Sorry for Loss of Signal

I realize I have not been posting much on this blog about this story.  Rest assured I am still working on it.  So all two of you out there who want to read it, don't panic!

First thing, I took, for me, a giant step and self-published one of my short stories on Amazon Kindle.
Story is called Olympus Confidential.  Because of the two sales, I can honestly say two people like my writings.  To both of those purchasers thank you.


Been churning and mulling over the story while writing.  Remember when I said I finally had a path to book three?  Well that has changed.  I have decided to skip all of book two.  What was supposed to happen in book two will be told as flashbacks in book three.  There simply was no compelling reason to write that story.

And while this was happening, managed to weirdly run with an idea that Jen tossed my way.  So now got another short story, of a humorous bent and fantasy, finished.  And I am looking for someplace to get it published.

So that is what has been going on.  Besides fixing a leaking roof and taking care of sick cats.

A Writing Day

Looks like today I will be pounding the keyboard on the story.

After being stuck for awhile churning over things, I feel like I have a way forward for the first book.  And as bonus the motivation for second book.

But most important of all, I finally have a story outline for the third book that feels right.  Of course the changes means dealing with staking more vampires so I guess it will be a bigger win.

Editing Advice

One of the greatest bedeviling and possibly soul crushing experiences a new writer faces is, who to let see that precious oh so precious story and all its gleaming words that you have struggled to hone until they shined the brightest.  I am talking about early readers to some extent but also editors.  Luckily Sarah Hoyt, even on her sick bed, has taken time to write about this subject.

Here is one snippet to ponder:  The longer I live and write the more two truths become evident: 1- David Weber is right.  It’s all about the voice.  A confident, strong, enthusiastic voice will hide a multitude of sins.  2- Pratchett is right.  The secret to success is to be yourself as hard as you can.

Go READ it.  Has plenty of good stuff that is giving me a lot to think on.

Dreams, That Well Spring

Dreams can be many things.  Sometimes delightful.  Other times terrifying.  And even on occasion inspiring and a bit off the wall.  Such as last night's dream.

It started off as if I was watching some black and white movie on TCM.  Some obscure melodrama that seemed set in Australia.  With magnetic lodestones, shady dealer in such lodestones, and a complicated love triangle or was it a parallelogram?  But at the end the lovers are reconciled to their true partners and a gate opens to reveal this vast cavern.  A cavern with cobwebs and giant gears.  As the credits roll and I seem to be thinking of the concept of a clockwork god, that seems to be the title of the movie - Clockwork.

Next it seems I am attending some panel.  And the person running the panel is the author of Clockwork.  When I show I have the comic issues, am given a little charm by the author.  Then the panel is over and I am putting the comics away in my backpack while my iPhone is playing Konya wa Hurricane.

The dream ends with me in a comic shop.  Showing the Clockwork issues and telling the story to those in the shop.  Where upon I find the author has signed the cover of the first issue.  Comics are from 1981 I say and that I found them at a used bookstore.  Next looking at the other issues, one still seems shrinkwrapped with bold black numbers showing how limited the print run was.

Finally get to the last of the three issues.  Or was it four issues?  Its not like the other comics.  Open it to reveal scenes from feudal Japan.  But the style is not American comic or any manga, but more like the art from a book.  There is one page listing who created the book.  And I find autographs of Yoshitaka Amano and Helen McCarthy in silver marker there.  Then I look up to talk directly to the guy in the shop I have been talking to.  And its Stan Lee.

Weird.