Twilight of Lanar’ya to be Re-published

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Twilight of Lanar'ya to be Re-published

It’s official. I’ve signed a contract with Rooster and Pig Publishing. They are going to re-publish Twilight of Lanar’ya!

 

In other news, I’m well on the way through Midnight of Lanar’ya. The pace is picking back up and I find myself writing all hours of the day and night. Sometimes I wish that I could just quit my day job and stay home and do nothing but write. However, there are bills to pay so I can’t do that yet. However, I can and am continuing to look for a better job. One with better hours, better benefits. One that won’t leave me so sapped at the end of the day that I feel as if a zombie is gnawing on my brains. I’ve applied at a few places and have started writing really quirky cover letters in hopes of getting some HR drone’s attention. If anyone out there knows of a place that could use a editor/marketer/web writer/web designer, feel free to leave a comment. At this point, I’m willing to consider anything as long as it pays well enough to keep me out of debt.

 

I’m also getting a good bit of attention over at FanFiction.net. It’s funny, you know. When I applied for different jobs at Blizzard in hopes of staying on with them, I constantly heard back that I needed to join FanFiction.net and improve my writing. Now that I’m over there (as G.K. Masterson, of course), I’m hearing almost nothing but compliments. I have theorycrafters trying to figure out what I’m going to do next. Most of the criticism I’ve heard has been very constructive and is helping me to craft a better story. But no one’s told me I suck. No one’s said I was a bad writer. And, to be perfectly frank (hell, I’m two sheets to the wind at the mo’), I sometimes find myself wondering just what it was that the guys at Blizzard found so objectionable. When I’d ask them for specifics, I got the run around.

 

Ah well. Not my problem anymore. I’m getting published again and my publisher loves the stuff I’ve written and the stuff I’ve pitched.

 

Right now, aside from my job, the only thing annoying me is how frequently my stories are waking me up at night. I’m on a veritable spiel. I’m working on five projects at once! Dear God in Heaven! I need a forty-eight hour day! I just don’t have enough time. There’s never enough time!

 

At any rate, I guess I’d best head off to sleep. It’s closing in on 1 am here and I have to work tomorrow. Christ…will these voices in my head let me sleep tonight? Or will I find myself sitting at my computer at 4 am writing feverishly because the stories spinning ’round my brain won’t let me sleep?

Only one way to find out, I suppose.

 

— G.K.

Life Is Getting Interesting

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Life Is Getting Interesting

And I’m still the world’s worst blogger. Of all time.

 

Anyhow, I’m still looking for a better job. One that doesn’t shunt me off into a cube farm (though the guy behind and across from me is hilarious. I don’t think we’ve had an “appropriate” conversation in months. Which is awesome) and give me hours that almost guarantee I’m going to be too brain dead to write when I get home. Benefits would also be really nice. And maybe more than one week’s vacation per annum.

 

I know. I’m asking a lot. And, I’ve been applying left-right-and-center for anything I’m remotely qualified for. Supposedly the economy’s picking back up, right? Well, doesn’t look like it from my end.

 

Still, work continues apace on The Chameleon and I’ve re-re-re-re-re-re-(yougetthepoint)started working on Midnight of Lanar’ya. I’m also putting up Adrift over on FanFiction.net which keeps me fairly entertained. No, I’m not freaking out over Peter Capaldi being the 12th Doctor. I’m kind of glad they didn’t go for another young actor. Matt Smith was great — don’t get me wrong, I’d totally buy him a beer (if he’s old enough to drink it) — but I’ve been missing the Doctor being a man’s man since Eccleston left the role. Never thought I’d ever find a man with short hair attractive until I saw him.

 

*takes an ice cold shower*

 

Don’t you dare judge me.

 

Anyhow, with all the changes in the publishing industry lately, I’ve been doing good to keep abreast of them, keep writing, keep turning up for work, and not misplace my sanity. Again. For the fourth time.

 

And, that’s about it from this front. Better go do something productive. Like point and laugh at people who are saying “Capaldi’s too old to be the Doctor!” Because that’s just how I roll.

 

— G.K.

Tubthumping

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Tubthumping

I get knocked down but I get up again. You’re not ever keep me down.

 

Well, I’m a horrible blogger, aren’t I? I keep saying I’m going to update this site and then I go off and get busy with other things. I’m done making promises because every time I make a promise, I promptly break it. Part of it is that I’m working on three different projects at once: The Chameleon, Midnight of Lanar’ya, and Adrift. The other part of it is that my day job is dragging me down. However, things are really looking up for me after noticing that my friend Vicktor’s publishing company is hiring. A couple of rather lengthy Skype conversations later and I’m on board over there. If everything goes well for the next month, I’ll even be getting paid to edit, help out with recruiting new authors, getting my own novels published through them, and helping out with the online marketing and community building.

 

I’ll still have my day job, of course. Until I can be certain I’ll be bringing in enough from R&P to pay the bills, I’m going to keep the job I have. But should it get to the point where I can go full-time with R&P, I’ll go in a heartbeat.

 

Well, I’m going to get back to working on my three projects. Just wanted to let everyone know what’s going on with me.

 

— G.K.

 

PS — If you don’t get the title of this post, watch this:

 



That Escalated Quickly…

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That Escalated Quickly...

I said I was going to post here more often and then got busy.

But busy in a good way, I suppose. I’ve been working on Midnight of Lanar’ya and a new project I’m calling The Chameleon. I’ve also managed to get over my Doctor Who addiction (somewhat) and found more energy to write and edit. As a matter of fact, I’m editing some stories for people over at Fanfiction.net.

