Writing and Whatnot

I don't usually work on more than one book at a time.

Perhaps I should amend that to read "I don't usually write more than one book at a time" because I do often edit multiple books while writing another book entirely. For example, I am currently editing three novels: I just finished Time Jumps (stay tuned for an announcement regarding its release), am working on Come and Go So Quickly (another in the Sebastian saga) with Mary, and have just begun to revisit Uptempo, Down in order to make final edits before its release later this spring. There's going to be a contest with that book, fyi. You might win a prize if you participate! A really good prize!

Anyway, while I don't usually write more than one book at a time, I am actually sort of writing two books at the moment. Interestingly, both of them have mostly-new characters. (There are some minor characters from other texts who make appearances in these new manuscripts, but I won't tell you who they are because that would ruin the fun.)

What I think is intriguing about writing two books at one time are the vast differences between the two. The nameless book (it does have a working title, but I've changed it so many times that it seems silly to include it here since it may change another few times) takes place in Flickerwood, New York, and was inspired by a hypothetical situation posed by my penpal James and by a challenge issued by my student Percy. The plot of the titleless book is very clear, as is the setting, but the characters are still introducing themselves to me as we explore each chapter. I know exactly how it will end, though, and I'm really excited about the ending.

The other book, which is called A Heavy Sky, has incredibly real characters and the vaguest of plots. I'm not sure where it's going or where we'll end up, but the setting is fun because we're back in Radio Park, Oregon, and I just love Cup o' Mud Buzz so much! And The Library! And On the Side! Radio Park seriously has the best eateries.

My mom said to me yesterday, "Do you ever think about making art again?" I found it to be a peculiar question since I just made a TON of art that is currently hanging at the Garryowen, but I think she likes it when I make art because it's easier for her to view it and give comments than read an entire novel and give comments. But the writing of the novels is so fun, you know?

To thank you for reading this blog, I'll give you a sampling of A Heavy Sky. These are the first two pages. It's not been edited at all (because I'm editing other things, obviously), and I have no idea when it will be finished and ready for reading, but here's a new character for your literary enjoyment: