Just because I don't post an update here very often doesn't mean that I'm not writing. That goes on no matter what happens, because writing is something I truly enjoy. Plus it takes me out of my real life, which at times gets far too real...
As I mentioned in the last blog post, back in March, we lost my mother. It was a surprise but not a shock, and while it still hangs heavy in my mind and on my heart, I've had to move on. I have people who need me and things I have to do, and I want to write. My mother grieved the loss of my dad and her former life for quite a long while after she moved in with us, but she did eventually settle down and make the most of what she had. I'd be a lesser person if I could not do the same.
Now that things have settled down, I am back to writing just about full time. I miss my mother and I do still spend time with family, but I really need to write. I'm not as necessary as a babysitter for the grandkids as I used to be so now my visits are mostly just that—visits. Since I have a couple more days a week to work at the computer, I've started some new projects and continued on some that were already in progress.
So here's what's been going on, writing-wise...
First of all, I am thrilled to announce the recent Airship 27 release of the 5th book in the Jezebel Johnston pirate series, JEZEBEL JOHNSTON: DANSEUSE!
The cover is by artist Ted Hammond, who won a Pulp Factory Award this year for Best Cover Art for the the 4th book in the series, JEZEBEL JOHNSTON: MOURNING STAR. Well deserved too, and as far as I'm concerned this is yet another potential winner. And then there's the interior illustrations, which are always done by in-house artist, set-up man, and all around good guy Rob Davis. Here's just a sample of what awaits:
This is the official Airship 27 press release for the book:
I might add that the Kindle version is now up and available on Amazon as well. You can also get the paperback on Barnes & Noble online, or even buy it as a PDF on the Airship 27 Hangar site (scroll down).
Anytime you're wondering what else I have to offer, check out my author page on Amazon.
Now, as for what I am currently working on...
First of all, I'm still writing the 6th book in the Jezebel Johnston series. No subtitle yet, but progress is being made and I'm almost at the 2/3 point. I had to rewrite a section—which slowed me up for a while—because I found new information I wanted to include. Writing for me is not strictly a linear progression, because while I don't skip around a lot, I do go back over previous sections when something like this comes up. I do my best to make this fiction series as historically accurate as possible but I also want it exciting so that it keeps the readers' interest. I started this book on December 30th of last year and I'm approaching 40,000 of the 60,000 word minimum that my publisher needs. Since all of the books in the JJ series have taken 9-11 months to complete, I'm pretty much on track. I've been focusing mostly on getting this one done, but I have worked on other projects off and on as well, because that keeps me fresh. If I fall off one horse, I get back on a different one and ride out again.
Yes I am still working on that Vagabond Bards tale I mentioned earlier, but I did set it aside for a while. That one of course will be going to publisher Pro Se, who have my imprint HANSEN'S WAY. I also have another completed book for them that I've been going to turn in for some time now, and just haven't gotten around to doing that yet. No worries, I will get that in soon!
I have yet another writing project going, something that I really can't talk openly about, except in very general terms.
This started because now that I have a bit more writing time on my hands, I began going through old files. I recently took something out of mothballs with the intention of self-publishing it. I happened to mention online that I was working on something to be self-pubbed, and I was approached privately by a publisher who has worked with me and wanted to see what else I had. The thing had sat so long I figured nobody wanted it anyway! So I polished up part of it and sent it along. Long story shortened, it has a new home. A small part of it was previously published as the beginning of an ongoing serial feature, but it was hard to place because of the oddball length of the additional material I had and that the market for that sort of thing had changed. I was actually planning on cobbling it all together in a bigger book than what the small publishers can handle, but I did manage to sort of rein in the first two installments to the required novel size. Now I'm fiddling with the third and fourth parts, the last of which was basically a good start but had been abandoned for other easier to place tales.
That's as much as I can tell you about this, but it's something I pick away at on days when I need a break from pirates and my ongoing TERRAN WORLD fantasy series (of which I have 5 going) or the other couple of oddball series I do for Pro Se.
And yes, I still write for my town's newsletter. In fact after the passing of my mother I got a lovely, heartfelt message in a sympathy card from a reader who just felt compelled to write to me. While I can't share what I write in that column with the general public, it's about small town life and living in the country, or whatever else strikes my fancy at the time and fits the 'ambiance' of a small town monthly publication. Feedback has been pretty good and they've been able to expand the readership and sell more ads. I'm far from the only one writing for it—in fact author buddy Lee Houston Jr. does monthly book reviews based on what the local library has in stock. He too has been mentioned. This sort of writing is really a bus driver's holiday for us, but it's volunteer position we both enjoy. It's nice to know that people are reading it and have responded positively to what we do.
