The Next Six Months
Jun 16, 2024 3:55 pm
What my goals are - books!
This year hasn't been too bad writing wise. As of this morning my word count is at 261,443 words for this year. I'd be happier if I was already over 300k but that is't bad. What it means is more books. Part one of the epic fantasy is being edited by me and it is better than I thought or at least I'm not bored reading it. There are some character holes I'd like to fix, but over all I'm almost impressed. The Urban Fantasy trilogy is getting so twisty you're going to love it. Talk about never knowing what comes next.
I bought new art and hung it and when the current stuff is written, this will be my next trilogy. Take a look.
Aren't those amazing? They are by Madolyn Locke and we've already talked about licensing them for covers, so once I figure out the stories that will be my next series. But next year at the earliest. I have six books to finish this year before I do anything besides short stories.
Speaking of which I'm kind of proud of some of them I've written. One is in United We Stand anthology called "Don't Steal" and it is a powerful gut punch. The other is in Of Wizards and Wolves and is called of "Of Wolves and Wives" and that one also makes me cry every time I read it. If you see me in person I usually have that anthology with me, but I've only got three left. It is amazing overall however as the stories were submitted for a memorial anthology for David Farland.
I have Libertycon this coming weekend, then I get to focus on writing until Dragoncon - though looks like I'll have some fun for my birthday.
The narrator for No Choice has done the first 17 chapters, so it is coming along. This means maybe by the end of July that will be available for you to purchase. I'm excited.
Book Recommendations!
I love children being able to read books that change their lives and we all know how important reading is. Katie Cross and Kaley Mills have a new kickstarter going for Merrick the Master. This is the same artist that did Bianca the Brave and it is wonderful! One of the best backing levels is the one that puts it in libraries. If you want one for your kids, grandkids, or even yourself (I don't judge books are amazing) check out this kickstarter.
This is a story of a boy who learns that not everything good is a result of power and might. Sometimes one must learn to slow the mind, calm the breath and patiently wait for the exact right moment.
Seriously check it out now!
Weekly Micro Story
Selected
{Your safety harness is not fastened.]
How they made a robot voice sound both disapproving and contemptuous at the same time I had no idea. Nor did I really care. That involved thinking and I was done with that. Without saying anything I fastened it.
[Thank you. Your safety is paramount. Please enter your destination.]
I typed in the address trying not to laugh at the comment. My safety was paramount? If that was the case it would refuse to take me here. It would rush me to the nearest space station, enlistment office, maybe beach. Instead the jetcar beeped and went straight up, then forward with a smoothness only machines could manage.
I looked at the other vehicles around me. Some all fancy with custom paint jobs or sleek body mods. Another thing I didn't understand. You couldn't drive your own jetcar, that was via the CARR (Careful Automated Road Router) system, so why spend all the time making it fancy, when no one cared? A swift change of altitude lanes pulled me back from where I was trying to not think.
My destination was on the other side of my territory and we would be there in minutes. Part of me wished for the slow gas driven cars, it would have taken me hours. Granted then I would have worked myself up into a froth by the time I got there, so maybe this was better. I'd only received the notice an hour ago. This gave me no time to really panic.
The decent started and before I could do more than try to clear my eyes of the film of tears that had gathered, the jetcar was pulling up in front of the doors.
[Destination Arrived. You are at the Organ Removal center. Have a good day.] The doors opened and I got out, my body protesting as I moved through the doors. My number had come up and now someone in power needed a part of my body. It was the price you paid to keep the elites alive. After all, they protected us and if you couldn't live for three or four hundred years how could you do long term planning?
If I was lucky they would only need a kidney or an arm. If they needed a heart, well there was a reason most people owned very little. It made it easier for your friends and family to wrap up your life. Face pale I walked in.
"Thank you for your service, citizen. Please come with me." The bright cheerful face of the receptionist greeted me and I followed. There was no use in running. Everyone was tagged at birth. It found best match for any need without having to worry about compatibility. With a hidden sigh I followed knowing I'd never see the sun again.
~*~
Yeah no clue. I jumped between draft, clones, and organ retrieval. Shrugs. Dystopia, what can I say.
Mel
Schedule 2024:
LibertyCon - June 21-23 Chattanooga, TN
DragonCon - Aug 29 - Sept 2 Atlanta, GA
Deep South Con - Oct 11-13th, Helen, GA
Remember find me here:
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If you are on Tiktok, it is kind of working. Nothing impressive posted there yet, but look for @meltodd_writer