And I’ve been sharing my headspace with a migraine for a week now. Funny how quickly you learn you don’t really need to eat. Or move. Or do much of anything except consider performing head-surgery on yourself. I don’t know if I’m just getting older or if my pain tolerance is building up beyond all human expectations but I’ve seriously been wondering just how many blood vessels I need in my head and whether or not I could survive ripping them out. With a spoon. Because that would be less painful.

All kidding aside, things are actually looking up for me and will be perfect once I can get rid of this damned headache. Can we tell that I’m in the hyper-stage of the aura phase? It’s like being manic depressive only with more physical pain and less mood swings.

Going to go back to writing for now. At least when I’m lost in a story, I can ignore my head trying to compact my skull. And yeah, I’m seriously going to post here more. I’ll probably be putting a call out for beta-readers with strong stomachs in a few weeks.

Getting Back to Basics

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Getting Back to Basics

It’s been ages since I’ve posted an update. I know, I’m horrible. I wish I could say I’d spent a lot of time working on Midnight of Lanar’ya but the truth is I haven’t. Things with my job have been hectic and most evenings, by the time I get home, I just veg out playing video games or watching movies or TV shows (Doctor Who being my current favorite).

However, over the past few weeks, Midnight of Lanar’ya has been demanding my attention again. So, I’ve started getting my notes organized (nearly a year between writing will make you need your notes) and I’m going back through Twilight of Lanar’ya to make certain everything is up-to-date on my notes. I’m hoping to get cracking on this novel again within the next few weeks.

I am also looking for a job that won’t drain me as much as the one I have does. Don’t get me wrong; I work hard and give my all to this job. It’s just that the hours and the environment are not really conducive to me having the energy I need to keep writing in the evenings. On top of that, my sleep apnea has been really acting up meaning I’m almost in a hypnotic state most of the time.

I’ve made a pact with myself to try to post an update here at least a couple of times a week. I’m also going to link to more author sites and try to get to know some other indie fantasy/sci-fi writers to see if they have any advice for balancing a full-time job and a writing schedule.

But, for now, I’m going to get cracking on my notes.

Progressing…Slowly

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Progressing...Slowly

I know, I don’t post here as often as I should. Work on Midnight of Lanar’ya continues apace. I’m working on the second draft and can no longer really give an accurate estimate of where I am in it. There’s so much rewriting that needs to be done it’s not funny. On top of that, my job is slowly sucking my energy dry. I hadn’t realized just how difficult the 10 – 7 shift would be on me but after nine months, I’m realizing it that it’s not something I’ll be able to keep up for years on end.

I am looking for a different job that would give me better hours. I’m also considering putting into practice something that Bill Whittle (one of my heroes) suggested. However, for now, I’m stuck suffering through the hours at work because this is not an economy in which one can afford to quit their job. And, honestly, I believe it’s only going to get worse. Considering that I had to study statistics and records as part of getting my history degree, I’ve known that the media in the US was lying their assess off for years. “Official” unemployment is at 8%. However, they changed how it was calculated after the 2008 elections. If you go by the older methodology, unemployment in the US is at around 15%. The stock market, NASDAQ, Standard and Poor’s, and the Dow are all going down because Congress is too busy playing games to, you know, actually fix the crap they broke back in the 1970s.

So, I’m not too optimistic on finding a new job. I do try to be hopeful but, in the end, I’ve a feeling that things are going to get much, much worse before they start getting better.

If they start getting better.

Final Update Posted

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I’ve just posted the final update to Alayne’s Story over on the WoW RP forum. This week marks the last entry to Alayne’s Story and finishes the story.

Will I ever pick it back up again? I doubt it. It’s possible. If Blizzard releases an expansion worth the effort, I might. But, it’s really doubtful. Alayne’s Story is winding down. The characters have spent years fighting for peace. Now it is time for them to enjoy that peace.

And now, it’s November. That’s National Novel Writers Month. So I’d best get back to work. 🙂

Life’s Been Busy

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Life's Been Busy

Right, I’ve not updated here since July. It’s now November. No, I’m not shrugging off the novel. I’ve finished the first draft and am going through making a lot of revisions and getting the second draft going. However, the hours I have at work are somewhat crazy so I don’t have a lot of time or energy in the evenings to do much work. I usually wind up playing World of Warcraft or Star Wars in the evenings just to unwind a bit before going to bed.

However, I am going to try to finish the second draft this month and spend the next couple of months polishing it and getting it ready for release next spring. Then it will be time to start working on the third and final book in this series before moving on to other writing projects.

So, that’s where we stand for now. I will try to get back here and do regular updates more in the future. But no promises. The more time I spend here, the less time I’m spending writing.

Latest Update Posted

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Latest Update Posted

I’ve just posted the latest update to Alayne’s Story over on the WoW RP forum. This week’s update introduces the destruction of Theramore and the Disorder of Azeroth’s somewhat unconventional manner of dealing with Garrosh’s growing tyranny.

I think that next week’s update will be the last update. I’ve been spending my time working on other projects as well as leveling my US characters up to 90. And now, I need to get back to all of that!

Latest Update Posted

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Latest Update Posted

I’ve just posted the latest update to Alayne’s Story over on the WoW RP forums. This week’s update introduces the newest member to the “family” and begins the Epilogue. I should have the rest posted next week, schedule permitting.

For now, back to work!