Gut-Punched…But Still Standing

Good evening, everybody!

Sadly, as the post title says, it hasn’t been the best recent couple of weeks, for one very depressing reason: Given apparently unsatisfying sales over the past three years (thanks in large part to their not offering ANY promotion/marketing help of any kind whatsoever, leaving me and all their other writers struggling to do so), Unbound has decided to return the rights to my scifi novel Discarded and scrub the book from its catalog (along with pulping the surprisingly-large stock of print copies, minus whatever number they can get me or third-party vendors to take off their hands at a discount). To call this a gut punch is putting it the politest way possible–one of my first (not self-published) works being essentially tossed back after a combined seven years of writing, editing, pitching and waiting. Next steps are still being planned; as of right now, I’m nearly done sorting out the “reversion” paperwork, and should have a firm decision on whether to pick up any of the stock copies, and how many, by later this week. Most likely I’ll start up the agent and publisher hunt again, for this book, once the depression and mourning has worn off; when that’ll be, I can’t say at this point–yet the hunt will happen.

The main source of solace at present, both ironically and not, is in my other writing work. Progress has been uneven, due to both the planned shifting around between various short story projects and recent events, but happily it hasn’t stopped. My contribution to the Sea Lion Press Alternate Elections collection, “Ballots & Barricades”, is finished and now in beta status; my AH Civil War draft “World Emancipator” only needs a proper epilogue scene; and the outlining for my Civil War Hist. Fiction short story series (centered on Jonathan Lawrence, former deputy U.S. Marshal-turned freelance Union agent) has churned out two plots, with two more expected in the near future. “Hill Country Commune” turned out to need more research, time and a better mindset, but I revamped several key bits, and may put down a couple for-certain scenes before letting it rest some more. There haven’t been any takers yet on collaboration for the “Divided Worlds” anthology, but I’m continuing to put the word out for other writers; if the silence continues, I may end up releasing the couple already-finished stories individually, and try for collaborating the same way on the other ideas. I’ve also decided that some of my Civil War-themed anthology short works will be released the same way, rather than in a single batch; some of them are almost long enough to be novellas at this point, even with editing, so the “solo” route is probably better, anyway. No set date for either, at this point, but they should be in motion by the time next month’s post goes up. Maybe staying busy is the best way to get through what’s happened with Discarded; since the only alternatives are being continually depressed or quitting writing altogether, it’s an easy choice, certainly a better, healthier one.

I’ll keep you updated about Discarded’s changing status on my Twit and FB author feeds ahead of the March post; if I land another publishing option in that time, those of you who got copies through the original crowdfund should hold onto them–could be they’ll become rare editions! 😛 Meantime, for anyone not willing to wait for the above stories (and to remind myself how much I’ve written since), my first novel-length AH work, Red Delta is going back on KDP sale this Friday (3/1); grab or pass along a copy, and I’ll see you all again soon in March!

Here, There, Everywhere

A happy MLK Day to everyone!

Up to now, when a new year begins, I’ve opened with a grand new project, be it a single novel draft, an anthology of short works, or at minimum lengthy outlining for either, all within the first month or two. This year, however, I’ve decided to shake things up a bit: Instead of a set project (or several in sequence, in the case of anthologies), it’s all about whatever story or scene appeals, for the next several months (until the end of March, or even April, according to the much looser schedule I have in mind for this year). Most of the work, as mentioned in last month’s post, will likely concentrate on the drafts once intended for my “Divided Worlds” and Civil War anthologies; I may still release one set or the other as a collection, at some point, but the aim right now is simply to write, be it in one category or another, or an entirely different project.

The foremost work at this point is the last scene of “Ballots and Barricades”, my contribution to Sea Lion Press’ Alternate Elections anthology; these should be finished within the next week or two. When I’m not working on that, the top contenders for other work in this period are the final section(s) of my Civil War short work “World Emancipator”; more/better opening material for “Hill Country Commune”, from the same batch; and outline work for a series of Hist. Fiction short stories, revolving around a U.S. Marshal-turned-private Union agent during the Civil War. As for the “Divided Worlds” tie-ins, I’m currently mulling whether to invite other writers into this project, to avoid too much similarity between stories or plot arcs, and possibly see some of the stories put together in better form than I originally envisioned. To celebrate this change, and properly kick off the new year, “Divided Worlds” itself is back on sale as of this week; check out/pass along the link below–and, if you’re a writer and feeling daring enough, message me about joining the tie-in work!

