Just stopping by

I've had to make some changes. The need for a steady income has grown rather a lot so I have been seriously after a full time job. I am doing the second interview at a company that I really like tomorrow, so hopefully it will all work out shortly.

As for writing, this is a writing job I am hoping to land. But also, I've been re-doing and reworking my synopsis and query letter for The Cabin. Some kindly friends who are authors have been very helpful with these things, so thank you Janette and David.

Anyway, I am nigh unto ready to send out my query to some agents. Some final changes will get me there. I am excited and nervous. So far the response from readers has been very positive. My sister, Emma, says she had cried twice by the time she was in Chapter 5, so that's good.

Anyhoo, I need to go to bed. I'll be back around. Sorry for the delay.

But can you believe the cheek? Yeah, sure those female Chinese gymnasts are 16. Oh for sure! I worked in Asia for over two years, nearly three, and I know a thirteen or fourteen year old when I see her. Pshaw.

carpe somnium

Are you feeling hot, hot, hot?

Judging by thermometers in the area, the temperature in Provo, Utah hit at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit today.

Sheesh. Why oh why do I live in a desert?

Anyway, onto the writing thing. The Cabin is now at over 50,000 words. I've done 2378 words so far today and probably 2000 yesterday. Or so. I think there are likely about 8000 words left. Just a guess.

I have mixed feelings about finishing this book. The final scenes are pretty heavy- not necessarily in tone, but in what they need to accomplish. I need to show this guy's journey accurately, making where he ends up be worth a reader working his way through the book to get to it.

So I'm a little anxious. I almost don't want to finish it, but at the same time, I really do. I feel like I've got some great momentum going and I need to not waste it. I want this book to be good, and I'm willing to do what it takes.

As soon as I can get some feedback on the stuff I'm sending with my query for this book, I will get it sent out. I had wanted to have the queries out already, but there's no rushing excellence.

So that's it pretty much. If you haven't visited my other blog: http://gruntandsweat.blogspot.com you should do so. It's kind of fun and maybe more interesting than this one.

I'll be back.

carpe somnium

First writing group meeting last night...

and it was neat-o. Nobody tried to force romance into anybody else's book, everybody gave advice to Mike about fatherhood, the salsa was excellent, as was all the rest of the food, and I think we all gained from the meeting.

I personally benefitted on a global level for The Cabin. Good thoughts about tone, tightness and characterization came my way. We had Liz, Kristi, Mike, Melinda, Kaye and me in attendance. Hopefully more will show up next time. We've decided on the 16th of August at 10 AM for our next meeting. I have promised to bring some zuchinni (spelling?) and some of my garden blender salsa.

So today while Annemarie, Emma (my lovely sister who is visiting) Benjamin (my newly minted lad) and I were out to lunch and such, the main kickstand on my scooter broke. That will complicate the parking of the wicked little beasty some, so that's nice. :-$ (This is me gritting my teeth...)

On the writing front, I will be condensing the first three chapters of The Cabin into two in order to tighten it up some and get the first few scenes more powerful. I plan to have queries out by the end of the month. Also, I haven't yet heard back from the editorial team at the company that bought The Mars Betrayal, so I will continue to focus my fiction efforts on The Cabin.

The people in my writing group are very impressive writers. I am in august company.

I need to get some work done now, so I will sign off.

By the way, tonight I and my sister will be going to see The Dark Knight. That should be fun.