What’s new, even?

I have no clear goal for this month’s blog post, as not much as been going on. At least as it pertains to publishing. Things in my personal life have actually been quite eventful, which is even more of a reason why I haven’t put proper thought into what June’s blog post should even be. Things have quieted since the initial excitement of signing contracts for THE MONSTERS AMONG US and A STATE OF EMERGENCY. Which is to be expected. Can’t be offered publishing contracts every month, despite how much I’d love that!

            So today I’m going to meander a bit. Speak generally and briefly about what I’ve been up to:

My head of marketing, Poe, a beautiful English Labrador, is days away from being ten months old. Growing up so fast… though he’s still beautiful, and very large. Sometimes too large, as he’s prone to jumping atop me, trampling, and playfully biting me. I do love him to death though. Even if the death in question is mine caused by his insanity. Upon the occasion of my sudden disappearance, check beneath the floorboards.

            Personally speaking, things are also going well. I’ve recently fallen in love and realized why I’m prone to giving many of my characters romantic subplots. Love really does make life worth living.

            This is all to say, or to shout into the abyss, that life is good! Which despite my relaxed and somewhat flippant tone here, is the first time in my life I’ve said those words without irony or sarcasm. And I would very much like it to continue to be good, so I shout, attempting to manifest even more good (more published stories, please and thank you).

            At the time of writing, I have three short stories out for consideration for an award. The same is true for my creative non-fiction memoir that I mentioned in last month’s blog post. I’m tempering my expectations, but boy, would it be nice to win. Especially the memoir. I’m especially proud of how it turned out and would very much like people to read it.

            Other than that, I’m currently coasting until August, when the cover reveal for THE MONSTERS AMONG US is scheduled. And while I wait, I have officially begun work on my fifth novel, the first of three sequels to THE MONSTERS AMONG US. Slow going, but that’s okay. I’m relishing it. And I must say, it feels good to be back in familiar territory. Living amongst these characters I spent six years writing, in the world they live in, so deep with philosophical power.

            The full series is as follows:

1.      THE MONSTERS AMONG US (out next year!)

2.      In the Wake of Gods

3.      The Hollow King

4.      This Long, Bright Dark

I’m also considering writing a collection of short stories centered around a particular group of particularly interesting humans found in THE MONSTERS AMONG US, but writing a four-book series with worlds as philosophically and conceptually enormous as these is already daunting, so who knows.

            But that’s really it, for now. As mentioned above, the cover reveal for THE MONSTERS AMONG US is scheduled for August, so look forward to it! I sure am, as things will begin to grow more exciting again.