It’s been awhile…

… since I last made an update on my writing. I guess when you’re hip deep in it it’s easy to forget others aren’t deep in it with you. So, here is where I am.

“Digital Decay” is to the point where I’m ready to start the agent/publisher hunt. After finishing my initial editing pass I handed it off to a team of beta readers, and after I got all the feedback they had for me, I began yet another editing pass. I was about two-thirds the way through it when I realized that a particular character’s motivation just wasn’t jiving. I needed him to do something, but there wasn’t a logical reason for it, yet if he didn’t then most of the story would unravel. So, I got my podcast co-hosts on the horn and asked them to help me suss out a way to make it work. Thankfully, they did. Together we came up with everything I needed, and I was able to finally pull it all together. It wasn’t easy, or even close to it, but I think the story is much more exciting and interesting now. Let’s hope the folks in the publishing industry feel the same way.

My short story “The Dame Wore White” has been sent off to two different places for two different purposes. The first place was the Writers of the Future Contest. Last year I got Honorable Mention, but this year I want to place. “Dame” is my strongest short story yet, so I have high hopes in that regard. The second place was “Asimov’s Science Fiction” magazine. “Asimov’s” is a long-running and highly regarded publication, and it would thrill me beyond measure to be between the covers of an issue.

Lastly, I’m about to start work on the audio version of “Dame.” I wanted to get this done last month, but work on “Digital Decay” prevented it. Now, though, I have the time and opportunity, so I’ll hopefully get it done this week. If not, then definitely next week. I got some pretty good voice work on it, and I think you’ll enjoy it. And then I’ll get to work on the audio version of “Dark Running.” That one is… a harder one. It’s a very different story than others I’ve written, and the audio demands are greater. But, I think I’ll be able to pull that one out too. Look for it in three weeks or so. After that I’ll be all caught up, so far as getting my short work in audio form. That will be a load off.

And… yep, that’s it. Between shopping “Digital Decay” around, waiting to see how “Dame” is received, and doing podcasts of “Dame” and “Dark Running,” I’ve got a pretty full plate. That doesn’t mean I’m not already thinking about my next novel. Originally I’d planned on writing a prequel novel to my short story “Pirates of the Crimson Sand,” but now I have a new idea that’s bitten into me even harder. I can’t tell you much, but I *will* leave you with a teasing tidbit. The title is “A Minor Magic.”

Thanks for stopping by, and please come back soon.

Love.