This morning, early, roughly at the new moon, I finished a draft of book three. The working title is The Horned God, but that’s only a working title. (There’s a lot of other Horned Gods out there.)
I’m exhausted and proud. I think I’m going to take a bath and let the sense of fulfillment sink in.
My first editor is a demanding one. But I’ve been writing! I’m nearly done with a draft of the third book!
I’m in the middle of the third book, in the belly of the beast. This one is a little harder to write than the last one, more like The Queen of Heaven’s Daughter. I’m breaking new ground. I hope to make a push over the holidays.
The ancient Celts celebrated Samhain as a weeklong holiday, when ghosts walked and no one made war. I figure I’m just outside the orb of Samhain now—late harvest, time to cull the herds, though around here we only get the occasional mouse.
Potato, who as we see is practicing to trick-or-treat as Queen of the Fey, is looking through my costume supplies to see which fairy wings suit her best. Although she’s not above gnawing on the wings either.
As for me, I did my reading (of The Deer Stalker, in Seattle), and attracted a small crowd, and people bought books, and that was good!
Now I’m trying to figure out the next book. I’m sort of ruminating on or rolling around in research about ancient Sumer (again)—sort of like Potato and her wings.
Today on my apple tree I noticed a blossom, completely out of season—apple trees bloom in May. The tree’s trying to make up for bears eating all the apples early.
It seems like we have a lot of bears this year. The bears themselves are out of their usual place, perhaps, pushed by a couple of fire seasons destroying habitat east of me. (I’m crossing my fingers that there’ll be no fires this year.)
The world is off-balance now, to say the least. I’m coming into writing book three, which will have a future thread in it. In some ways, it’s been the easiest book yet to start—I have some settings and characters established. In others, it’s been the hardest, because I’m facing the future. Our future, our human future, and the future of the planet.
Not everyone feels this way, but I still have hope.
For Seattle-area folks, a reminder: There’s a Deer Stalker book-signing party September 14. Check my Facebook page for details!
This overcast August day, it feels like early fall. I’ve been taking a break in my backyard. Behind the toolshed, it looks very Northwest, with Doug fir and here a baby cedar.
I’ve been relatively quiet lately. It’s been a hard time, a time of reorganization, separating things out as my ex-partner moves on. We’re still friendly, even in a way still partners. He’s still my emergency contact. And yet, as lovers we’re done.
I promise I will write more soon about finally releasing the second book … but here it is. You can find it on Amazon in print and ebook form: https://amzn.to/2T2u2nR
Here is my beautiful Onion girl, and my to-do list. I’ve just finished proofing the galleys for the second book. I’m trying to find the right time for a book release party.
It looks as if The Deer Stalker should be available around the first of August. I’ll provide details when everything’s for-sure locked in.
I won’t lie — I’m pretty excited.
