It’s that time of month again – the Forward Motion Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour! Yay! This month’s topic is a self-interview. I hate interviews, so I hope I’ll be gentle with myself. What do you think?

As a matter of fact, I can! (Funny how that turns out, huh?) Continue Reading…

The last couple of weeks I’ve been working on an old manuscript that’s been sitting around on my computer for three or four years. Starting to get into the groove, and thought you folks might want to have a look. Continue Reading…

Oi, what a week!  You know what’s worse than a garage band staying in your hotel?  THIRTY garage bands staying in your hotel!  UGH!  It was a freakin’ ZOO!

What with exhaustion, Poison Night, a six day stretch of Hel, and a mountain of unfinished chores, I haven’t actually written anything on Broken Trails.  I’ll work on it tomorrow before work.

Which is not to say I haven’t been productive in some manner.  I’ve recently discovered a new Mac program called Scrivener that’s an absolute wiz!  I’ve completed entering in data from my Orphan Maker project, and am now working on doing the same for Freya’s Tears (a space adventure.)  As I’ve mentioned on Facebook, I’ve been able to finally see the big picture of the novel’s plot, and have added some scenes to help flesh it out more.  The first draft is about three quarters finished, but has been sitting in limbo because that indefinable something was missing.

Caught the last episodes of Heroes and Stargate Universe last night.  I’m betting that on SGU, Destiny dipped into that gas giant to deploy its ramscoops—it was refueling.  Any takers?

Still reading Duma Key by Stephen King.  I only have time to read at work, and the last week hasn’t left me much opportunity.  I’m about a third of the way through it now.

Going great here!  As of now, I’m completely out of the Catering department at my hotel.  I’m a fully trained Loss Prevention officer instead.  Security is a wonderful department!  I’ve had time to THINK!

Just yesterday alone, I completely restructured Sanguire.  jrosestar, thanks for calling off the bet!  That entire novel is now defunct.  No more editing of it, and no submitting it to Tor.  The next one must be written, and sent instead.

I’ve also realized what my hang up was with Orphan Maker.  The Loomis I’ve created would never have acted that way in a joint town meeting.  Maybe when she was younger and more confident, but the trauma in her life broke her.  She wouldn’t stand up in front of everybody and their brother to discuss the way things should be going.  She’d take aside a member or two of the council and talk to them instead.

I set her up this way when the city kids arrived at the church—Loomis didn’t speak until someone demanded her opinion.  She holds a LOT of power with the townsfolk, but doesn’t use it often.  Doesn’t see that she has any.

So that last scene or two is going out the window (with the current version of Sanguire.)    What ELSE can I come up with?

Spent the morning updating my website. In particular, correcting the information and links on the pages about my books, adding a review on Tiopa (thanks, Elaine!) and checking the links in my sidebar.

Tonight’s Mother’s Night. Tonight is when the membrane between the worlds of the living and the dead are at their finest. Tonight is the night for staying in, reconnecting with the living and loving members of your family, and enjoying memories of those who have gone before us. My wife and I plan on a nice candlelit dinner, lots of closeness, and a walk through the apartment building to see what our neigbors have done for decorations this year.

Technically, you’re not supposed to work on this day, but I think it all revolves around your definition of ‘work.’ I’ve already been working on the website. I plan on getting dishes done today, and maybe getting the last of the lights up in the living room. And a nap. Can’t forget the nap! LOL!

I’ve the next week off. If I do any writing, I think I’ll return to On Azrael’s Wings edits. Or maybe I’ll reread Iditarod. I know I’ve said I wouldn’t publish that one, but I’ve gotten a LOT of comments on it . . . I’ll have to go back over it to see, though.

To my friends, stay safe tonight. Spend a little extra time with each other. I’ll be online later this evening.

To my readers, take care. Tomorrow is Yule (a.k.a. Solstice,) a whole ‘nother holiday!

I’ve been remiss. People are wondering if I’m still breathing. I am! I am!

Busy, busy, busy at work. Despite that, the most exhausting thing is the constant shifting between days and swings. I have to cover the manager’s days off, and still cover the swing shift as much as possible. Six days last week. I’ve got two more to go before a blissful five plus day weekend.

Today I begin to clean house and put up the decorations. On the morning of the 19th, I do the door decorations for the annual contest in our apartment complex. Still top secret until I get it out there. Then I’ll spill the beans.

Tuesday is Mother’s Night. My wife and I plan a quiet evening together, candlelit dinner, and then a stroll through the building to see the other door decorations. Wednesday is Yule, and I’ll be up all night in vigil.

Went to my rheumatologist last week to discuss beginning the clinical trials we talked about earlier. Bummer! I’m not eligible! I have no pain and no joints swollen! Too bad, huh? YAY! Even the joints in my hand that have remained swollen throughout the last two years have gone down! (As you can imagine, I’m crushed.)

