Now that Wars of Light and Shadows is completed and released, and, since all of the interior and cover art for Grim Oak Press has been turned in for their special edition of the Empire Trilogy, what have I been doing?
Plenty!
The next standalone novel (not related to any other) has 5 chapters in polished manuscript and a full outline - it went out to my US and UK agents on Sept 1, and is now headed for submission. We get to see what cards are on the table/first stop, at HarperVoyager UK to meet terms of my contracted option clause - then, who knows? I will post news as I have it.
Officially without a deadline for the first time in two decades, I get to play - and have I ever. New maps, (see the addition of Dascen Elur/which is completed) for ancient Mhorovaire, some spiffy graphics and drawings held in reserve for (blank) as talk is not a contract, and until I have a signed commitment, I tend to regard ‘talk’ as about as reliable as evaporation.
Stories! yes - more Athera back history short fiction, which has immersed me in organizing and cross referencing the MASS of notebooks, file cards, scrap notes of the History of Athera (and universe) to flesh out the back drop setting of the stories I’ve had on the idea burner or partial draft for years.
And: toying with epic poetry for some of the First and Second Age high points - just for fun.
I also have unfinished paintings/unfinished drawings, and finished art to frame up for display.
Lastly, the lovely booktube community is taking to Wars of Light and Shadow with another group set to kick off in January, and two more of them having released their discussions of Traitor’s Knot and Peril’s Gate respectively .These are smart, serious readers of the series who are absolutely getting into the meat of the story, and they would welcome anyone in for comment, or join the group at Page Chewing, which is one of the most friendly forums on the internet.
Oh yeah: the scruffy stuff: organizing author papers and manuscript, proofs, page proofs, etc for donation to a collection, and cleaning the clothes closet - hahaha - since I wear about nothing but jeans and Ts, daily, I own far too many party dresses and business clothes, so those are due for weeding.
I will keep you all. posted on what will be released next as I get the various projects finished off. Some intriguing questions left unanswered in the main series will come to light - let’s hope for the time to see the side projects through before the next deadline rears its head (and if it does, that is GOOD NEWS.
Enjoy the ripe moment of chaos that is uncertainty! I am filling the days to the brim, meantime.