Category Archives: writing

It Begins Again

Yesterday I moved beyond notes, character design, and outlines with actual prose written on my next novel. I will admit that I did not get as much written on day one of the novel as I had hoped but words are on the page and the project has at least a little momentum.

Sunday night for whatever reason turned out to be a poor sleep night. I awoke after about 3 and a half hours of sleep with a parched throat and after cool water to deal with that issue I spent the rest of the evening in a sleep/wake cycle that precluded any real rest. While I did get writing done on my lunch break at the day job, in the evening I was simply too exhausted for anything more strenuous than watching the final episode of season two of The Crown. There wasn’t enough Princess Anne in the season, she’s clearly become my new favorite character.

I would love to get my novel’s first draft completed by the end of May. That would mean about 20,000 words per month or about 5,000 words per week. That’s is a doable goal despite this halting start from yesterday.

I am also working out the design for a Newsletter that will come out monthly. In the final week of each month I plan to release an email newsletter with defined content to help promote myself as an author. I am also thinking about releasing, also on a monthly schedule, previously published short stories of mine in an audio format.

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My Personal Year in Review

Well we’re about to start another arbitrary cycle around our local star and that means it’s time to look back at what we’ve and answer for it. Wait, that didn’t come out right, it’s time for personal reflection and growth. Yeah, that sounds better.

Anyway, I have to say that this year has been a pretty good year for me.

Naturally, the biggest writing news is that Flame Tree Press purchased my novel Vulcan’s Forge with the publication set for March 28th, 2020. This was a joy and a surprise. Vulcan’s Forge, which languished on my former agent’s desk for a year unread, was a book I wrote entirely for myself. It was an experiment to see if I could sustain a cynical tone for an entire novel, and a labor for my love of film and the genre film noir in particular.  Blending it with science fiction and making constant references to movies throughout the book Vulcan’s Forge is in one manner my most personal work.

In other aspects of my writing life I managed a few interesting short stories and one of my previously published works A Canvas Dark and Deep has been selected for reprint in the anthology Twilight Words coming in spring 2020.

My goal for 2020 is to have my next novel, Do We Not Bleed?, written by my birthday in mid-May. A detailed outline is already produced, and I have high hopes for this piece.

2019 was also the year I fully committed to listening to Podcasts. I have a number of fun, informative, and challenging podcasts on regular rotation. One that has been most surprising in just how fully engaged I have become with it is Scriptnotes, a podcast about screenwriting and things interesting to screenwriters.

Clearly with my love of movies screenwriting has always been a fascination with me. John August and Craig Mazin each week discus the business, craft, and art of screenwriting with many of the topics applicable to other forms of writing as well. They are also gamers, puzzle solvers, and entreatingly amusing people.

My day job continues to be good. I am so happy to be part of a vibrant strong union. Too many times before in my life I have been chewed up by petty bosses and it feels great having an organization at my back instead of being stabbed there.

IN gaming my sweetie-wife and I added Lords of Waterdeep to the regular rotation of our board and card game nights and it’s become very popular. In role play gaming I took a massive step into the past and began running a campaign of FGU’s Space Opera a game system I ran quite successfully for many years during the 1980s, PDFs of the rules are available at a quite reasonable price and it’s been fun, challenging, and amusing to engaged with the typo filled rulebook.

Here’s to looking to 2020 with hope, optimism, and confidence.

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Surgical Update

Yesterday, December 18th, I went into the hospital for a scheduled bit of minor surgery. A hernia repair that would have normally been perform in an outpatient surgical facility but die to my sleep apnea that anesthesiologist insisted on a full hospital operating room.

The surgery went well, and I went home just shortly after noon.

I have to say that this was the most engaged and friendly surgical team I have ever encountered. When I was wheeled into the O.R. each person introduced themselves and their position. My comfort and safety seemed paramount at all time and I never doubted that I was in good care.

Post Op was dull but necessary with concerns well address that my lungs had recovered, and I was in no danger of not getting enough oxygen. My sweetie-wife was there, picked up my medications, and drove me home one I was released.

When they did release me, I started walking out of the recovery room and a nurse said, ‘You can’t walk.’ I looked down at my feet and snarked, ‘clearly, I can.’ But of course, they were meaning I was not *allowed* to walk.

