How are you doing?

 For a lot of people, this year has taken a toll.  The United States appears more divided than ever, and every day the news gives us reasons to be concerned.

If you are an artist of some kind, it might be tempting to say, "what's the point?  How can I focus on my art when it feels like everything is falling apart?"

I feel you.  I do.  I must admit my productivity took a hit the first quarter of the year.  I still wrote very day, but the words weren't as numerous as I would have liked.

But I'm still trying to write.  I plan on getting to publishing and a Kickstarter and all kinds of other things.  Why?  Because we need our art right now.

I need to make art because it is for me in part a coping mechanism when times are difficult.  Sometimes, when I'm struggling with an issue, writing a story about it helps me to figure things out.  It is something I can control (to a certain extent, when the characters let me <g>) and a way I can answer darkness.

And I need to make art for others.  For those who want a few minutes to escape a frustrating reality.  Who want a reason to smile, if only for a brief moment.  People whose psyches need nourishment.

If you are an artist right now, whatever your craft, please keep at it.  Even if it's hard.  Even if you don't think it matters.  Because it does.

Let's be those havens for those who need them now more than ever.

A book signing!

 I will be joining other local writers in the area for the Spring Book Binge, hosted by Emeralddragun Studios on Saturday, March 29th, at the Avon Park Community and Cultural Center (310 West Main Street, Avon Park, Florida).  There will be books available for purchase and we'd be more than happy to sign your book for you.  Please come and support local artists!

Perspective

 If I were to ask you what you defined as success in your life/career, what would you say?

I was recently challenged to consider this as an assignment for an online workshop I'm taking.  What did I consider a successful writing career?

I named a few things, like making more money, getting more stuff out for people to buy, and doing more publishing-related things.  

When I was done with the list, I admit I felt discouraged.  

Understand that I consider May of 2005 the start of my fiction writing career (my column started June of 1998, about seven years prior).  That means I've been at this almost twenty years.

Somehow I thought I'd be farther along than I am now.  I do not make a great deal of money with my writing.  While I've published a number of novels and short stories, I could be doing more in that area.  

Granted, I was a caregiver to a greater or lesser extent for thirteen of those years.  We have often had young people stay with us while they try to get on their feet so they didn't have to live on the street.  I feel these things are important and do not regret my investment in them.  But it did affect the writing.

When I said this to a fellow writer, she reminded me that I helped people.  She also made me look and see that my writing has had positive effects on readers (Please, if an author's writing has had a positive impact on you, take a minute and let them know. You will make their day).  I had to admit that, yes, my writing had done so.  

My column continues after nearly twenty-seven years.  That means I'm doing something right.  People still read it and comment on it and I truly appreciate all the feedback I get, positive and negative.

And I haven't given up.  Some people would look at all that time and decide writing wasn't for them.  I've been at this long enough to know that when it comes to writing, the true failure isn't rejections or lack of sales - the true failure is to stop writing.  I'm not willing to do that.

So, if you look at your life and think you've failed, maybe you just need a different perspective.  Ask a friend about it.  It might be you've been more successful than you realize.

Trying to catch up...

 ...for some reason, this has been a tough month to get things done.  I'm struggling to make progress on the projects I mentioned in the last post.  

One project I want to remind you of is the HERitage Volume Two Kickstarter, which ends in twenty-one days.  We have almost funded and if you can support it I'd appreciate it.  Click here  to check it out.

Sorry this is short today.  I hope to have more to share in March.  Until then, stay well and warm.

Projects! Projects!

 I am currently working on THREE - yes, three - projects, not counting the possible novel I'm writing on.

There is a Kickstarter I'm planning to (hopefully) launch next month. "Oracle of My Enemy" is a romantasy (Romantic fantasy) about an elven woman destined by the gods to serve whom they choose and the human man they send her to.  Given there's great tension between elves and humans, bordering on war, this is not the most comfortable arrangement.

Once I have the cover finalized I will share.

Another project is (tentatively) titled "Walking the Walk." It will be a collection of short stories about people living the Christian life and the challenges they face.  Once again, when I have a cover I will share.

Last, but by no means least, is the second volume of HERitage, an anthology of alternative history fiction focused on women and how their lives and situations might have changed for the better if history had turned out differently.  In this volume I focus on Harriet Tubman, the brave woman who led slaves to freedom.  The change I focus on?  What if she had learned to read?  What doors would have opened for her?

You can check out the Kickstarter here.  Please, take a look and support it if you can.

Some observations...

 I'm taking a writing course that addresses the concept of writer's block. My latest assignment involved taking stock of what I've written and what is published/sold.

I discovered that I've written over 200 short stories since I started my path to fiction writing in 2005.  This doesn't include the number of Star Trek stories I wrote for the Strange New Worlds contest.  It also doesn't include the eleven short stories I've started and not finished.  43 or 44 of those short stories are for sale, either as stand-alones or in collections.

This doesn't include the none novellas (7,500+ words) I've written, one of which sold.

I have published six novels, with a seventh on the way.  I also have cowritten six novels in a fantasy series, with a seventh on the way.

That's a lot of words.  I need to update this site with everything for sale.

I need to do something with the stories and novels gathering virtual dust on my hard drive.  I have more than enough short fiction to create a number of collections.  

It is sort of exciting to see what I can do this year.  I didn't publish anything last year, something I do not wish to repeat.  So, stay tuned.  I hope to have great news coming soon.

Belated Happy New Year!

 Happy 2025!  I hope your year is filled with accomplishments and good things.

I wrote 712,515 words in 2024.  Not my best year, but certainly not my worst.

Now I am gearing up for 2025 and the things I hope to accomplish.  Not just in writing and publishing - I want to lose weight and drink more water as well.

One thing that will happen in 2025 is the second volume of HERitage.  The Kickstarter begins in February - click here to go to the preview page.

Have a great beginning of the year!