The final stages of writing a book are always the most nerve-wracking

The final stages of writing a book are always the most nerve-wracking

Posted inRandom Musings, Writing
The last few hundred yards of a marathon are always the toughest. Well, okay, I've never run a marathon and doubt I could run more than a block and a half even if being chased by knife-wielding ducks, but you get my point*. I'm currently under contract with Rowman & Littlefield, and have been neck deep in writing a manuscript since last August, due to be delivered by May 1. (I'd love to be able to announce what it is, but have to wait until they release the information first.) I'm almost there. Being immersed in a big project is…
What should I write next?

What should I write next?

Posted inWriting
After my Mad Men book is out, I plan to switch focus to fiction for a little while. Have two things in mind. Two novels that are DONE but that require my attention for the next few steps in the process. Help me decide which to focus on: 1) A children’s / middle grade fantasy novel that keeps with classic fantasy tropes/clichés (think Lloyd Alexander’s Prydain books), i.e. young boy on an adventure, mouthy princess, dragons, etc. I think it’s fun and love the characters, but I don’t think I can sell it to a publisher – it’s too “standard,” and these days they want something unique…
Pitched Vol 2

Didja notice the website?

Posted inUncategorized
So I sort of slipped a webpage up for Pitched! 2. Look. It's probably all sorts of broken (and please tell me where it is), and it's missing some hi-res stuff ... but it's good to go for now. I'll be updating it with purchase links and so on and so forth as they're available.

Am I crazy?

Posted inRandom Musings, Writing
Driving home from work the other evening and ideas are rolling through my head. Sitting at a traffic light and it occurs to me, "Say, I should self-publish a science fiction anthology next year, maybe something with a Mars theme. Invite writers to submit stories, do it via CreateSpace and list it at Amazon. Yeah, that would be fun." What the bloody hell is WRONG with me?

Idea Overload

Posted inRandom Musings, Writing
So here's a problem I still haven't learned to cope with: Idea overload. Whatever I happen to be working on at any given moment, well, I'd rather be working on the next thing instead. Sometimes even the thing after that thing. There are always too many projects that appeal to me; too many stories I want to write; too many things I want to try. At times it's a little overwhelming. It's overwhelming RIGHT NOW because there are a solid half-dozen big writing projects I'd like to be working on ... but I don't, because attempting that juggling act is…