Once home I took a course of pain killers and now I have a week off the day job to recover. Surprisingly sitting up straight and lying flat on my back at the most painful positions. Luckily, I have a recliner chair and that is very comfy. There are times when I am sitting that and feel absolutely no discomfort at all. Then I move and spoil it.

Today I had my first email interview as a tie in to the upcoming release of Vulcan’s Forge. That was a new and novel experience.

 

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The Good News Post

So, there are several bits of new news to share this chilly December morning.

First off: Because I have a minor surgery scheduled this week and then a week off from my day job for recovery that mean I will not be working any more overtime. The money is nice, and I love chipping in and helping out my team at Kaiser Permanente but it’s really nice to get back to a normal schedule that allows for writing.

Second, pivoting of the subject of writing, our favorite local bookstore Mysterious Galaxy is saved! They have new owners and a new location so the store will not have to shutter depriving San Diego book readers, un-employing its staff, or leaving its various book, gaming, and writing groups homeless. Truly this had made this season festive.

And HBO’s Watchmen reached the season one finale and for once I am not disappointed by a project associate with showrunner Damon Lindelof. Quite the contrary, this series was fantastic. Every element plays perfectly in tune with the themes that grounded this version of the story and all the major points and developments were well established. The characters both as written and as performed simply captivated and for those that are the older versions of ones from the sources material managed to be true to their natures while exploring logical and consistent change from the thirty years that had passed. While Angela Abar (Regina Hill) may have been the protagonist of the story Laurie Blake (Jean Smart) took home favorite character prize from this viewer. Where the original graphic novel Watchmen centered thematically on the Cold War and the ever-present threat of nuclear annihilation with those ideas and terrors informing not just the plot but the look and feel of the story this Watchmen explored the lingering horror, hate, and trauma of racial injustice and bigotry. Starting off with the slaughter and destruction of ‘Black Wall Street’ in Tulsa Oklahoma in 1921 and ending with crisis from Tulsa that threatens the world, Watchmen 2019 explores justice and the thorny issues confusing that concept with its petty cousin vengeance. Best off the season did not end with a plot cliffhanger. While the final shots left a terribly large question unanswered it did not fail to resolve the essential conflict or theme of the series. If there is never a season two the show is still full resolved and satisfying. Thank you, Mr. Lindelof, I do so hate cliffhangers.

 

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Scattered Thoughts

Life continues to be very busy. On this upcoming paycheck I will have 26 hours of overtime clocked so this post will cover a number of subject all very briefly.

 

I’ve been watching Star Wars from the ’77 film through The Last Jedi in preparation for the new movie next weekend. Of the original trilogy Empireremains the best in terms of character, writing, and filmmaking despite having no real ending. The original ’77 movie is complete but very simple and Jedi is hampered by an overly simple script. Finished The Force Awakens last night and Ford had so much more to do as an actor than he did in Return of the Jedi that even with the repeated beats from the first film this one is much better than Jedi. For me the only parts of Jedi that still holds up is the central heart of the narrative, Luke, Vader, and the Emperor.

Watchmen on HBO continues to amaze but I am still holding my breath to see if it falls apart in the final episode.

I have my next novel outlined but I am holing off starting until after the insane hours slow down.

I have a minor surgery scheduled next week. It will likely mean again another week with perhaps just a single posting.

I have also learned that at this time the plans for an audio edition of my novel Vulcan’s Forge has been placed on hold. So if you want a copy it will be hardback, paperback, or e-book for now.

The UK is leaving the EU and I hope that doesn’t trigger a cascade of economic shocks through the world markets. It also looks to have set up another round of Scotland wanting to break up the UK and if that happens what may happen to Ireland and Whales?

Trump is going to be impeached but it is highly doubtful that he will be removed. No one is coming to save us, it’s on us now. I think the Democrats should not focus on winning back former voters who went for Trump in 2016 but rather get to the polls those who sat it out last time. Attack your enemy where he is weak not where he is strong.

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This Hurts

I’ll admit that this hurts more for the employees of my favorite local business but it’s a dagger to the heart of the bibliophiles of San Diego as well; we may be losing our beloved Mysterious Galaxy.

