Head Up

Jan 16, 2022 6:21 pm

Butt in chair.

I've been fighting with Faded Luck and had a beta reader look over it. And they pointed out some major issues. So I need to rewrite the first two chapters and try to make it more interesting to everyone.

I'm frustrated but relieved as I can see how to redo it, but that is at least four thousand words that just got trashed and I'm already taking forever. I will do this though. Hence why my head is up and my butt is in the chair while my fingers are typing away. Though I really wish typing burned more calories.

Either way I am going to get my words down and meet deadlines and get more stories out this year. My sanity level while I do that might be questionable. Let's just say to all of you that have teenagers - I'm sorry. I feel like I am getting my karmic retribution from being a pain in the butt as a teenager.

But while that may be I have stories to write so you have stories to read. While you are waiting you can check these out.

Declan Finn writes no holds barred complicated galaxy spanning sci-fi. If you like Doc Savage and Tom Clancy, you'll be grabbed by this battle between Earth and those that wish to destroy it. Only White Ops stands between us and them.

If you want the aliens a bit more in your face, try Hive. When you think the enemy is beaten, you might be wrong.

I'm looking at my to do list today, so that means I have a long list and so much I've let slide. Not enough energy in the day I swear. The story this week is an old one, but I still love it.

Waiting

“It’s about time you got here.”

EXCUSE ME? Death blinked at the old woman staring at him, her arms crossed and a look of relief on her face.

“You heard me. I doubt you have any issues hearing anything.”

Death tilted in his head in acceptance, he did hear everything, but this reaction still was not one he got often.

“Oh take a seat, I suspect you aren’t grabbing me for another few minutes. The pain in my arm just started.”

YOU ARE GLAD TO SEE ME? Death sat in the chair she had waved at, curious. Usually the only people who welcomed him were terminal patients tired of the pain. But this woman wasn’t terminal. She lived on her own and was sitting in the chair a smile on her face, as if seeing an old friend.

“Glad? I’ve been waiting a long time for you.” Amusement echoed in her voice as she rubbed her arm.

WHY?

This time she looked puzzled. “Why? How could I not? I waited for you in my forties when you took my husband. I waited for you in my fifties when you took my parents, and then I waited for you in my sixties when you took my brother. I had started to think I was cursed to always watch you take others.” Another sudden smile flitted across her face. “Always the mourner, never the mourned.”

AH He fell silent looking at her, color had started to leach from her face. IS YOUR FAITH THAT GREAT? THAT YOU LOOK FORWARD TO HEAVEN?

“Were you the one who took Marcus Aurelius?”

The question confused him, but name sounded familiar and he had to think. NO, HE WAS LONG BEFORE I STARTED. MY PREDECESSOR TOOK HIM.

“I always thought he had the best of it. That if you live a good life you’re covered. I’m not perfect but have few regrets about anything I did. If any of the gods exist, and they are just, then those I love will be there waiting for me. If there are no gods, I lived a good life, one I am not ashamed of.”

Death looked at her, tilting his head as he watched pain start to pull at her smile.

AND IF THEY ARE CRUEL GODS?

She laughed, a true honest laugh, bright eyes looking at him even as she winced. “Then I expect my husband and my brother have made their existences a living hell, and they’d better be ready for more, because the cavalry is coming and I’ve got a few bones to pick with them.”

Laughter bubbled up inside Death, something he hadn’t felt in a long time. So many people fought and begged him not to take them, or they just wanted respite from pain. Here was a warrior that walked into the darkness not knowing what was there, and facing it with joy. All in the frame of a frail old woman, with laughter in her eyes.

THEN LET US GO AND SEE WHERE YOUR GOOD LIFE TAKES YOU.

He reached out a hand, expecting her to flinch at the bony digits, but she took it, standing and shedding her body like soiled clothes.

“Yes, let’s go. I’m ready to see what happens next.”

Death stayed silent, but smiled as she walked beside him into the dark.

Enjoy and remember strive toward your goals. I know I am and thanks to all of you I'm a bit closer.

Mel

Schedule 2022:

Feb 9-13: Superstars Writing Conference - Colorado Springs, CO

April 23: Atlanta Self Publishing Conference - Atlanta, GA

June 17-19: LibertyCon - Chattanooga, TN

Dragoncon is still unknown But I've applied!

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