Might be a bit of an uninspiring title, but that's about the size of it for this post. Stuff going on.
Stuff one, and possibly most important, is that the release on Amazon of The Invisible Hand has been delayed. I'd intended that the book go live there early October and arranged everything accordingly. But my cover isn't done yet, and though I don't mind so much THI appearing elsewhere (B&N, Apple, Sony & Smashwords) with second-rate covers, I don't feel I can release into the biggest market without good work on the cover. Why isn't the cover ready? Well, it seems as simple as this - the artist has more important work to do, so I'm suddenly relegated to tail end charlie and we all have to wait.
Related to the above, there is my change of heart regarding Prison of Power. If you have read TLKA you may remember my own harsh words on that book at the end of it - in short, I don't recommend it. Well, I recently noticed that on the Smashwords page there are a few 'Facebook likes' and I realize that I have been guilty of hubris; the truth is, it doesn't matter what I think. If readers like it - and it seems that many do - then I should make it available, and if there is demand, I should also support it with another book. So, I also decided to release Prison of Power to Amazon in December, for which I would need another cover. Told you this was related to the above...
So... covers. What to do? Luckily I know an artist (which begs the question, why didn't I use him in the first place? but I'm not going to get into that right now) who has stepped into the breech and is working on covers (yes, two) for Prison of Power. The first is a quick interim cover so that I can release Prison of Power now - a month after I should have release The Invisible Hand; then a maybe better cover to replace it (though I may change my mind about that if this cover is well received): here's the cover as it is being worked on... maybe you could let me know what you think? I'll put it on the sidebar for a while...
Where was I? Oh, yes. Meeting deadlines - very important if you are a cover designer. Whatever happens next, my relationship with the cover designer for TLKA and TKTTG is compromised. Just like any other supplier in any other business, artists must deliver their goods on time. There are consequences to failing to do so - the consequences to me are clear; sales have tanked because the series isn't supported properly by the release of book three in the series, which would have appeared in New Releases for a month and been visible to attract new readers to the series.
Fortunately, as I said, I know another artist. I'll keep you posted.
Other stuff going on: well, I'm being nagged (gently and kindly, I should say) about book four in the series. That work is progressing; I have the shape of it and the first chunk is good. I don't want to say too much about it but, as usual, it is unlikely to be what is expected. Should be good, though.
At the same time - and this just happens sometimes - another story idea has reached its saturation point in my mind and has taken off. A Science Fiction novel that has been kicking around in the back of my mind for a while. I'm trying not to work on it too much but the characters are insistent. Other stories are also lurking - and it's times like this I think about publishers, whose sole function as far as I can see is to take care of the details so I can concentrate on the writing.
And that's about it for news.
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
It's Just A Ride
I did not mean to forget - and who could? - Bill Hicks. Remember: it's just a ride.
Sometimes I forget. It happens. This is what I forget: I am responsible only for what I do. I am in control only of what I do. My perceptions and understandings belong only to me; no one else can have them because no one else can have the perspective from which they were viewed, the context in which they were created. I am no more or less unique than you. We are built that way, each similar but each perfectly unique.
And that is both very cool and utterly amazing. "Here's Tom with the weather."
It's just a ride.
Sometimes I get sucked in, by context or circumstance, hope or desire; drawn into the belief that any of it matters. It does not matter that I put words in sequence; it does not matter that they are read, enjoyed, disdained, misunderstood, misinterpreted, understood, re-interpreted, marked up, marked down, starred thusly or thatly, sold, stolen, given, received, read or discarded. They are words on an electron and nothing more; as transient and ephemeral as your or I or those who we have loved or not had the chance to love and are now gone. Life is what it is; it isn't some other thing.
It's just a ride.
We are made of earth and dead stars, and if that understanding is seen as a curse or a blessing is no less or more our choice individually than any other choice of perception or understanding that we make. That. We. make.
It's just a ride.
I've been rich and I've been poor and I would love to say that rich is better. But the truth is that the deepest and most profound settlements with existence have come to me when I had nothing, and I don't mean less than nothing because to be able to sustain less than nothing means there is a chance of having something again and that is known. Having nothing is the worst - and yet when I had nothing I found the most profound and deepest contact with Life. Having nothing will give you gifts you can't imagine if you are unlucky enough never to have experienced it. Joy of a breath sucked into your lungs, a scent on a breeze, a memory of a loved one perceived in a new context, knowing that the tree you touch is as alive as you and exactly as meaningful in it's existence - not more or less, but kin, and if you are lucky enough to feel the acknowledgement of that kinship in that moment then there is no greater gift or understanding to be had.
