Better Never Than Late

Two months without an update? We suck; sorry.

There is some good news: I’ve completed the sequel to “The Fourth Law.” I’m in the midst of editing and such right now. A bit longer than the first book; understandable as the focus has gone from two main characters to…well… several more.

Besides putting in chapter breaks and other coding matters, I’ve the little issue of thinking up a name for the thing. “The Fourther Law” sounds stupid, and I didn’t come up with a Fifth Law (although ‘remember to tip your bartenders and waitresses’ is a sensible one). Maybe a free copy for whomever comes up with a good title?

My objective was to have at least a Kindle version released by Easter, two weeks from today. I’m much older at formatting that I was back in December, so I just might make that.

I’ve put an excerpt below the fold. No spoiler warnings, per se, but if you’ve not read my first book, there are a few things revealed. Cheerio!

Continue reading →

The Fourth Law… coming soon

characters, New Ideas, writing

My most esteemed colleague has completed the final cover art for my novel. Good enough for the critical eye of my wife, good enough for me!

There may be one last minor textual revision… the Gods of Copybook Headings tend to hide where you least expect them. However, I’m pleased enough with this version. Has anyone every really read the first Harry Potter book? Will I be called a racist if I pointed out that it was awful? Grand ideas, but awful writing. I feel that about my own work; it reads like the Gospel of Mark: bare bones, no description, aching for more. That’s what happens when you’re weaned on Visual Novels with a great artist to show your images. I shall try to older next time.

Next time? Of course I’m writing another! What’s the point of a cliff-hanger if you don’t jump off of it! Callie and her little son, Gary, with his most peculiar friend. Lily, android Fausta, and Orloff setting out across country (yes; the horse’s name is Clyde) to find her. The secret society of lightning; the open society of machine civilization… where’s the world going? won’t somebody tell me? are we all one?

Somewhere, back on Lily’s Path, in her tee shirt covered by blue jean overalls, Henge thinks… “I’ll help them…big sisters; big brother!” Who will play this wild card? Missiles fall in Memphis; a reactor fail?

I’ve no idea.

NaNoWriMo 3

science fiction, writing

47.5k words…one and a half days to go. Trying to get it done today. Will need a week of editing, but done story is almost done.

Direxions 2 – Rod & Vanessa

characters, introductions, New Ideas

[We originally conceived of “Hot Rod” as a one-off hentai (or, 18+) manga for release on something like the Fakku website. Then, of course, I started writing…and writing. Suddenly, I’d enough material for at least three volumes; as is my wont, I just kept finding out more interesting things about these new characters! About this time, I attended a couple of panels about ‘Webcomics’ at a local animecon. If we released two pages a week…well, then I’ve already enough material for months! I can stop now!

Of course, I didn’t. I wanted to know more about Rod Blaine, 19-years old, seven months away from getting his welding certificate from a local vo-tech at a little city in the US Midwest. He lives with his step-mother and step-sister…how’d that come about? I wondered how an 18-year old girl like Vanessa Holt developed such an aggressive personality…because she’s only 4’10”? Able to swing from a punching-rage to cuddly in seconds…why?

Mr. Deonne is preoccupied with some other projects right now, so I see this as an exercise for me to re-learn how to write in a non-visual novel style.

The excerpt below the fold takes place in the Spring on a late Saturday morning. After their karate class, Vanessa wanted to see Rod’s place, so she followed him home. Note that this is likely PG…although I’d no problems if one of my kids read it]

Meet Rod and Vanessa!

Direxions 1 – Aya Donne

characters

[Aya is a secondary character from Aris’ and Aoi’s paths in OTChi Kocchi. A bit like kudzu, she plays a very minor role against Aris, but grows to dominate the last Act of Aoi’s path. She is featured in both planned sequels in the OKaverse: “Aoi’s Gone!” and “Through the Iris.” While looking to be an Celtic girl of about 12-years old…she’s not.

This excerpt is from “Aoi’s Gone,” following Shirou’s efforts to find out what’s happened to Aoi and how to get her back. This is from my notes, so it’s not quite in either RenPy code nor normative story writing.]

Get to know Aya!