Sent out Yule cards. To those reading this who got one, the cards are part of this year’s theme for us. Now you might have some idea what our door decoration will be! LOL!

Got the Yule shopping complete. (Thank gods for mail order.) I spent one afternoon out and about on errands to pick up the last of it for my wife, and it’s wrapped and sitting on my desk now. Yes . . . my form of torture. The gifts are in plain sight. Also got a box shipped out to my best friend, which thankfully arrived yesterday in California.

No writing to be had. I’m sort of stuck with Orphan Maker. It’s gone into an area I have no outline for. I’m not sure what’s going to happen next. I read it during those few bouts of free time last week, and I like it, but I haven’t had any time to concentrate on the characters. I know the story will eventually get to where I want it to go, but it’s gone on a detour and I need a road map!

Warlord Metal is officially out! YAY! I should be getting my author copies on Yule. What a great present for the holiday!

What else? Not much, really. The desk’s a mess, the house is filthy, I’ve got guests coming on the 25th for the feast. We’ve had something near thirty days of record lows, so my long johns have been getting a lot of use. Since Mother’s Night is a day of rest, I’ve got to whip everything into shape TODAY, since I work the next two. Ugh!

How’s everybody else?

Thank gods. 2537 words today, chapter twenty-nine of Orphan Maker is complete. My outline has gone the way of the dodo bird, though, which has been part of my hang up. Getting too invested in these outlines it seems. If I open up the document these days, I don’t even bother with my Shadow program. Not seeing how much I’m deviating from the outline has helped me get more writing done, oddly enough.

I don’t know about the next three weeks, however. These are the busiest times in my day job, and I expect to be working a lot of overtime (like I’ve been doing all last month.) I checked my records, though. I started Orphan Maker in mid-June. If I complete it by January 12th, I’ll have pumped it out in six months. Nowhere near the word counts that S.L. Viehl or Holly Lisle put out, but not bad for a small time pipsqueak like myself.

I’m expecting my copies of Warlord Metal any time now. Edits are complete, as is typesetting. Can’t wait to get my hands on a copy with the new cover! Story hasn’t changed a whole hel of a lot, though.

I’ve had lots of comments on Iditarod since it’s been finished. Glad everyone’s enjoying it so much. I’ve even had folks wondering if I’d publish it, but I don’t know. It’s a fluff piece, written more to draw attention to the website than for publication. The romance is pretty inconsequential overall, the main conflict being the race – not that there’s really much conflict there either. It’s been so long since I posted a story online, though, I thought it was time to remind people I was still here.

What else? Not much, really. When I’m not working or sleeping, I’m spending my spare time cruising around Second Life. If anybody reading this has checked it out, give Corby Bjornson a call. That’s my avatar name there. (Corby’s the name of my Starfleet RPG character, and the last name is actually from a list I was given by Second Life.)

2044 words finally written! Woot! I expect I’ll be writing more the next week or so. Part of my problem is the new shift (which isn’t a problem now that I’m back on swings for awhile.)

I wish I had a Powerbook! My Palm keyboard doesn’t have a Dvorak driver, so I can’t use it to write on. When I get off work, I go home and get distracted by chores, the internet, Second Life, chatting . . . If I had a mobile computer option, I could get some writing done immediately after work.

I don’t know that I’ll finish Orphan Maker before the end of the year, but here’s hoping. It’d be cool to have finished two books in one year again. Haven’t done that in some time.

Been pretty busy at work and at home to write or post. I’ll admit, some of it is an annoying addiction to Second Life, but the work front has been exhausting. The holiday season are both our busiest and laziest times of the year.

Orycon totally rocked, of course. I had a blast and went to many panels (writing oriented.) Learned some good stuff. I think there’s a 60% chance they’ll come back next year. My fellow associates kicked butt in wowing the attendees this year. There were very few hassles and only one pain in the butt issue (slow elevators.) The event manager in charge went on vacation, so negotiations are on hold until she gets back. Here’s hoping!

Then I worked another seven days in a row. Our biggest and busiest convention of the year is on Veteran’s Day weekend. So what happens? The other supervisor resigns his position and one of our less dependable associates called off. So, we were two people short, and I had to swap in the middle of the week to swing shifts to cover. Ugh. Twelve hour days (and nights) ain’t fun, but it could have been much worse. Had yesterday off, worked a swing last night, have today off, and tomorrow I’m back to days. Next week, though, I’m on nights.

During some of that down time, I’ve reread Orphan Maker and think I have a good idea where to go next. It’s dropping off my outline and I had to let it sit and stew for a bit, since I didn’t know where it was going. It’ll get to my planned ending, I know, it’s just taking its own sweet time getting there.