It's just a ride.
Of course the rebuttal to the 'it's just a ride' philosophy is clear to those who have seen or experienced how deeply ugly life can be. I have, but have no wish here to trade scars; there are always worse scars to see. I've heard someone say to me 'of course it's easy for you' and looked askance at another and thought the same. I know how it is. I've heard stories that made my toes curl and my soul wither; made me roll down my sleeves to hide my scars as being neither deep nor wide enough to count for anything. I've seen a life cut short, looked into the personal hell of a friends eyes and counted my own pain as nothing in comparison. Context is everything.
It's Just A Ride
Objective, subjective, and personal truths come and go, wax and wane, neap and the other thing. And sometimes you catch yourself giving a damn about something so deeply trivial that it shames the hell out of you if you notice. So. I noticed. For a second there, or maybe longer than a second and I'm just being generous to myself, I gave a damn about something that means nothing. I spent the precious, finite moments of my life considering trivia as though it mattered in any way shape or form to anything that ever lived or will live. Well, it's okay now. I remembered. It's life, and only that. It comes unbidden and goes unwelcome, means everything and nothing, and no single aspect of it is more worthy of attention than any other. I remembered:
It's just a ride.
Sometimes I forget. It happens. This is what I forget: I am responsible only for what I do. I am in control only of what I do. My perceptions and understandings belong only to me; no one else can have them because no one else can have the perspective from which they were viewed, the context in which they were created. I am no more or less unique than you. We are built that way, each similar but each perfectly unique.
And that is both very cool and utterly amazing. "Here's Tom with the weather."
It's just a ride.
Sometimes I get sucked in, by context or circumstance, hope or desire; drawn into the belief that any of it matters. It does not matter that I put words in sequence; it does not matter that they are read, enjoyed, disdained, misunderstood, misinterpreted, understood, re-interpreted, marked up, marked down, starred thusly or thatly, sold, stolen, given, received, read or discarded. They are words on an electron and nothing more; as transient and ephemeral as your or I or those who we have loved or not had the chance to love and are now gone. Life is what it is; it isn't some other thing.
It's just a ride.
We are made of earth and dead stars, and if that understanding is seen as a curse or a blessing is no less or more our choice individually than any other choice of perception or understanding that we make. That. We. make.
It's just a ride.
I've been rich and I've been poor and I would love to say that rich is better. But the truth is that the deepest and most profound settlements with existence have come to me when I had nothing, and I don't mean less than nothing because to be able to sustain less than nothing means there is a chance of having something again and that is known. Having nothing is the worst - and yet when I had nothing I found the most profound and deepest contact with Life. Having nothing will give you gifts you can't imagine if you are unlucky enough never to have experienced it. Joy of a breath sucked into your lungs, a scent on a breeze, a memory of a loved one perceived in a new context, knowing that the tree you touch is as alive as you and exactly as meaningful in it's existence - not more or less, but kin, and if you are lucky enough to feel the acknowledgement of that kinship in that moment then there is no greater gift or understanding to be had.
It's just a ride.
Of course the rebuttal to the 'it's just a ride' philosophy is clear to those who have seen or experienced how deeply ugly life can be. I have, but have no wish here to trade scars; there are always worse scars to see. I've heard someone say to me 'of course it's easy for you' and looked askance at another and thought the same. I know how it is. I've heard stories that made my toes curl and my soul wither; made me roll down my sleeves to hide my scars as being neither deep nor wide enough to count for anything. I've seen a life cut short, looked into the personal hell of a friends eyes and counted my own pain as nothing in comparison. Context is everything.
It's Just A Ride
Objective, subjective, and personal truths come and go, wax and wane, neap and the other thing. And sometimes you catch yourself giving a damn about something so deeply trivial that it shames the hell out of you if you notice. So. I noticed. For a second there, or maybe longer than a second and I'm just being generous to myself, I gave a damn about something that means nothing. I spent the precious, finite moments of my life considering trivia as though it mattered in any way shape or form to anything that ever lived or will live. Well, it's okay now. I remembered. It's life, and only that. It comes unbidden and goes unwelcome, means everything and nothing, and no single aspect of it is more worthy of attention than any other. I remembered:
It's just a ride.
Sunday, 25 September 2011
Answers... Sort Of
For some reason, and I think it's a software issue with my own machine, I've lost the ability to comment. No idea what that is, but it's pretty much everywhere. Some kind of software issue that will get dealt with as soon as that happens. So, if you look at the 'Yes' entry you will find a comment by The Deposed King, which is the one I'm responding to here, because the points made are interesting to me and I can't do it any other way right now. But I'll start with something else, because I'm like that.
