A Pause In Our Regular Programming

Well, in case you haven't noticed, I didn't to have a free story up for Free Fiction Friday. I'm sorry to the regular readers. I promise a return to the regularly scheduled programming next week. My time has been largely taken up with the process preparing a book for publication. In fact, there are two books currently in the process. The first one, you may already know, is Kicking The Odds, a book written with and about Brett Sheldon. The other book, not mentioned much lately, is my first fantasy novel - in fact, the first book I started writing period. After ten years of stops and starts, this book, Cries Of The Faithless, will see the light of day.

Soon, I will have a final cover for the former book and I will also get to unveil the cover for my fantasy,  a great piece of art by newer artist named Paul Pederson. I am looking forward to the releases of both books. I would also add that another book,  A Generation's Journey, is also in the pipeline so don't be surprised if I announce the upcoming release of this third book in the next few months.

I am excited about all of the prospects in terms of completed books that will see publication sooner rather than later.

Changing One's Mind: Writing And That Other Life Stuff

Who am I writing this for? I've always felt I was writing to somebody. I know of at least one person who reads (or at least skims) my blog posts. For while, I had a few comments here and there when I was trying to write expert blog posts about the craft of writing. Lately, I've not contributed much on that front. I know that I've strayed off any plan I've made for the future use of this site. At this point, I'm just trying to go with the flow. I like writing blog posts here and don't care much if anybody reads this stuff. Maybe I'm just writing for me now. Kind of letting that inner dialog just flow out in the open. 

I would like to add though that I would love for more of you to read on Free Fiction Friday (and leave your comments). I'm going to have stories, both new and old ones. When it comes to an official challenge, say like the one I mentioned in previous posts, I just don't want to set a number. I said 50 before but I'd rather just write stories that may be shared here and will write ones that I will send out to markets--something I haven't done much of but would sure like to. I got it into my head that any story I produced had to go towards fulfilling some arbitrary number for that blasted challenge and it added an element of stress that I just didn't need right now. So, the final verdict, is that I will do my best to have a new story for Fridays. I would add that I may have excerpts from longer works on here too. 

What else is going on? Well, I'm still trying to make this working writer thing work out in better terms financially. What I've found is that I make greater strides when a book is involved. This isn't to disparage short fiction. No, I also believe I need to do it as well. In fact, I love writing short stories. I want to get better at it. In the meantime, though, I have obligations to bring in a certain amount of income, somehow. Whether it is from book contracts or publishing revenue makes no difference. For me, a generous helping of both is the long-term hope. 

I had goals for fiction writing this year that I plan to keep, at least in some fashion.  I keep running up against the limitations imposed by household financial necessities, a way of saying income shortfalls, which is yet another way of saying, I need money coming in. 

For some writers, this seesaw motion is far from uncommon; it is daily existence. Maybe it is for me too. Maybe I'm just feeling a little down in the dumps. Heck if I know for sure what's going on. In contrast to this statement, I was on the other end of the spectrum yesterday because I met with my co-author on the latest book I'm about to publish, Kicking The Odds. We waxed indulgently on all of the possibilities for great sales and lots of exposure. It was great. I was eating it up as much as he was. Still, I get nervous when it comes to the prospects of potential success. I mean I've had some very minor success with the other local books, but nothing sustainable.

In broader publishing matters, I'm trying to develop a new line of reissued books and also adding new stories to my current releases too. My fantasy novel, Cries Of The Faithless, will be ready soon. I have another nonfiction book that I need to wrap ASAP. I see a lot of busyness, lots of prospects for potential revenues, but nothing concrete. Honestly, I know very well that I can predict nothing in terms of sales. I can only provide opportunities in the form of books and stories to get those sales.

As a writer, separate from Founders House Publishing, the area where I've been making some money for the last six years, is currently settled in the famine phase of the feast or famine cycle. I hate this part of the ride but haven't found a way to get off it yet other than the aforementioned development of publishing income and securing more and better book contracts.

I suppose I'm just making some public observations. Probably enough for now.

New Book Coming In April: Kicking The Odds

Hi folks. I have a new book coming this April from Founders House Publishing. The book, titled Kicking The Odds, is the story of Brett Sheldon, my co-author, who was born with a birth defect that left him with short arms. His life is one of triumph over adversity, overcoming the preconceptions of people who didn't believe he was capable of great things, and those who stood by him through it all.

Brett became a record-breaking football kicker in high school and went on to play football at the college level. His status as a walk-on for Indiana State University garnered Brett the attention of the media across the country and landed him a spot on the Dr. Phil Show.

Kicking The Odds was a wonderful opportunity and I am pleased that I helped bring it to life. Stay tuned because I will be letting you know when books will be available.

Here's a link to the Founders House Publishing announcement. Coming In April: Kicking The Odds.

Challenge Story #11: A Perilous Fight

Well here we are with another Free Fiction Friday, and I have just finished a new story. Check it out.