Also went over Warlord Metal again, the final .pdf for PD Publishing. That should pretty much be the last of THAT one. Again. LOL! It should be out this month. I’ve been through the initial editing of Castle Walls, but that’s not due out until next summer, so I don’t know when I’ll get the next round.

And I write. 1952 words, chapter twenty-six of Orphan Maker is complete.

Also ran errands today. Picked up my month’s prescription, did some banking, and went to the audiologist to pick up my new ear molds. There’s a definite improvement in hearing with them. The rubber and plastic get old and less flexible; that interferes with their ability to conduct sound.

Castle Walls has been through the editing process. Next is tech edits and then it should be finished. I’ve already had a peek at the cover. Of course, it’s fantastic, as all Steph Solomon-Lopez’s covers are. Once it’s officially okayed, I’ll upload it to my site.

Nearing the end of the Iditarod posts. I’ll post another section this weekend, but I’m fairly sure it’ll be completely online soon. I’m attending Orlando Bardcon this year and leave on the 20th. I’ll post the next week’s section at that time and, if there’s only one or two following that, I think I’ll post them, too.

For those of you attending Bardcon, I’ll be signing the new edition of Tiopa Ki Lakota at the PD Publishing table. Come on by! I’ve dropped out of the Sunday breakfast, though. I’m shy. The con will be plenty of attention for me! LOL! I will be involved in the morning Round Robin. I’m really looking forward to that.

Of course. Busy day, but I spent a good portion of it doing cleaning stuff . . . which left me alone with my thoughts for a bit. Some story changes are in the works.

Orphan Maker: Got a handle on the next chapter. I’ll have to reread the last to make certain where I’m going with it. Not sure whether the next scene will be Loomis’ or Gwen’s POV. Gwen’s is due.

On Azrael’s Wings: Got a handle on the next scene there. Can almost see and hear and smell it. Should be worth another five hundred to a thousand words on the rewrites.

Born of Silence: Some character adjustments to go with the plot adjustments. Less nicey-nice with Jenna, more hardcore street bitch. She won’t be a blood thirsty killer, but she’ll be primed to become one should the proper circumstances arise. (Which they ultimately will.) Streetname change for Jenna. Her initials are J.D. and she’s known as that in the first draft. J.D. = Jack Daniels = Whiskey. There it is – she’s known on the streets as Whiskey.

Kou Itten: A story I haven’t mentioned here much. It’s a cyberpunk genre that was half written before I began this blog. It’s stalled out on me twice now, but I think I’ve finally found a way to complete the second half of the book and tie it all together. I’ll use the same format as before except reverse the character POV’s. (The first half is from my netrunner’s POV.)

So . . . no writing done, but lots of brainstorming. Not a bad day.

Last night as I began drifting off, Tommy Boy came to mind.

Tommy Boy is one of the Gatos in Orphan Maker. He and his girlfriend, Emerita, have a three year old. They got shafted when they were farmed out to the other homesteads and ended up with the town assholes. Needless to say, he does the angry-young-man thing well, and that’s what I saw in my head.

Spent the day today, thinking about him and his family’s situation. And Gwen’s idea to drag him to Loomis for help. And Loomis’ response to that after all the soul searching she’s beginning to do over her feelings for Gwen. . .

As soon as I got home from work, I started typing. 2101 words in 3 hours. I’d love to do this every day! Wow!

Chapter 24 is complete, and the book is padded with more wordage. I’m only about 2/3rds through.

Work promises to be busier than hel for week three. Making up for the sloooooooooow August in a big way. My checking account’s happy, though the old body ain’t.

Chapter 23 of Orphan Maker is complete. Now Loomis has some serious thinking to do about Gwen’s true intentions. Seems Weasel is very much like his namesake, sowing seeds of dissension at the festival.

Next chapter will be Loomis off getting drunk as she ponders this negative insight to a woman she’s beginning to feel attracted to.

Over a grand by 8am. I can dig it. Nonnycat, you were right. Wrong scene, wrong time. I’ve decided to skip the flashback for the present time.

I hope to get the next chapter finished before noon.

I blew $27 bucks at iTunes yesterday. I’ve been on a nostalgia kick – Bon Jovi, Damn Yankees, and a couple of Phil Collins songs. At the mall I nearly blew $25 on two Til Tuesday CDs. Ah, the memories . . . all of which are about being stationed in West Germany, dancing in the discoteque, or hanging in the barracks with Shubert and Bailey and Reagan.

I’ve been sitting here in front of the next chapter of Orphan Maker for a furking HOUR. Ain’t nothing coming to me! I know what scene’s next. I know who’s point of view it should focus on. I know what needs to be imparted to the reader.

But it won’t WRITE, dammit!