Approaching Holidays and Deep Thoughts

In all likelihood, this will be more like ‘rambling thoughts’ than deep thoughts. But it has been too long since I updated the blog and a lot has happened… in my head.

The first thing, of course, is that NaNoWriMo ended on the 30th of November and I completed with a record-setting (for me) 155,389 words written in the month of November. I’m claiming that is the reason that I haven’t had time to post in the blog.

But the story wasn’t over. I was writing two different books in November and progressing rapidly with both. But at the end of the month, I still had another chapter of Wild Woods to draft and it was the all-important conclusion to the saga. I wrote an additional 11,000 words on that story and concluded it on December 4. Wild Woods is now in the hands of my capable editors who will undoubtedly recommend cutting 20% of the 115,000-word saga before I even start rewriting in January. But, in general, I’m happy with the story. I am still filled with high expectations. I plan to release Wild Woods in June, a year after City Limits. That means I will begin serializing the story sometime in May.

The second story I was working on is the new Devon Layne serial, Double Take. That draft was underway before I started adding to it in November but I had the goal of finishing what I’ve referred to as Book 1 of the tale. I was a long way from finished. So, I’ve added an additional 35,000 words to that serial and finished my goal on December 12. This story, too, has gone of to my editors (a different set) and will start posting as a serial in January. This part of the story (Book 1) is 163,781 words and 47 chapters. Once it starts posting at a chapter every three days, it won’t finish until Memorial Day, by which time I hope to have Book 2 finished.

I’ve found this near-perfect piece of art for the cover, but have been unable to locate the artist. I’d love to license it, but will probably end up creating my own eventually.

I celebrated the conclusion of these books in the most logical way possible. I grilled a steak and vegetables. Even had a little tub of coleslaw.

I think I need bigger plates.

I found out that my friend and cigar-maker, Jeremy Wolfson, was holding an event in Phoenix, just 150 miles away from me. So I packed up and headed to 21◦ Cigar. There I had multiple pleasant experiences. First, to meet Jeremy’s lovely new wife, Lizan. And then, by a quirk of the fates, to discover a cousin was in Phoenix for the weekend for a race and to watch a baseball game. We’ve corresponded on and off for twenty years, but it was great to finally meet Mike Everett face-to-face. With his wife, Rachel, we shared family stories and generally caught up on things. It’s great to finally meet Mike after a long period of near misses. He is my first cousin twice removed.

I’m all decorated up for the holidays now, meaning I have a sunscreen with my picture on it and a string of red lights. Nonetheless, it makes for a homey atmosphere and all I need is to buy another patio chair before Quinne comes to visit next week. This is the most holiday decoration I’ve had in five years!

Despite a bit of rain, nights are often perfect for sitting out on the patio with a cigar and a book. It’s a good life.

* * *

And that brings me to the deep thoughts, if you are still with me. Writing Wild Woods really got to me. There are villains and there are heroes. And they are pretty clearly defined, even though the villain has an upright side and is possibly manipulated by a super-villain. He’s still a villain. Despicable. Deplorable. So what happens when the villain drives his car into a raging river in a snowstorm and the hero plunges into the torrent to save him?

Stupid hero. Why not let the villain drown? Why not erase him from the earth? He won’t thank you. He still thinks you are the enemy. He will still sting like the serpent. He will continue to be a villain. It is his nature. Why not let him die?

But nonetheless, the hero saves his life. And the only thing he can say about it is that he wasn’t set on earth as the judge. He had to act according to his own nature, not someone else's.

“If I had let him die, would it have made me a better person?”

That’s the deep thought I’ve had. And I won’t argue whether he was right or wrong. Perhaps you could discover it for yourself.

I hope to have another post before the first of the year featuring some of the exciting adventures that Quinne and I have exploring Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. Now I need to do all the housework that I’ve neglected for two months. Dishes, laundry, vacuuming, and general habitability before my daughter gets here. And cleaning the bathroom! Ick!