What I really need to write is a new bio for my publishers, and I suppose I'd better get to that pretty soon. Something about writing about myself seems to bring out my inner procrastinator. Hey, I'm not perfect, believe me! I'm just as flawed as the rest of us. Writing about the imaginary people who talk to me in my head is a heck of a lot more fun (and far more interesting to read) than trying to make myself seem fascinating. Like the Wizard of Oz, I am the little person behind the curtain and I prefer to let the stories I make do my talking.
It was the above-mentioned sympathy card that really got me thinking about that, because the woman who wrote to me admitted that she felt daunted writing to an actual writer. Jeepers, I don't have that kind of celebrity status!
Let me tell you how it really is.
I still dress in baggy old clothes that have seen their better days and I still have to scrub my own toilet. I'm not even close to supporting myself by writing. It's a skill like any other that you work at and try to perfect, and that you hope someday will be able to support you in your old age. Right now it pays for the dark chocolate I consume as an incentive to write, which I suppose is better than nothing.
Actually, dark chocolate is better than a whole lot of things! And writing is better for me than many things I could be doing if banging on a keyboard wasn't taking up so much of my time. Plus I enjoy it too. So it's win-win.
So that's the status of all things writing with me for now. I'm hoping to have some updates on other books waiting to be published in the not-too distant future. In the meantime, if you've got the time to waste and the incentive to read my daily drivel, you can also find me on Facebook or Twitter. What I post on either is mostly updates on whatever I'm working on or when something comes out, but I'm open to being friended or followed. Just please drop me a quick message so I know you're not a SPAM bot or some scurrilous person looking to hook up with some old broad in the US. I get enough of those offers as it is!
Until the next time,
~Nancy
As I mentioned in the last blog post, back in March, we lost my mother. It was a surprise but not a shock, and while it still hangs heavy in my mind and on my heart, I've had to move on. I have people who need me and things I have to do, and I want to write. My mother grieved the loss of my dad and her former life for quite a long while after she moved in with us, but she did eventually settle down and make the most of what she had. I'd be a lesser person if I could not do the same.
Now that things have settled down, I am back to writing just about full time. I miss my mother and I do still spend time with family, but I really need to write. I'm not as necessary as a babysitter for the grandkids as I used to be so now my visits are mostly just that—visits. Since I have a couple more days a week to work at the computer, I've started some new projects and continued on some that were already in progress.
So here's what's been going on, writing-wise...
First of all, I am thrilled to announce the recent Airship 27 release of the 5th book in the Jezebel Johnston pirate series, JEZEBEL JOHNSTON: DANSEUSE!
The cover is by artist Ted Hammond, who won a Pulp Factory Award this year for Best Cover Art for the the 4th book in the series, JEZEBEL JOHNSTON: MOURNING STAR. Well deserved too, and as far as I'm concerned this is yet another potential winner. And then there's the interior illustrations, which are always done by in-house artist, set-up man, and all around good guy Rob Davis. Here's just a sample of what awaits:
AIRSHIP 27 PRODUCTIONS
Presents
JEZEBEL JOHNSTON – Vol 5 – DANSEUSE
Airship 27 Productions is proud to announce the release the fifth book in the Jezebel Johnston – Pirate Queen saga by Nancy Hansen.
Having sailed to the East African coast with French captains Ancel Thibodeaux, Le Tigre of the Mourning Star and One Eyed Jacques Chagall of the Danseuse, Jezebel Johnston sets about her new career as a spy. Dropped off at trading port in Bombay, it is her task to learn which merchant ships are soon to sail for open waters. She will then pass this invaluable information to the pirate captains.
But there are unexpected surprises in store with the reappearance of buccaneer Denis Blanchett. Though a capable seaman, Blanchett has a cruel streak is obsessed with making Jezebel his private property. Meanwhile Chagall doesn’t trust Jez and she begins to worry that his own greed will scuttle their intricate schemes before they can bear fruit.
Writer Nancy Hansen’s pirate saga of Jezebel Johnston is unlike anything on the market today and offers up thrills and spills on every page. This is the pirate life with all its dangers and romance as authentically depicting by a master storyteller.
