I think I’ve figured it out!

I just opened False Side of Shadow and noted it was already at 40k+. The other two novels are 62 and 64 respectively. According to my outline, I’m not even halfway through this book.

I think I’ve bitten off more than I can chew in this one. What I’m cramming into one novel, should be two. Which means there will be four Sanguire novels dealing with Jenna Davis’ discovery and rise to power instead of three.

Oy!

user bangs head against desk

I am so sick and tired of these Sanguire… Will it never end? I’ve been writing this damned storyline for nine or ten months! ARGH!

Tiopa Ki Lakota is going through its line by line edits now. Once it’s done and back to me, I’ll scan through. If all is good, I send it back for technical edits. They’re still working on a cover concept. We’ll see how it goes. My previous two books with Fortitude Press were done by the CEO, and I think she has wonderful taste. This time, I’m working with an art director I haven’t spoken with before, so I’m kind of anxious about what’ll be brought to the table.

I’ve completely reread Born of Silence and Angels Deserve to Die. Am now beginning to read what I have on False Side of Shadow. So far, I think it’s a good series. Sometimes I forget.

I told my wife that I’ve been getting ‘lost’ as far as the Sanguire go. That’s probably why this last round of ‘middles’ is so hard to get over. When I outline, I make note of things I want to touch on in a scene. Prior to reaching that scene, I ponder how I’m going to insert the introspective aspects. By the time I’m actually writing, the things I want to put down are old hat. With three books, I’ve forgotten if I’ve really written this particular point in a previous book or scene, or if this is truly the first time.

For instance, I’ve talked often enough about Bertrada Nijmege wanting to kill Jenna Davis by her own hand, her idea of revenge for Elisibet’s killing of her lover. I don’t know how often I’ve referred to it here. In the second book, Angels Deserve to Die, Bertrada’s plan has come to light in Jenna’s camp. One of the symboulos is also aware of it, though he’s never been officially informed – it’s all speculation on his part.

By the time I’ve gotten to False Side of Shadow, I’ve talked about it so often, I don’t know who’s supposed to know of Betrada’s plan and who doesn’t.

Then there’s Jenna’s growing hatred for Elisibet, despite the memories of being Elisibet she carries. It can get confusing to keep all these characters on the same wavelength they were on to begin with, to follow the natural progression of growth per character, without it spilling over to others.

So, that’s my excuse for having such a time of it lately. I’m still kind of leery about the latest installment, since I haven’t read it. The first two seem to have remained on target throughout. I hope I haven’t slopped up too much in the final book.

Has gone through yet another round of edits. Got it back from my editor Monday, but waited until today to focus on it. Lots of repeated words, for the most part. Just sent it back. Apparently, Fortitude is aiming to have it out by Orlando Bardcon at the end of May. This’ll be the fastest I’ve ever gotten through publication edits, if it makes it.

So, anybody going to Orlando Bardcon this year, bring extra bucks to buy the second and much improved edition of Tiopa Ki Lakota by yours truly!

...mainly cuz I'm slacking. LOL!

I think I've figured out my block. I've just finished what I thought was chapter 18 . . . I was wrong. It was chapter 19. I have yet to write chapter 18. Getting too far ahead of myself. The outline has been reshuffled to some semblance of order.

Only 647 words today, but better than what I have been doing (which is zilch!)

1466 words today. Coffee People helped immensely. As soon as I sat down, I began typing. Of course, as soon as I got home, I started staring off into space. LOL! But, I’ve plugged at it off and on for several hours. Chapter 17 is almost finished. Jenna is this close to finding out exactly what her phyle is. She’s also this close to dying, but ya gotta break eggs if you wanna make an omelet.

Mitch Seavey is this close, too . . . he’s going to win the Iditarod tonight. Last report has him out of the Safety checkpoint at 7:19 pm. Unless Jeff King can put on the extra power, Seavey’s going to come in first, guaranteed.

To all of you who chimed in on this blog and through email! (Thanks for the e-card, too, Aries!)

By the end of the day, our marriage certificate was framed and hanging in the entryway. Funny. We've been in this apartment since October, and until yesterday hadn't put a damned thing up on the walls yet. LOL!

