The past couple of weeks have been busy for me. Besides the neverending writing, of which I am working on four books at the same time, I've recently had a couple things come out in print. I'll talk about the new releases first, and then we'll get into what I'm currently working on.
On March 30th, WAR FOR MONSTER EARTH was released by Mechanoid Press. It's available in both Kindle and Paperback formats. The cover as you can see is gorgeous, that is by the uber-talented Mr. Jeff Hayes. This is the third and final book in the Monster Earth series.
I've been fortunate to have a short story in both this one and the the very first book (MONSTER EARTH) but all three of them are well worth picking up (BETRAYAL ON MONSTER EARTH is Book 2).
If you loved the old kaiju movies and the concept of giant critters being groomed by governments and used as weapons of mass destruction, these are books you don't want to miss. For myself I can say I enjoyed being part of this series, and the stories were awfully fun to write. Kind of sad to have it over with, but it's a great little series that you don't want to miss out on it.
Just recently released on April 5th from Pro Se Productions was the fourth book in the COMPANION DRAGONS TALES series, LAZLO AT HOME. I'll have more details on this one on CDT blog, but this is the continuing adventures of the little blue dragon familiar Lazlo and his wordsmith witch companion Nancy Bittergreen. Now that he's settled into her magical household, Lazlo is learning all his very important responsibilities and he has to make some difficult choices and decisions. Not everything goes smoothly for the little guy, but somehow Lazlo always manages to muddle through.
The books in the CDT series are written with children in mind but also with a nod toward the adults in their lives who might wind up reading to them. In that respect they are appropriate for all ages, and can be handed around the family. We try to keep them accessible but witty, adventurous with child suitable scary sections. I had a lot of fun writing this one which is a collection of four short stories featuring Lazlo figuring out what exactly to do in each dilemma. They're not preachy with morals, but I think any kid will understand that sometimes when you get into trouble you need to stop and think how best to get out of it because some situations can be bad for more than just yourself. Sometimes the solution might require some personal sacrifice. These stories are first and foremost entertaining but also written with some heart and thoughfulness behind them.
And by the way, the first three CDT books, A FAMILIAR NAME (Kindle or Paperback), FINDING WAXY (Kindle or Paperback), & COPPER'S CHOICE are also still available.
So those are the latest releases. There will certainly be more to come. Now on to what I have been writing lately...
First of all, I am currently writing four books at the same time. Yes, you read that correctly: 4 books. I've always multitasked when it comes to writing, but this is a new record for me. The most I've worked on before was two books and a short story at the same time.
I've blogged about this before, but there is a reason I prefer to work this way. Over the months I tend to get more writing done with less downtime. I have the ability to kind of compartmentalize whatever I am working on so that when I approach a writing project, I'm thinking solely about what that particular book or story needs. Plus I tend to reread previously written passages, at least from the last session or two. That allows me to get back into the groove again with the tale I'm facing on any particular day. It also keeps me from getting stale on a project, which leads to that dreaded 'writer's block' you hear so much about. Of course this is not for everyone, because there is a lot of self-dicipline involved in getting back to work on something that has languished untouched for a while. Some people do better working a project from one end to the other. That's great! This is just my way of juggling multiple manuscripts.
So just exactly what am I working on? I'm glad you asked!