Airship 27 Productions award winning Art Director Rob Davis both designed the book and provided the nine black and white interior illustrations, while this year’s Pulp Factory Award winning artist for Best Pulp Cover, Ted Hammond returns for his second gorgeous cover featuring the beautiful and deadly Jezebel Johnston.
So sign aboard now and get ready set sail once more for Jezebel Johnston, the queen of high adventure.
AIRSHIP 27 PRODUCTIONS – PULP FICTION FOR A NEW GENERTION!
Available now in paperback from Amazon and soon on Kindle!
(https://www.amazon.com/dp/1946183628?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860)
I might add that the Kindle version is now up and available on Amazon as well. You can also get the paperback on Barnes & Noble online, or even buy it as a PDF on the Airship 27 Hangar site (scroll down).
Anytime you're wondering what else I have to offer, check out my author page on Amazon.
Now, as for what I am currently working on...
First of all, I'm still writing the 6th book in the Jezebel Johnston series. No subtitle yet, but progress is being made and I'm almost at the 2/3 point. I had to rewrite a section—which slowed me up for a while—because I found new information I wanted to include. Writing for me is not strictly a linear progression, because while I don't skip around a lot, I do go back over previous sections when something like this comes up. I do my best to make this fiction series as historically accurate as possible but I also want it exciting so that it keeps the readers' interest. I started this book on December 30th of last year and I'm approaching 40,000 of the 60,000 word minimum that my publisher needs. Since all of the books in the JJ series have taken 9-11 months to complete, I'm pretty much on track. I've been focusing mostly on getting this one done, but I have worked on other projects off and on as well, because that keeps me fresh. If I fall off one horse, I get back on a different one and ride out again.
I have yet another writing project going, something that I really can't talk openly about, except in very general terms.
This started because now that I have a bit more writing time on my hands, I began going through old files. I recently took something out of mothballs with the intention of self-publishing it. I happened to mention online that I was working on something to be self-pubbed, and I was approached privately by a publisher who has worked with me and wanted to see what else I had. The thing had sat so long I figured nobody wanted it anyway! So I polished up part of it and sent it along. Long story shortened, it has a new home. A small part of it was previously published as the beginning of an ongoing serial feature, but it was hard to place because of the oddball length of the additional material I had and that the market for that sort of thing had changed. I was actually planning on cobbling it all together in a bigger book than what the small publishers can handle, but I did manage to sort of rein in the first two installments to the required novel size. Now I'm fiddling with the third and fourth parts, the last of which was basically a good start but had been abandoned for other easier to place tales.
That's as much as I can tell you about this, but it's something I pick away at on days when I need a break from pirates and my ongoing TERRAN WORLD fantasy series (of which I have 5 going) or the other couple of oddball series I do for Pro Se.
And yes, I still write for my town's newsletter. In fact after the passing of my mother I got a lovely, heartfelt message in a sympathy card from a reader who just felt compelled to write to me. While I can't share what I write in that column with the general public, it's about small town life and living in the country, or whatever else strikes my fancy at the time and fits the 'ambiance' of a small town monthly publication. Feedback has been pretty good and they've been able to expand the readership and sell more ads. I'm far from the only one writing for it—in fact author buddy Lee Houston Jr. does monthly book reviews based on what the local library has in stock. He too has been mentioned. This sort of writing is really a bus driver's holiday for us, but it's volunteer position we both enjoy. It's nice to know that people are reading it and have responded positively to what we do.
Let me tell you how it really is.
I still dress in baggy old clothes that have seen their better days and I still have to scrub my own toilet. I'm not even close to supporting myself by writing. It's a skill like any other that you work at and try to perfect, and that you hope someday will be able to support you in your old age. Right now it pays for the dark chocolate I consume as an incentive to write, which I suppose is better than nothing.
Actually, dark chocolate is better than a whole lot of things! And writing is better for me than many things I could be doing if banging on a keyboard wasn't taking up so much of my time. Plus I enjoy it too. So it's win-win.
So that's the status of all things writing with me for now. I'm hoping to have some updates on other books waiting to be published in the not-too distant future. In the meantime, if you've got the time to waste and the incentive to read my daily drivel, you can also find me on Facebook or Twitter. What I post on either is mostly updates on whatever I'm working on or when something comes out, but I'm open to being friended or followed. Just please drop me a quick message so I know you're not a SPAM bot or some scurrilous person looking to hook up with some old broad in the US. I get enough of those offers as it is!
Until the next time,
~Nancy
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