Hey, you guys, it’s been a while.

Here’s a rundown of what’s been happening on my end.

My next novel, Open, is still on track for release this year, and once again, I’m going to self-publish. I haven’t submitted to anyone, nor do I plan to. I’m working on the last edits right now, then one more round of beta reads and a polish run before I make any further moves. It would be a great birthday present to get the publishing done on this, so I should start saving my pennies.

I’ve begun work on my next project, Urban Legend, and challenged myself to have the first draft done by the end of the summer. I’m two chapters in thus far, and I’m going to give it the old college try. The story is an homage to comics I grew up reading, and it’s about a vigilante who may or may not be a serial killer in a mid-sized American city, as well as how the city reacts to its new protector. In my mind, it would be interesting to see how the media would cover a guy who kills criminals, as well as the state of mind of someone who does that. And not like Batman, where the hero is a wealthy playboy who would be squeaky clean if not for this horrible tragedy in his life. I’m talking what if the hero was…

I’m sorry, I’ve said too much. I can only walk it back by saying “flawed.” What if the hero were “flawed?”

I’ve also got a few short stories in the pipe, more on that once they’re finished baking. I know, mixed metaphors. My bad.

I’ve started reading American Gods after watching a single episode of the TV series on Starz. My standard rule is not to read anything that’s been adapted for TV or a movie until I’ve seen the adaptation, but this series is so trippy I had to break the rule. I’m glad I did. The review will be up once I’ve finished, but I can’t imagine saying anything different than what everyone’s been saying since 2001. Similarly, I’m beta reading my friend Thom Carnell’s short story anthology A String of Pearls, and I’ll have a review for that as well when it’s officially released.

So that’s what’s been going on for the last month or so. Next month, I’ll give a new update, maybe even some tentative dates for release and stuff.

Until next time!

#2017 #fiction #goals #Spring #warmweather #shortstories #update #newprojects