The story grows stronger. The word counts haven’t shrunk.
Status
The Wizard’s Next Thing
The story got a few more words. I got some new ideas that are vying for attention. All positive signs, but I don’t think I’m going to have a draft before Labor Day. Maybe by Thanksgiving.
Everything Else
Ishmael and Zoya are playing bridge with Tanyth and Frank. Natalya’s elbow deep in administrivia and Pip keeps adding new businesses to their portfolio. Everybody’s being cool and keeping themselves entertained, I think.
The Wizard’s Cat
Audiobook drops on the 16th. I don’t know if it’s an Audible exclusive. Podium has been experimenting with wider distribution so keep your eyes peeled, if that’s something of interest to you.
What Am I Reading?
Honestly, not as much as I have been. More catching up with old friends by way of “next in the series” books.
I was bemoaning the dearth of decent space opera and stumbled onto my first space opera/cultivation novel. I’d been seeing it pop up on my recommendations but kept getting side tracked by series. I pulled it out of the line up when I realized I needed to read something else for a while.
I’m glad I did.
J.P. Valentine expertly blends two of my favorite genres into a smooth mix of both. To Flail Against Infinity, Book 1 of the Stargazer’s War, sets the stage for Caliban’s tragic entry into the high-stakes world of intergalactic cultivation, where status gets measure by power and power comes with pain.
I siphoned these first two novels up over just a few days. Loved every minute of it.
Maybe you will, too. Why not grab a sample and find out?
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
I made my 40 miles last month, with some finagling, day shuffling, and leaning on the treadmill. It wasn’t a pretty month but I got the miles in. I’m hoping that June goes more smoothly as the household seems to be settling down again.
The word count isn’t climbing very fast. I’m counting that as a Good Thing. I’m taking the time I need to let the story sort itself out a little. I’ve always said I write what happens next but that’s predicated on having a half-decent grasp of what happened just before. I didn’t do that with the Cat. I won’t make that mistake again.
We’ll see how this month goes, but I’m feeling really good about the writing work that needs to happen before I put words on the page. It’s always paid off in the past. I have no doubts that it’ll pay off in the future.
Until next month, safe voyage.