A Short Story Challenge For 2014

The last time I was here, I got to rave about my first fantasy novel finally being in print and to mention that I had a new ebook novel available too. I'm really happy to report on those developments but a writer has to keep going. A writer has to keep writing new stories. Well, at least this writer does.

I finished a novel last month and thought I was going to get started immediately on a new one and somehow complete it in 30 days or so. That didn't happen. My mind kind of fizzled out on me. In effect, it say, we just finished a book we need to cool down a bit before jumping into something else. Of course, I didn't listen. I proceeded to bang my head against the proverbial wall trying to get new words to come leaking out of my fingers and onto the keyboard.

Nope. This didn't happen.

The last few weeks were about me refocusing and charting the next course on a much larger journey. As a friend and I discussed earlier today, I am not a content-generating machine churning out "content" at a moment's notice. I'm a storyteller, folks. I need to get on with the business (and the fun) of telling stories that I'll enjoy writing and you (dear readers) will enjoy reading.

At the same time, I wanted to plot the next move so I did. I've decided to write short stories and then submit them to short fiction markets. I've culled a selection of markets that I will be sending submissions to for the next few months. I don't know how long I'll carry this on or when I'll start on another novel, but I feel like I need this turn in direction at this particular point.

So where does the challenge come in?

Well, I need set some parameters just for fun. I want to set some limits or a "finish line" that I could cross. So the initial leg of this challenge will be to write 20 short stories and get them circulating through the markets. Then if I hit that goal I will consider additional goals.

Finally! The Day Has Arrived

The day has finally come, folks. A day that has been over a decade in the making for me. It's a milestone for me as a writer that I am happy to share with all of you. Nearly fifteen years ago I finally acted on the impulse to write a novel. I had never tried such a thing and I launched into the process fueled by the books of the late Robert Jordan, Tad Williams, and David Eddings. I was inspired to write epic fantasy. The scope and the drama of it was what called me and the ability to create a world wholly from my imagination.

I am announcing that my first novel Cries Of The Faithless  is finally available in paperback. A couple of years ago I did manage to get it published as an ebook but there is just something about holding that book in my hands that makes it more real for me. It is a tangible accomplishment and serves as an impetus to write more books and see them in print as well. 

At present, I've followed through with that and have written several other novels and novellas as well as numerous short stories. 

It all started with this book. 

So check it out. Buy a copy. Tell a friend. There are exciting times ahead.

OTHER NEWS!

My novel, The Darkness Of The Deep, is available now as an ebook. You can get it for KINDLE, NOOK, and OTHER FORMATS via Smashwords. 

Coming Soon: The Darkness Of The Deep and Other Realms, Volume One

With this year nearing its close, I wanted to come back here and give you some previews of what is coming in 2014. I've been trying to establish a bit of a plan for how I would work on different books and coordinate those projects with a publication schedule through my publishing company. When you try to balance the tightrope that is writing and publishing, you learn that not having a plan can lead to difficulties over the long-term.

I'm hoping to change that. I have two books coming out in the near future with a couple more on the way. At this time, I thought it would be nice to give you a taste of what's to come by showing you the covers to The Darkness Of The Deep, my first published fantasy novel since A Kingdom Of Shadows back in 2012.

In the same way, I have a collection of short stories, the first volume in what I'm planning as an ongoing series of collections titled Other Realms. This inaugural issue, Volume One, contains ten original, never-before-published short stories by me. Doing short stories helps keep me balanced between writing novels and novellas so I hope to keep up that work throughout 2014.

Another point I'd like to mention is that a few of my books currently available as ebooks will also make their way into print. (Finally!) I'm excited about those developments too and I will, of course, post about those updates as soon as possible.

2013 was a strange year and a difficult one in many ways. I was able to produce works of fiction despite the changes that were wrought and I'm glad for that. I hope that I'm getting better at this fiction writing thing. Only time will tell. I'm still having fun with all of this. Maybe I'll be able to make a living too.

Catch you later. I'll be updating about publication dates and other information as soon as those are available to me. Happy New Year. Make it a good one.

Update: Killer Of Dragons, Future Books, and Publishing Aims

Well, I wrote a few posts here about my involvement in NaNoWriMo and how I made good progress on a book but ended up not crossing that finish line again. I am here again to report that as of today I finished Killer Of Dragons. The book ended up as a novella, albeit a longer one. I'm happy with the ending and I am now looking at what to write next. The next phases are proofreading and editing. I have work piling up in that category and hope to get everything in line for a series of 2014 releases. My publishing company has sat idle this year and I am more than ready to end that trend for good.

Although I've started looking at possible plans for future writing, I don't know what book will come next. I have a few sequels in mind for books that I have out. This doesn't mean I'll start them right away only that I will have one or more of them done this year. Whatever plans I have must be fluid enough to work with my process as a storyteller.

I've put titles I have for books in a tentative writing/publishing list. That is a good first step for me, an outline for going forward. I've thought about doing it for the next couple of years or so just so I can have a bit of forward thinking without over-committing.

As far as completed projects are concerned, I have several waiting in the wings as well as some WIPs that I may or may not complete. All of these efforts are done in the name of organization. I'm pretty bad about organization. I want to get better but, well, you know, it takes time.

I'll be updating here with some of the projects developments and hopefully coming back with some other writings as well. I haven't done a "Dear Writer" column in a while.

Thanks for checking in folks.