery that started so long ago and yet continues.
Until next month, safe voyage
-N
Darn it! I’ve started the Wandering Inn series. I have very little patience with anything beyond a trilogy (Solar Clippers being a delightful exception) and now I’ve got 14!!!! Wandering Inn books to go. I have the audio books so I can listen during my morning walks and when I travel. I’m not sure I have enough life expectancy I can see my deathbed rants (I can’t die I have more Wandering Inn to read).
Wishing you a happy and healthy new year, Nathan.
Not sure if it is appropriate to post this here, but Jerry Boyd, author of the Bob and Nikki series, passed away at the beginning of December. I will miss that continuing story. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.