Sweet Resolution

Precious Readers,

The first draft of ONLINE; A Ghost Story has been completed!

I went through a bit of a marathon writing session yesterday. Now, a day later I sit amidst the aftermath. Let's see, I see three empty iced tea glasses, a not-quite-so empty coffee mug (with the Wicked Pages Press logo on it don't you know), a Mountain Dew bottle, an empty jar of Bush's Homestyle Chili and two empty packs of Camels. Yup, someone's been writing up in here. :)

I must say, I'm still in a little bit of shock, since I hadn't expected the book to complete itself the way it did. Holly, inspiration that she is, said "I'll bet you can finish the book today." And dont' you know she was right.

Completing a manuscript is such a dichotomy of emotions. There's a profound sense of relief, because (and I'm sure any author can say the same) you're never sure if the book is really going to reach it's resolution. I'm always paranoid that no matter how far along I am, it will one day get its tires stuck in the mud. That's a dreadful time and you can only pray that you can winch it out of the muck and get it back on the road, especially when there's a deadline looming. But there's also a sadness. Saying goodbye to your characters, people you know so very well, both good and bad is always difficult. Chapman Carter has found his way into two of my books now, which I had not planned even a little bit. He's just there. I find myself wondering if he'll show up again. It's doubtful, at least for a while. So we'll shake hands and I'll wish him the best until our paths cross once again.

The second draft starts tomorrow.

Page Count: 311
Word Count: 68,056

Fear of the Bathroom Door

I wonder how a dog only 4.2 pounds can make such a mess!

Every night before bed we put the puppy Chihuahua in the downstairs bathroom with his older brother Yoda, an 8 year old Border Collie. Each of them, on their own have separation anxiety, but together the nights are quiet and peaceful. In the morning however, one of us has to go downstairs and open that bathroom door, and each morning is it's own unique suprise.

On a good morning there might be a puddle of puppy pee that it would seem Perry (the Chihuahua) has finger painted in. (The whole crating thing only works with a dog who actually dislikes his own urine, our little guy thinks it's a fine beverage or would rather turn the bathroom floor into a Slip N' Slide.) On a bad morning there is a fine layer of shit that's been ground into the floor, the walls and the door.

Holly and I are a true team, taking turns cleaning up this gruesome mess, and for that I'm grateful. We get to share the joy of slowly turning that bathroom door knob, head tilted away from the odor that's going to rush out at us like something hungry and pissed off about it. Still, when we see the two dogs playing and Yoda actually sleeping through the night because he's tuckered out, then we know we've done the right thing. It's just hard to remember that so early in the morning. What will I see? My mind chants as the door swings open, my breath held in my lungs so as not to breathe any of that stench in. What will I see?

Today was a good day.

Chapter 15--Captives
Today finishes off this chapter and brings us to the next entitled "Desires".

Page Count: 278
Word Count: 61,009

23 Books

Holly and I were talking last night about how much we missed reading. It seems our lives are so active these days that it's becoming a lost art. It amazes me how many people still find the time to do this activity (of course for which I'm so extremely grateful). I told her about a character in Stephen King's "Bag of Bones" who took a six week vacation on Key Largo. During that time the character drank from umbrella-laden coconuts, laid on the beach and read twenty-three John D. MacDonald books. We were both suddenly and extremely jealous. That's something that I think has now become part of our life-to-do list. Take a long vacation somewhere warm, let the ocean breeze soothe and simply read and read and read.

Chapter 15 -- Captives
The previously mentioned death has been discovered and the trail to the missing is heating up. One more section and this chapter will be completed.

Page Count: 277
Word Count: 60,684

Wet

It's interesting, our English language. Sometimes the most innocuous words can cause a shiver if used in a particular manner. The word "wet" for instance. I just used this word in today's writing and I'll be damned if I can't get it out of my head.

Sure the ground can be wet. No big deal there. The ground is wet (sometimes it would seem even more so than it's dry) so very often in our world. But "wet" can change often by degrees. You can be walking barefoot along your carpet and step on a wet spot. Suddenly wet is not common and cannot be a good thing, to be sure. The word has just been upgraded to an unpleasant association. (Especially if you own a puppy! LOL!). The ground can be wet, as we've stated before. But wet ground after a car collision a more severe version of wet, is it not?

