July & August Writing Recap

Photo by Elijah Hail on Unsplash

I don’t read a lot of Stephen King (not a big fan of horror, though I think he is an absolutely amazing writer), but he’s got some great quotes. Came across this one this past week and it really struck me.

He said, “The scariest moment is always just before you start. After that, things can only get better.”

Boy, is that true!

You could probably apply that to just about any undertaking in life, but as it pertains to writing, he’s absolutely right. The start of a new project, the blank page staring you in the face—the thought of taking this somewhat nebulous idea of a story in your head and figuring out where to begin and how to start getting words onto paper can be daunting. 

The idea of doing that to a deadline, even more so.

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Overload: Chapter 3

Here is the third chapter in my upcoming new novel in the Finder series. Enjoy!

Chapter 3

For a long moment, Corwin stared back at him, silent and unmoving. His eyes, however… In his dark eyes, Vince saw the battle raging within. Whatever Dent’s sins, Corwin loved his brother. He also loved their mother.

All at once, something broke inside Corwin. The stiffness in his shoulders collapsed as he slumped forward and put his hands on his head. His elbows thumped on the table’s black lacquered surface. In that moment, he looked like what he was—a scared, grieved young man who’d been carrying the weight of the galaxy around on his shoulders for far too long.

“What do I do?” His voice emerged from his throat in a choked whisper. “He can’t—I can’t—”

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Overload: Chapter 2

Here is the next chapter in my upcoming new Finder novel. Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Half a dozen thoughts raced through Vince’s mind. Chief among them was a mournful thought that at this rate, his expensive dinner was going to be stone cold before he got to enjoy it. Silently, he set the dumpling down on his plate and studied the man sitting across the table from him.

He pegged the waiter to be in his early twenties, with a slim build and a look in his dark brown eyes that said he’d seen far too much of the darker side of Zyga Station than he should have at his age. He had a round face, a shock of curly black hair, and his dark brown skin was a few shades lighter than Vince’s own. The way he’d handled the tray told Vince that he’d probably worked here for a while, though the Finder wasn’t sure he ever remembered seeing him before.

The young man also looked dead serious.

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‘Overload’: Chapter 1

Welcome to Overload, the fourth novel in my Finder space opera detective series! I’m posting the first three chapters as a preview. The book won’t be released until the middle of January, but I may have some exciting news to announce here in the next couple of weeks.

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1

Every table in the noodle shop was full. Finder Vince Grable didn’t think they ever had a slow day here. A buzz of conversation filled the eatery, broken only by the occasional burst of laughter. Soft, unobtrusive music played in the background. Wait staff in black trousers, white shirts, and black vests darted here and there through the dim circles of golden light cast by round golden lamps that hung above every booth and table. Most carried trays laden with plates and bowls of delicious food.

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June Writing Recap

Hope everyone’s summer is off to a good start. I blinked and June disappeared. I have a calendar full of notes to remind me where exactly all my time went, but still…

We’re officially halfway through 2022. Kind of crazy, isn’t it?

The writing has been a little slower than I would have preferred the last couple of months, mostly due to things revolving around our children, but it’s still going. (Another child has transitioned out of the nap stage, which is requiring a change to our routine. It’s really funny actually—about the time I get a good routine going, something changes and I go back to the old drawing board. *grin* What’s that old saying? The only constant in life is change?)

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Limited Time Deal!

Happy Memorial Day weekend! On Monday, we honor those who have fallen in the service of our country, and we also kick off the summer season.

If you prefer to kick back at the pool, or the beach, or wherever with paper books, here’s a chance to pick up my books at a discount. (I know I love a good deal on books–I’m sure you do too!)

For a limited time, I’ve teamed up with Wayne Kramer of Heroes of Time Productions (author of Heroes of Time Legends: Murdoch’s Choice), fantasy author JMD Reid, and contemporary fantasy author Jackson Utz, and we are offering bundle discounts on books. Plus, every order comes with a free Murdoch’s Choice magnet and “Discover the Legend” ink pen!

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