Status Updates: The Discordian calendar seems most appropriate in our troubled times. Today is Prickle-Prickle, the 1st day of Discord in the YOLD 3191. The Ides of March in Shakespearean terms. What's Next: The Wizard's CatTreacle. Molasses. Tortoise? Pick a speed. No, slower. A few words a day. But there are words. Future IshmaelStill a "yes." Also still "later." Tanyth FairportUnchanged. Still on the back burner. What I'm Reading: Gone are the 3 books a week days. Not sure what has tripped...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Status Updates: The ground hog saw his shadow here and predicted six more weeks of writing before summer. What's Next: The Wizard's CatYes! Slow but steady will win this race. I'm back to writing almost every day and can see the story taking shape. It's still going to be a long slog as I rebuild my writing muscles but it's like any practice. Sloppy and misshapen but I begin to see real progress now. Future IshmaelStill planning on it eventually but no idea what, where, who, or how. Tanyth...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Status Updates: Year end/beginning finally behind me as I'm working on developing good practice for 2025. What's Next: The Wizard's CatIt's like watching ice melt but the story is slowly, slowly coming together. My new writing practice sees a little bit more of it revealed in each session. Some day I might get back to my mega-word count days. Operative phrase: some day. Future IshmaelI think more and more about what that might look like with Ishmael and Zoya striking out on their own, Pip and...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Status Updates: I'm back to writing every day. Getting back to basics. What's Next: The Wizard's CatI'm finally seeing some significant progress in getting this thing moving along. I'd hoped to have it drafted, at least, by year's end. I suspect you all did, too. Unfortunately, I've disappointed all of us. Future IshmaelNo change here. It's been tempting to shelf The Cat and go back to the Deep Dark. Unlike the situation with Cape Grace - which I put away several times over a number of years...
4 months ago • 3 min read
Status Updates: The reading is still paying off in terms of inspiring me to get back into the trenches and write. What's Next: The Wizard's CatI'm still making good progress. I know more about where the story is going. The biggest obstacle right now is getting into the groove. Future IshmaelNo change here. The Cat has priority over everything. Yes. Someday. I don't know where or when. Other stories in the Western Annex are percolating, too. Tanyth FairportI really want to get back to her and...
5 months ago • 2 min read
Status Updates: Progress! Blessed progress at last. I track my hours spent reading in a week on my e-reader. My typical week is 20-24 hours. I had more than a few weeks of only 15-20 that corresponded to my least productive writing periods. I've always said, "If I'm not writing, I'm not reading enough." That has been borne out over the last couple of weeks. I spent 30 hours reading last week, 24 the week before, and all that reading is paying off. What's Next: The Wizard's CatOver the last...
6 months ago • 3 min read
Status Updates: Ups and downs but there is progress being made. Some of it with writing, even. What's Next: The Wizard's CatIt's coming together. You know what they say about herding cats. Future IshmaelIshmael's still on my table for future works. Tanyth FairportI really want to get back to her and the people in that world. When I'll find the time is anybody's guess. The audiobooks are still in limbo. Sorry. What I'm Reading: Lots of reading this month with "next in the series" books, but a...
7 months ago • 2 min read
Status Updates: Color me "Cautiously Optimistic" after too many weeks of thinking "any day now." What's Next: The Wizard's CatI'm pretty sure this Cat may be feral. Every time I put out food and water, offer it shelter, it sneaks in during the night, eats the food, spills the water, and hacks up a hairball on the doorstep. So, basically, acts like a cat. Lately, I've found dead mice on the front porch, lined up as gifts. I think I'm winning. Maybe. Future IshmaelSeveral people have asked...
8 months ago • 3 min read
Status Updates: I started out with such good intentions and wound up with all these paving bricks. What's Next: The Wizard's CatIt's still the only work on my word processor. I'm still trying to get my head around it so I can actually finish it. The SC Marva Collins (no change):All three of the Marva Collins books are now up in ebook, paper, and audio. Future IshmaelSeveral people have asked about Ishmael's future. I'm not done with him yet. At least I'm not done with that universe. There's...
9 months ago • 2 min read