Perhaps the sound of wet is even more unnerving. A wet cough. Yuck! How about a wet sound coming from the back of your closet? Let's make it night time and shut the lights out. How does wet sound now? How about the "wet snap" of a bone breaking? The spy world has a term called "wet work", which refers to murder or assasination. Certainly not pretty.

In Novelist Country, words can change the way you think on a daily basis. This is why I love what I do. In here, the wonder never dies and the world, although old as man, seems forever renewed.

Chapter 15 -- Captives
A bit-player has met an ugly demise and a main character is in the hands of evil. Only four chapters left people! We're almost home.

Page Count: 273
Word Count: 59,945

Gatekeeper; More than one road to Hell

For nearly two weeks the world has been covered with a coat of yellow pollen. My allergies are miserable. Still, I don't believe that I'll ever leave the state of Viriginia.

It seems so strange to me. A few years ago I never would have believed I'd leave my beloved New England for the South. Yet, here I am, far away from my northern beaches and traffic congestion. I've promised to take my lady to Martha's Vineyard one of these days. It's beautiful there, though I avoid the summer when you're lucky to even get a ferry from the mainland.

I always feel a slight twinge of guilt when I write so far away from what I used to call home. Like I've somehow let down that old New England writing spirit that seems to take so many of us, but it lives on in my heart. My fictional town of Crescent Bay is an amalgamation of Massachusetts; Martha's Vineyard, Rockport and Haverhill, where I grew up. These places will stay with me always.

We've got a trip planned in a few weeks to go back home for a friend's wedding. People will meet my lady for the first time (in fact it will be the first time I've seen most of them since my divorce) so it will be both exciting and a little upsetting. My new life and old life will come together for the first time. Still, I welcome it with all my heart.

Perhaps I'm a little homesick.

Tomorrow begins Part IV of the book: Gatekeeper; More than one road to Hell. These three chapters are the initial climax of the book, though as many of you are already familiar, there's never just one with me. :)

Chapter 14 -- Possession
I've finished this chapter up this morning. Brendan and Doctor Death have just arrived in Seattle, neither knowing what to expect when they go looking for Maggie. It's always exciting and a bit sad at the beginning of the end.

Page Count: 267
Total Word Count: 58,848

Quiet Life

I've purchased my first "real" grill and the last two evenings my lady and I have shared dinner out on the back deck. We enjoyed wine and conversation until the sky turned dark. Once upon a time I might have found that to be too quiet, too suburban. I've got to say though, as that heated desire of youth has burned itself away somewhat, this is truly the life I want. I go to bed each night with an emotional fullness that has never quite been present before. There's an old saying about the journey being the reward, and in your youth you might miss the truth of all that. It's not lost on me now. Talking in gentle tones while the puppies chase each other around the deck is one of the happiest times I've ever spent. Ah, the sweet voice of peace.

Chapter 14 -- Possession
This chapter should be completed tomorrow and will move us into Part IV of the book. Brendan and Doctor Death are racing to Seattle to save their friend, and the story will stay on the West Coast for most of what remains.

Page Count: 265
Total Word Count: 58,385

Light at the End

Hello Precious Readers,

Well I'm happy to say that not only is the book on track for it's completion the new outline has completely changed the course of the book!

The slow part of any book for me seems to be just after mid-point, where the story grows stale for me. It's kind of like a song that's overplayed on the radio. You just get sick of hearing it. But years later when you hear it again, you remember just what you loved about it.

The book's first draft should be finished before the end of May. I normally would like to take a month or so off before starting work on the second draft, but the publishing schedule on this one is tight (a release on Halloween) so I've got to complete this one in time for the editor to do her thing. All in all, the new ending is far more exciting, taking the characters to a virtual world I had no intention of originally venturing. The technological aspect of the book is still daunting to me and it's going to require more research than what I had planned, but I'm very excited about the new direction.

I'm currently on Chapter 14 (there's going to be 18 chapters and an epilogue) so we're growing very close.

Chapter 14 -- Possession
A new twist came with this chapter which eliminated the need for two lesser characters that were going to be created to achieve the same goals. Brendan doesn't know it yet, but he's about to set out on a journey that begins tensely and ends with a whole new world.

Page Count: 262
Total Word Count: 57,779