Will Sumto ever catch a break?
It's a good question but the answer, the real answer, is complicated. I answered that question by saying that Sumto is suffering from a well understood problem - he has knowledge but lacks experience. There is a saying that the difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference, but in practice there is. And that's true, as far as it goes. It's also true that I'm breaking rules, playing games with story structure, because its fun and I think I can just about pull it off. It is also true that he does, in some ways, gain from his exploits; he is gaining experience. There is something else he is gaining that I can't talk about but should become apparent as the series progresses.
Speaking of the story progressing... I originally intended to dip in and out of Sumto's life at roughly two year intervals until I was done with a specific story arc. That hasn't happened. I now intend to do blocks of five books and skip larger numbers of years in between. That may not happen either.
Everything that happens is filtered through Sumto's senses and perceptions; so, when someone is off-stage for a while, Sumto has no idea what they are doing. He can assume, suppose, or guess, or think that he knows... but he really doesn't until their actions once more impact on him directly, or he hears word of them. Some of those events, motives, actions and consequences are going to have to wait until Sumto gets back to the city.
There will doubtless be a few surprises... and some of those surprises will involve the trials, which is about all I can say about that. Oh, and Jocasta, yeah - that's pretty much the way it was going to go, but someone off stage surprised me with a better idea. And yes, you were 100% correct; truth spells can be circumvented by subtle phrasing of answers, and what the speaker believes to be truth. And other things.
I'm hoping to have All The... book IV, I mean, ready by the end of the year. It's looking good for that but no promises.
Will Sumto ever catch a break?
It's a good question but the answer, the real answer, is complicated. I answered that question by saying that Sumto is suffering from a well understood problem - he has knowledge but lacks experience. There is a saying that the difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference, but in practice there is. And that's true, as far as it goes. It's also true that I'm breaking rules, playing games with story structure, because its fun and I think I can just about pull it off. It is also true that he does, in some ways, gain from his exploits; he is gaining experience. There is something else he is gaining that I can't talk about but should become apparent as the series progresses.
Speaking of the story progressing... I originally intended to dip in and out of Sumto's life at roughly two year intervals until I was done with a specific story arc. That hasn't happened. I now intend to do blocks of five books and skip larger numbers of years in between. That may not happen either.
Everything that happens is filtered through Sumto's senses and perceptions; so, when someone is off-stage for a while, Sumto has no idea what they are doing. He can assume, suppose, or guess, or think that he knows... but he really doesn't until their actions once more impact on him directly, or he hears word of them. Some of those events, motives, actions and consequences are going to have to wait until Sumto gets back to the city.
There will doubtless be a few surprises... and some of those surprises will involve the trials, which is about all I can say about that. Oh, and Jocasta, yeah - that's pretty much the way it was going to go, but someone off stage surprised me with a better idea. And yes, you were 100% correct; truth spells can be circumvented by subtle phrasing of answers, and what the speaker believes to be truth. And other things.
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Yes
Yes is my favorite word in the language. I like the way it sounds and I like to say it and hear it said. it's a nice word, is yes.
This particular yes is in response to a question that was raised on kindleboards. I had to think about it a bit, and my first response was no. But I don't like no, so I changed it.
The question was, more or less, has your writing process changes since you published. And my first, knee jerk reaction was: No. It can't. It's like an internal combustion engine, it functions because all the parts have a purpose and work together and if you change bits it stops working - like the car made out of confectionery in an advert I saw once; that car won't run, guaranteed.
But, here's the thing. I noticed a review for The Key To The Grave that raised the question of Sheo and other characters who were important to Sumto in The Last King's Amulet. What happened to them? Well, I know what they are doing and where they are and how their actions will effect Sumto later. Especially one of them. But, as this is a first person story and everything gets filtered through Sumto' direct experience, we don't know anything about that yet. He doesn't, we can't. Then I turned back to thinking about book 4 in the series, and I know what happens and how it ends and what happens next. Book 5 is vague in my mind but well enough shaped that I'm pretty sure Sheo (and the others) won't appear there. They won't turn up again until book 6... and that's too long a time to leave it. So, thanks to the reviewer, I found a way to re-connect that situation sooner, in book 4, so that the Readers don't wonder 'who the heck are these guys' when things start to happen because of them.
So, I get to use my favorite word in the language. Yes. My writing (or at least my thinking) process has been effected since I published. Readers leaving comments has changed that process somewhat, and I'm glad of it, and thank you for it.
This particular yes is in response to a question that was raised on kindleboards. I had to think about it a bit, and my first response was no. But I don't like no, so I changed it.
