Greetings and salutations everyone!
First of all, let me apologize for any issues you may experience accessing my site. I updated the theme and the css decided to make everything gigantic. We’re working to get things back to normal. I also want to apologize for my three week tardiness. Since I got home from vacation, life has been a firestorm of job applications, writing, revising and outlining. As you can probably guess by the picture, I certainly feel like a hamster in a wheel right now. This post will be a little short, but I wanted to update everyone on my progress with a variety of projects and to let you know what I’ve been up to in more detail.
I’m pleased to announce that I broke the 100,000 word threshold on Book Two (no, still no title yet) and, as of exactly 1,500 more words tonight, I am just over 108,000. When I orginally envisioned this book, I expected to be around 125,000 with the finished novel. Now, I am thinking the rough draft will probably extend to around 150,000 and then final somewhere around 135,000. Again, these are just estimates, but I have a lot of characters who want their stories told. Some of their tales are longer than I first imagined before I sat down and outlined everything.
I also want everyone to know that I’ll be releasing a free short story soon! (Wahoo!) It includes a revised addition of the italic story from Out of Exile (informally called The White Knight). I’ve also added more history to the piece. I have the final, edited version ready to go, now I’m working with a cover designer to get it ready to publish. It will be my first book published using the Scrivener writing program and I’m excited to see how much faster the process can be. As mentioned before, each book will have one of these backstories and each will be released as a stand alone for free. I’m already working on the next one, The Founding of Athel, which will be released a month or so prior to Book Two.
In other news, I am surely and steadily working on the second edition of Out of Exile. I’ve finished Chapter 7, making some minor wording changes and all sprinkling in some “Easter Eggs” that tie in with future books. In the process of revisiting my first book, I’ve been reading through a series of Time Life books on the Old West. This research (if you can call it that) has helped me more easily and accurately portray a mashed-up American West and the Medieval world.
Unfortunately, The Freelance Tales are on a slight hold right now until I can finish Out of Exile’s second edition and publish the first supplemental backstory. Fear not, my writing partner and I will soon get back on track. I was able to read over his rough draft on my plane ride home. It will be refreshing to write something lighter (and definitely funnier) than the Teutevar Saga. I think readers will enjoy the change of pace and the episode format we’re planning.
The vacation was good. In the midst of being laid off and writing a bigger (and hopefully better) followup to my debut novel, the break was much appreciated. I was able to finish The Written by Ben Galley and also The Fell Sword by Miles Cameron. I would recommend both. I was also able to play Banner Saga by Stoic Studios. When I wasn’t catching up on casual entertainment, I visited the Caribbean Islands of Antigua, St. Lucia and St. Croix. I ate a lot of food and got a little sun in the process as well. All in all, not a bad week.
Again, sorry for the delay. We’re all back on track now and going full steam ahead. Hang on readers, the next seven months will be a wild ride.