Things around here have been deader than the catacombs on a weeknight when Starling's on vacation, but subtle plans are here again. Here's a little catchup news about what's going on in Valnon (specifically) and with me (in general). Songbirds of Valnon: Dawn's Requiem Book Two has moved from me writing in random story chunks hither and yon (the most I could manage in the last year) to actual linear progress. The book will be done when it's done, but I really really really hope it'll be done this year. It's been two years, after all, and Willim's term as Dove of Valnon is over. (But really, does one ever stop being Dove of Valnon? Somehow I doubt it.) I know it's been a long wait, but hey, at least you aren't waiting like George RR Martin fans are waiting! (Unless you are also AsoIaF fans, in which case, good luck with that. I hear the show is good? ^_^; ) Evensong's Heir - Second edition! In getting all my notes together for the next book, the errors and omissions of the previous one stick out to me a little more. It was published in a rush, it was my first go at this, and there are some basic quality and continuity issues. I need a consistent base from which to write a sequel (as opposed to noveling, where you just have to keep it together for one book), and as the canon world of Valnon expands, Evensong's Heir needs a bit of a cleanup. Don't worry, I'm not talking about major scene additions or retractions or character changes. I'm talking about things like Grace instead of Grayce and Willim lunching when he should launch and Jerdon's house being in the wrong damn place. So before book two is published, expect to see a second edition of book one! Features will include a new cover* and possibly a character list! Let me know what you'd like to see. (I was a bit fretty over this, thinking PUBLISHED IS PUBLISHED but then I thought about JRRT just mowing through the Hobbit to write LotR, and I got over it real fast.) *RE: COVER-- Don't get me wrong, I love my cover and I love Bethany's beautiful artwork . But I'm looking at two more Valnon books, minimum, not to mention any non-Songbird books and series. And the plain economics of it is that I can't really afford to commission bespoke art for all my covers, and I want the books to look consistent. Indiepub authors are putting out some amazing, professional-looking stuff with new cover tools and very little investment, and as I hope to unhook myself from the day job in the next couple of years, I need to take a harder look at my publishing costs v/s my income. Of course, I still have a half box of first edition paperbacks, so expect those to go on deep sale sometime in the future! (Collector's items?) Non-Songbird Projects! The more books I have out, the better I can support myself as a writer, and I've got a couple of books anywhere from 75% to 98% finished that aren't making me a single cent hiding in my thumb drive's file folders. Plus, nobody gets to read them, and I'd really like for you to know those people and places as well as you know Valnon. While they won't take priority over SoV2, I'm planning to have one of those stand-alone stories in print before the end of the year. It depends on how the book two progress goes. Convention Appearances! While still in the early stages, I'm hoping to have a table with books and character goods at least one convention this year. It would be after the release of Dawn's Requiem, at least, but the more books I have to flog, the better. This is a pretty uncertain thing, because these days to get in an art alley you have to go through some kind of Hyrule-esque puzzle dungeon and there are certain required blood sacrifices, but it's still an item on the blotter. Plus with places like Zap! Creatives making amazing products for indie comics and writers, the day may come when you can load your backpack with shippy charms of my characters and buy sticker sheets you will hoard and NEVER USE. Me I'm turning forty this year, and I'm not very happy about it. I'm still recovering from foot surgery so there's a lot of pain still-- which doesn't help with the feeling old thing, as it's been a year since I could get about and move like I want. My Granny B died this past November; she was my last surviving grandparent, and I'm still having a whole lot of trouble with her loss, with the inevitability of age and death, with the idea of that little house on Jellico Creek sitting empty. I have both intermittent depression and an anxiety disorder, and both those things circle me in times of weakness, and play hell with my creative output. But I am okay. I'm trying to keep my head up. I'm trying to write through it instead of just giving up, and it's not like those themes don't go with the next book. Things are getting better, though some days I don't manage to do more than lie on the couch and watch anime and blow all my money on bourbon and fountain pens. But! Those days are rarer than they used to be, and I'll take that as progress. I've also learned that social media in general is just grade-a jet fuel for my anxiety, so I've been dialing back my presence a whole lot. The good part is that usually means I'm being more productive. So if I'm quiet, or away, don't think I've given up on Valnon. If anything, it means I'm just warming up. I hope you'll all keep singing along. xoxox LSB