Mysterious Galaxy a bookstore that specializes in Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and Mystery, though they will order any in print book for you, is losing their lease and is in a desperate search for not only a new location but a new owner as well. If the search is not successful our cherished institution will close.

I have been a regular customer of the place for many years ordering nearly every book, including my e-books, from them. In addition, for about ten years I have been a member of the writers’ group that meets there twice a month and that experience has not only given me friendships but critical skills that made my upcoming first novel publication possible. The staff has always been friendly, helpful and knowledgeable introducing me to several authors I might not have tried without their introduction.

Fiction is full of last-minute miracles and we hope for at least one in the dark times.

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Book Launch Changes

Hello:

Due to a late conflict at the venue the launch of my novel Vulcan’s Forge has been moved from Thursday March 26th 2020 to Saturday March 28th at 2:00 pm and it is still at our beloved Mysterious Galaxy.

Some of you may be wondering how you can help a baby writer with his first book. There are a few things you can do.

Pre-Order the Book: Pre-order count more for helping the book than sales after the book is released.

Pre-Order at a local bookseller: Amazon is wonderful in its reach but it is impersonal and will not take note of a few pre-orders. A local store will notice and this can spur orders for its shelves, or even get an employee on board as a fan and promoter.

Post Reviews: If you get the book leave reviews, honest reviews even if they are negative, help raise a book’s profile.

Share posts and tell people who may be interested. Book are still on of those products that truly benefit from word of mouth.

 

 

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Not Doing Nation Novel Writing Month

Tomorrow is kick off for a lot of people who will be attempting to write 50,000 words in 30 days. This is an entirely achievable goal and I salute every person assault that mountain but I myself will not be taking part.

I have my system of writing and I find it works very well for me. I writer Monday thru Friday and take the weekends off. This keeps me engaged and I avoid burn out.

I will however be starting on a new novel in November. Just yesterday I completed the first draft of my outline for a new SF book. The outline clocked in at 8700 words, not my longest and not my shortest, and I discovered quite a few things about my plot, my characters, and their relationship along the way. I think it is during the outlining phase that I experience the same sort of discovery process that ‘pantsers’ having while writing their first drafts. It is also where the gaps in logic and plot holes first appear to me and I can fix them before doing the pick and shovel work of actually writing the scenes.

Now to draft a synopsis and run that past my potential editor.

 

 

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I Have A Release Date

My debut novel, Vulcan’s Forge now has it official release date from Flame Tree Press, March 26th 2020. (That year, 2020 still feels to me like some distant far away future.) The novel will be available in Hardback, Paperback, and e-Book editions. There will also be an audio book but I am not sure of its release date.

Because there is a release date that means the novel is now available for pre-order. I have already confirmed that at both major on-line retailers, that is to say Amazon, and at my local specialty bookstore Mysterious Galaxy, so if you are interested you can buy the book now for it’s March release. (I am informed that pre-orders count more for success than off the shelf purchases.)

 

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New Achievement Unlocked

The road to publication of my first novel has been long, twisty, and full of detours that sent back to square one but the destination has finally come into sight.

It has been an interesting experience as I proceed into new and unknown territory with phase of the publication. Submitted books and stories is something I have become quite familiar with but when the contract arrive for the novel that was new, particularly since I was navigating those waters sans agent. Then there was working with my editor. I must say that Don has been great, between his comments and the insights from Imogene the copyeditor I not only improved Vulcan’s Forge  I also learned things about my own writing style and hopefully have improved.

For the last two weeks I have been carefully reviewing the galleys for Vulcan’s Forge, scouring the PDFs for mistakes, typos, and the like. (And I must report that there have been very few. I adore the layout and look of the text. This is one of the principal reasons I sought traditional publishing there are far too many critical skills that are best performed by others.)

This morning I popped over the Flame tree Press’ website and saw that their Spring 2020 catalog was posted and there on page 28 was my book.

I was not ready for the emotional experience. There is a vast gulf between thinking about a thing and seeing that actual thing come into reality. It’s an excitement I have looked forward to and now it makes my fingers tremble and my heart flutter.

There can only be one ‘first time’ and I am so happy to share mine with Flame Tree.

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