Nor is this the only big writing news for 2024. While NNWM (National Novel Writing Month) has always been a joyously grueling experience, the difficulty of balancing this thrill ride with the ever-growing demands of the Outside World became especially great during the round this past November–enough that even though I passed the 50K word count mark yet again, the excitement was more muted than ever before, and I was left far more exhausted. Becoming a full-time writer (or at best being able to reliably support myself in good part with writing) remains my ultimate goal, yet this will only happen if the pleasure that I’ve gleaned from writing doesn’t fade…or worse, turn to revulsion, as I sometimes felt creeping around the edges amidst the final work and edits this past December and late November. Therefore, I’ve decided that 2024 will be the last year I pursue the usual NaNoWriMo 50K. I’ll still take part in NNWM, through its “Camp” competition during the summer months, starting next year, but after this November (marking the 15th time I’ll have taken on the challenge–and won, never fear!), I’m finished with that traditional endeavor. The draft I have in mind will be another outside-the-genre choice, for me (a noir-esque murder mystery) tentatively titled “School of Whacks”; hopefully I’ll have a much better title by the time outlining starts in late Sept-early Oct 😀 .

Must sign off here; another round of Outside World demands is teeing up, so serious rest is needed. I’ll catch you all again in February; stay warm and stay safe!

Last Words (For 2023)…

Happy Holidays to all!

With NaNoWriMo once again past the 50K word count mark (twice, actually, given the major trimming and rebuild starting right after the victory stretch, though the draft still has a long ways to go before reaching publish-worthy status), my semi-working vacation has become a full one at last, if not quite the snowy kind I’d expected/somewhat hoped for. Now, with the New Year just a couple days away, it seemed the time for one last 2023 update, and a first glimpse of what’s planned for 2024!

The biggest news to report: As promised in the last entry, my Alternate History short story, “Toe-to-Toe” has at last been published, as part of Sea Lion Press’s anthology “‘If We’d Just Got That Penalty’. A Collection of Alternate History Sporting Stories”! For those not familiar with the plot, it centers on a group of boxing legends (Joe Louis, Jesse Owens, Max Baer, and John Henry Lewis, to name but a few) coaching or competing in the 1952 Olympics…in a Nazi Germany on its last legs, and which their presence might help topple for good. The link is attached below, for any in need of a new fiction buzz, or a New Year’s/belated Xmas gift—and the same goes for my collection In Other Words, on sale thru New Year’s Day!

It’ll be a similar kind of work for the starting round of writing next year. Although I will never lose the love of writing novella- and novel-length projects, the experience of such, both during and outside NNWM, is always (not surprisingly) a draining process, sometimes to the point where I’ve despaired of ever finishing, or can’t even look at my keyboard (let alone the current draft) without shuddering and looking away for anything else to do–yet still wanting to write, and sliding into ennui and depression when nothing happens. At points like that, I’ve found bursts of short story work, be it outlining, a single scene in another project, or a whole other draft, has done more to slide the slide than any other trick–and, more than once, leads to ideas and progress I’d never expected. Even better, it’s often led to (IMHO 😛 ) stellar final stories, and keeps me fresh for longer projects.

Therefore, starting Jan. 3rd, the bulk of my writing up to late Spring (end of April, or thereabouts) will be short story work, concentrated on the drafts I’ve outlined, begun or finished for my Civil War and “Divided Worlds” anthologies. Those will be changing as well: rather than release them as collections, I will be looking to submit the individual stories to SLP and other AH or SF sites/venues. Except for some very early (and therefore crappy) versions of my first works in the early 2010s, I haven’t done much in the way of magazine or other submissions, so this will no doubt be an…enlightening experience, if nothing else. When and if inspiration or enthusiasm for these short works runs dry, I’ll turn to others: “Ballots & Barricades”, my AH story set in France during a rather different May ’68, is at the top of this list, followed by the outline and first scenes for an AH Rome draft told in chronicler style. When late spring-early summer rolls around, it’ll be back to novel-length projects, in the form of the FINAL final final work on Reckonings, the fourth and last book of my Cross & Flag series–which will be published this coming year. Short drafts will remain at the ready during this time, however, and throughout 2024: a quick “fix” when needed, basically 😀 .

Well, it’s long past time I closed the screen for tonight. I’ll be back next year, though 😛 , with more details on the 2024 lineup; in the meantime, stay safe and warm, relax, and see you in January!