The question was, more or less, has your writing process changes since you published. And my first, knee jerk reaction was: No. It can't. It's like an internal combustion engine, it functions because all the parts have a purpose and work together and if you change bits it stops working - like the car made out of confectionery in an advert I saw once; that car won't run, guaranteed.
But, here's the thing. I noticed a review for The Key To The Grave that raised the question of Sheo and other characters who were important to Sumto in The Last King's Amulet. What happened to them? Well, I know what they are doing and where they are and how their actions will effect Sumto later. Especially one of them. But, as this is a first person story and everything gets filtered through Sumto' direct experience, we don't know anything about that yet. He doesn't, we can't. Then I turned back to thinking about book 4 in the series, and I know what happens and how it ends and what happens next. Book 5 is vague in my mind but well enough shaped that I'm pretty sure Sheo (and the others) won't appear there. They won't turn up again until book 6... and that's too long a time to leave it. So, thanks to the reviewer, I found a way to re-connect that situation sooner, in book 4, so that the Readers don't wonder 'who the heck are these guys' when things start to happen because of them.
So, I get to use my favorite word in the language. Yes. My writing (or at least my thinking) process has been effected since I published. Readers leaving comments has changed that process somewhat, and I'm glad of it, and thank you for it.
Friday, 9 September 2011
Comedy Heroes
I'm sure I mentioned, at some time or another, that I have a soft spot for stand up comedians.
With that in mind, I'd like to say that I'm very happy to see Dave Chappelle back on duty. Should appear right below here if I have this thing working right. If you don;t know who Dave Chapelle is, treat yourself. It's all good.
With that in mind, I'd like to say that I'm very happy to see Dave Chappelle back on duty. Should appear right below here if I have this thing working right. If you don;t know who Dave Chapelle is, treat yourself. It's all good.
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
Unwritten Things
Of course, there are things that you don't write. Thoughts mid flow that end up on the mental cutting-room floor. Sometimes they make you smile, or laugh, and sometimes you wish that the work in progress could be tweaked to be the kind of book where they would fit. Sometimes not, though.
Early in book four, Sumto is sitting in a new and crudely built inn and listening to a song. After a bit he becomes aware that the song is about him:- 'honored one day, reviled the next (I think and write as a note just ahead of the paragraph that will stand), and then the next line of the song pops into my head:- 'A patrons' lot is not a happy one,' from whichever Gilbert and Sullivan show it was.
Well, it made me smile and shake my head and smile some more. Mostly at my own barking mad brain, which should be more disciplined by now.
So, anyway. There are things that you don't write. Thoughts that belong on the cutting-room floor. They also ruin your train of thought, unfortunately, and make you take a break. Sometimes a coffee will do it, sometimes a walk, sometimes it's needful to give up for the day as the proper frame of mind just won't re-establish itself until there has been sleep.
The coffee didn't cut it, so I'm off for a walk despite the rain. I hope it's a short walk, as the story is generally progressing and developing the way I hoped.
Sunday, 4 September 2011
Available Amazon
The new cover art for The Key To The Grave came today, so I uploaded to amazon and TKTTG should be available there in short order.
I have, sorry to report, upped the price to $1.99 for now. When The Invisible Hand comes live on Amazon, sometime soonish(ish), then I will up the price of both to $2.99 for the simple reason that I must secure the 70% royalty to have any hope of making a living. I need to make a living so that I can up production of what should (Readers willing) be a fairly long series of books. If I'm to have any realistic hope of finishing the series as originally envisioned - and I really want to do that - then I'm going to have to write at least two a year.
The fourth in the series (I have a title but I'm keeping it to myself for now) is coming along nicely now - looks fun, a little more lighthearted than the last one in many ways. And where it isn't... well, I'm sure Sumto can take it.
I might, just might, get this one done before the end of the year.
That's it for news. Back to work now.
I have, sorry to report, upped the price to $1.99 for now. When The Invisible Hand comes live on Amazon, sometime soonish(ish), then I will up the price of both to $2.99 for the simple reason that I must secure the 70% royalty to have any hope of making a living. I need to make a living so that I can up production of what should (Readers willing) be a fairly long series of books. If I'm to have any realistic hope of finishing the series as originally envisioned - and I really want to do that - then I'm going to have to write at least two a year.
The fourth in the series (I have a title but I'm keeping it to myself for now) is coming along nicely now - looks fun, a little more lighthearted than the last one in many ways. And where it isn't... well, I'm sure Sumto can take it.
I might, just might, get this one done before the end of the year.
That's it for news. Back to work now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)