First on my list this year was getting out the 8th Jezebel Johnston pirate novel, which has now been subtitled REVELATION. This one will be the end of a second quartet of books, all of which took place in or around the early East Indies trade area. No worries if you are a fan, this is NOT the end of the series, I've got more books planned. I don't want to spoil this one for readers, but I will let you know that Jez will be heading home to the Caribbean in this one, and she is somewhat better off than when she left her home waters behind. But nothing is easy in the pirating life, and sometimes you gain something important only to lose it again. Right now I am nearing the halfway point on this novel, so in spite of having 3 other books in the works, I'm getting writing done. I spend at least a couple of weekday afternoons working on this, though I have on occasion worked on it during a weekend when not much is going on at home or elsewhere. Most of these exhaustively researched historical fiction tales have taken about nine months to write, and since I only started this one back in January, that's not too shabby. As I tell people it's helpful that I love what I do and that I have no social life. 😆
Also occupying my weekdays is the Sinbad story I started back in late 2019 and have been picking away at ever since. This one turned out to be a novel, though I think I was the only one surprised that it did. That I tend to write 'big' is a well-known fact. The concept was large as well though; I'm continuing the story arc I started in the Airship 27 Sinbad adventures which allows the intrepid cast and crew of the Blue Nymph to do some time traveling. In this tale, they land in Bronze Age Crete, in the time of King Minos the 1st and his dreaded labyrinth-confined Minotaur. I worked in as much of the mythical tale as well as the archaeological backdrop as possible, and yes, bold Theseus will be making an appearance. I'm deep within the climatic battle of this one now, and so the end is in sight in more ways than one. 🙌 Some interaction with the big bronze giant guardian of Crete, a construct named Talos, also happens. So it's a real romp and I think people will enjoy seeing those days of legend and conjecture come alive along with the ongoing clandestine adventures and camaraderie amongst Sinbad and his companions. There might even be some treasure involved...
The third book is one I can only speak of in general terms. It's something Lee Houston Jr. and I have been picking away at since late winter. A dear friend and fellow writer passed away last year and left in our hands the half finished rough draft of a manuscript. We'd been asked if we'd kindly read through it and give some input, which we did. When Lee and I were approached by a potential publisher to see if the book could be finished, we gladly accepted the task. Lee went through it first, reformatting and tweaking what he could, and then he turned it over to me to see what I could do. I had previously read it to get a feeling for the flavor of the piece as well as the author voice, so I started again at the beginning and began to fill out the rough spots. It's a genre I have not worked in that often, but writing is writing, so as I went along, the story began unfolding and telling me what it needed to be. The bare bones were already there, so my job has been to paint in those incisive details that will lead to a satisfying conclusion; one that Lee and I agree it needs to have. We've been kibitzing all along on this, and so nobody is out of the loop. The book had a title, but the original author's name will now be part of it so that there is no doubt about whose idea this was. I work on this one at least one day a week, mostly on weekends. It's become my Saturday afternoon book, and I'd guess it's about 3/4 finished in a somewhat updated first draft mode.
Ah and book #4. That one is a true labor of love. I've already written here about the little teddy bear my 6 year old granddaughter gave me, and how that prompted a story idea or three. Tucker T. Bear's story is something I've not worked on as consistently as the other three, but I do get some time in when and where I can. It's mostly been Sundays after blog posts are up, but I have had at times the occasional weekday where for whatever reason I have been tied up with other things and only had a short period to write in. I'll usually turn to this little tale, because there isn't any exhaustive research involved. This is going to be a children's book about a teddy bear come to life, who goes off with the elderly grandmother he lives with and has amazing adventures. That bear began whispering his stories to me as soon as I got him home, and he hasn't stopped since.
While some folks might find that a bit bonkers on my part, I'm a writer and we can get away with that under the hypothesis that it's part of our overactive imaginations to dream up such things. I've learned not to ignore the prodding of potential story fodder, so I started writing things down from the beginning. I didn't get a chance to work on it last week, and today is looking iffy as well, but the tale is nearly 4300 words long and going strong. The main cast has been introduced and I know where this first story is taking place and what Tucker has to do. So there you go! What to do with it after I write it can be resolved later on. I look forward to reading it to my two younger grandkids when it's done. They are already drawing pictures of Tucker's adventures.
Right now that is about all I'm working on, but if something else comes up, I'll manage to squeeze it in. As I said, none of these have hard and fast deadlines, so I can always drop something to work on another project that does. This is the beauty of being self-employed but not dependent on it as an income. I get to write what I want, when I want to, and I can be flexible about what I work on most days. I still do get quite a bit of work done. And as I've said repeatedly, it's wonderful to be able to do what you love. I get up every day looking forward to sitting to my desk and getting down to work. Best darn job I ever had, even if it doesn't pay the bills (yet).
You all keep reading and I'll keep writing,
~NANCY