I'm MARRIED

Final score – 1788 words. Chapter 16 complete, chapter 17 started. We are now leading into a night on the town which will result in three things:

1. Margaurethe's fears will be vindicated.

2. Jenna will be attacked by a Sanguire who personally wishes her harm because of Elisibet the Tyrannos' past actions.

3. Jenna will rather forcefully discover exactly where her talent lies. (As mentioned before, there are shape shifters, pyrotechs, weather controllers, telekinetics, and those who pass through solid objects. Up until now, Jenna has shown no abilities in any of these 'phyles'.)

Off to bed. My wife (soon to be REAL wife) will be up at 5am, chewing her fingernails to the knuckle while she awaits my beauty sleep to come to an end. Then we're off to the courthouse for a stack of paperwork to fill out, a waiver to sign, and a marriage license to acquire.

Somehow, I don't believe I'll get all that much writing done tomorrow…

Writing! Again! YAY!

Jenna has decided to be happy (a suggestion by her new chambermaid, the mysterious Sithathor.) She's told her advisors she's going to go to Tribulations for a little enjoyment. She's a kid, she needs the outlet. She's been penned up since this whole mess started, having only left the estate in the northwest hills for her one hunting trip in the last book. If she doesn't do something soon, she's going to go stir crazy.

Of course, Margaurethe is adamant against this. Initially, I had Jenna cuddling and coddling Margaurethe, coaxing her into a frame of mind that while not approving of the idea wasn't completely against it, either. But ya know what? I've done it before. Jenna's done it before. Sooner or later, Marguarethe's got to stand up and say, "Bite me! I ain't going for it!"

So, that's what Margaurethe has done. She didn't fall for her lover's tricks to give consent for the outing.

This gives Jenna just a bit more impetus to go stark raving bonkers soon. She's between the proverbial rock and hard place, needing to break away and be a kid for a while versus keeping her lover happy by remaining safe within the confines of the Davis Group.

It sucks to be vasilissa.

1114 words. Jenna has broken the bad news to her advisors that she plans on having a night out on the town. Needless to say, Margaurethe is less than thrilled with the idea. Lovers' spat, anyone?

Off to work, blech. Tonight we prepare for the a huge auction tomorrow night. Joy of joys! You thought that was a parking garage beneath the hotel? Hah! Shows what you know. It's in reality an exhibit hall. (When you add in the miles of carpet, pipe and drape, exhibit tables, etc, anyway.)

Got back into the RPG again. Yay me!

Saw ‘The Order’ with Heath Ledger et al. Interesting that three of the main actors were also three of the main actors on ‘A Knight’s Tale.’ When I saw the female lead, I burst out laughing despite the seriousness of the scene.

Anyway, the premise was an interesting one, though the movie was really slow going. The information given out put me right on the edge of ‘puzzled-I-wanna-know-the-answer’ and ‘puzzled-who-gives-a-f**k?’ But other than that…

Afterward, I researched sin eaters to find they existed (and still do today in some Eastern Bloc countries.) So, the movie folks took the original sin eater definition, tossed in immortality, and mixed in a healthy dose of the church. Not bad. (Though I still think the thing could have been written a little better.) And the Carolingian Order did exist, but it wasn’t to fight off spookies; it was one of knowledge and truth (just as it was portrayed without the ghost buster attitude.)

Well, that lead me to think about an immortal sin eater spinoff. A woman, of course. And that lead me to hit Questia with questions about Lilith, the first woman. And after reading about her I began asking myself other questions. Why is Lilith still alive? Because she’s a demon? She abandoned Adam, not God. Other than a few words about God condemning her for leaving Adam, how did that make her a demon? And why would God do that if she was one of His first creations? He didn’t do that to any thing else . . . And what if Adam were meant to be immortal, too? And the reason he died was because a piece of him had to be used to create Eve, thereby interrupting the natural connection of his body and soul? So Lilith would still be living, and not a demon.

Lilith would be condemned by man, not God. She would be outside the church, like a sin eater. What if she originated sin eating? What would an immortal woman be like? It would be different from the Highlander type immortality – at least there the Immortals know they can die. There can be only one. With Lilith, she’s had to deal with everything, all the time, knowing there would never be relief. Insanity? Maybe she saw insanity all the way through until she was sane?

Points to ponder. Maybe there’ll be a story coming out of this someday.

1051 words, and chapter fourteen is finished. I may be about a third of the way through the book, all things considered. Won't know for certain until I'm at the end. LOL! The outline is changing considerably as my goals do. We'll see how it goes.

Must prepare for work. Got errands to run beforehand.