A Perilous Fight

From The Files Of Ultra Force Seven

Shaun Kilgore

Copyright © 2012 by Shaun Kilgore

Published by Founders House Publishing, LLC

All rights reserved.

Even after seven months on the front, the report of gunfire seemed an unnatural intrusion, a painful and wrenching reminder of what had been lost. The damned rule of law and a lot of other important details that had given civilization a fighting chance. The skies were muddied with black plumes, the latest in a series of fires set over the course of the previous week. Looking out of the charred remains of the city, you could be mistaken for believing that Armageddon had finally come.

Nathan James gazed down into the rubble, panning the binoculars slowly from side to side so he wouldn't overlook something. There was desperate thread to the whole business. Nathan knew it was only a matter of time before some nutcase with some bazookas or old AK-47s lifted off the corpses of soldiers came barreling through the baracades, bent on doing as much damage as possible before the snipers took his ass down. Nathan hated the work, but he was only one of many who had been sent out by the command to do some scouting in the ruins of one of the big cities. Waste zones? Waste zones were an understatement. What could possible be work saving or salvaging in that frigging mess?

Another Great Article By Kris Rusch

Hello everybody, I wanted to share this latest edition of the Business Rusch, the weekly business blog written by bestselling writer Kristine Kathryn Rusch. This article, subtitled "Scarcity And Abundance" was a wonderful explanation of the different model that was prevalent in old world of publishing and what is dominant in the new one that has been developed. Great insights for those want to know more about publishing and writing. (Her husband, fellow writer Dean Wesley Smith, said much the same thing in his post linking to her article.)

Kicking The Odds: A Short Video To Whet Your Appetite

Well, this little video has made the rounds of Facebook, Twitter, and the like so I wanted to put it up here for anybody who doesn't access the former options. It's a great promotion for a new book. Kicking The Odds is going to be a great book. I hope everyone checks it out.

Writer Unfixed

Why does it seem so hard sometimes? The titanic effort required, at times, to shape thoughts into words and feel like they are worth being put down in the first place, brings to mind the image of a blacksmith hammering away at a piece of raw iron. Each strike placed at just the right point to shape that metal into something and there is something wondrous about that process, even when it is really just me typing words on a page.

It's like I'm carrying some heavy burden when I come to the computer. I'm not talking about deadlines or the expectations of clients. No, it is something deeper, maybe a set of viewpoints and prejudices that cling to me like a wet blanket--just burdensome enough to make me feel sad about it. Then again, I've also had the privilege of writing while in the white-hot fury of a creative explosion, when the words flowed out of my fingers faster than I could get them down. It forms a contrast in my memory that leaves me frowning. Even now, this essay or whatever it is leaves me troubled. I would prefer more of the latter but tend to get a lot of the former.

This isn't to say that I secretly hate writing. No, it is all I feel good about doing. It is what I've been able to do now for six years. Rather than reporting to some business or factory where my time is dictated by the interests of others and where pay though probably more consistent, was hardly an inducement worthy of the name. I remain here in a strange place though, one where any hope of income I have is attached to successful sharing and sales of my words. A strange place to be in, indeed.

Challenge Story #10: The Shaldar's Pride

This week's FREE FICTION FRIDAY brings you a new adventure of Fendreg the Senagran, the warrior who first appeared in "The Fall Of The Witch-King." I hope you enjoy today's tale.

The Shaldar's Pride

Shaun Kilgore

Copyright © 2012 Shaun Kilgore

Published by Founders House Publishing, LLC

All rights reserved.

The night was smeared red with firelight. Below in the canyon, Fendreg estimated there were twenty thousand of the Shaldar's soldiers. He had come forward to scout the encampment and to gauge the enemy's strength. Despite the cloud-choked skies, the numerous fires illuminated the camp very well. Fendreg's keen eyes could make out the movements of the patrols; he could see the Shaldar's enormous black tent posted near the center of the sprawling encampment. Sliding back down the slope he met up with the other outriders, Corba and Zene. The two men were shrouded in the murky night, but Fendreg, aided by his enchanted gaden-armor, could see their distinctive Kelvana dress, the long braided hair, the thin moustaches that drooped down their cheeks, and the knee-high boots they tucked their striped trousers into. They were horsemen through and through, more at home in their saddles than on the solid ground. Both were trusted scouts of the Kelvana chieftain, Rulrick. Fendreg had banded with the tribe after the Shaldar's horde burned a Kelvana settlement to the ground. The men and boys had been slain, women raped and murdered, the younger girls taken as slaves. Fendreg had been traversing the Kelvana lands and found the settlement just after the Shaldar left it; he had rushed into the burning huts and rescued Rulrick's father, the former chieftain. The gnarled old man was barely alive. He was the only survivor of the carnage.

Once the old man, Junar, had been reunited with the rest of the tribe, Rulrick declared before all that the Kelvana people were in his debt. Fendreg chose to stay and help them drive the Shaldar and his thousands from the plains.

"What did you see?" asked Corba.