My second book in the Thomas Riley steampunk series is coming to a close. I'm 5 chapters away from being done with the draft and I'll tell you... it's been quite the journey.
Yes, it's taken A LOT longer than expected to get this beast finished but I have a good reason. Well, I think it's a good reason. As most of my readers know, I traveled extensively in 2010 for the book. My travels took me everywhere from South Carolina to Victoria British Columbia. Fifty seven different events in 2010 alone. Book stores, cons, book festivals and book fairs... everything was fair game. And I have to say... It was amazing. In 2011, I got a divorce. Most people have no idea what that will do to you mentally and physically. There is constant stress, drama, problems, anger, frustration, friends that turn their back on you... you name it.
For me, it was like starting completely over, like there was a massive fire and everything you once owned and relied on was simply gone. I remember one of the first nights in my new place and I got a frozen pizza. I had no utensils, or plates or anything... So I sat on the empty floor, used the pizza box as a plate and ripped the pizza with my hands. While it was sort of funny in an insane way at the time, those kind of things take tolls on you that you might not realize. Then there are the money issues... wow... Dirt poor is the best way to describe it. We went through several months of eating ramen and hamburger helper for nearly every meal. Needless to say we can't even look at hamburger helper commercials anymore without feeling sick.
Needless to say there were about 1241235987612351235 of these happenings and that saps you in every way. You don't feel like writing, you don't feel like being creative and you really are not inspired. To get through it, I had to take a lot of time to finish the next book. And I have to say without the unwavering encouragement from Elizabeth Darvill, I would probably never have gotten done. Also, I have to thank my publisher, ZOVA Books for being unbelievably patient with me. That means a lot because most publishers would absolutely hate me by now. So there you have the abridged version of why this is taking so long.
Soon I'll post again when the draft is done and I can show you the cover (once again being done by the absolutely amazing Will Routon) and yes it is bad ass.
Till next time.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
New Steampunk Anthology
Her Majesty's Mysterious Conveyance
That's the name of the newest steampunk anthology that Elizabeth (Darvill) Valentino and I are in with Sean Hayden and Jennifer Williams published by Echelon Press. This is a super fun anthology where all the stories are about non traditional steampunk characters and there is a queen or empress involved in every yarn.
My story is called Ten Thousand Years and is about a bitter Japanese sea captain that takes to piracy to regain his crew's honor. There are samurai automatons, royal airship battle cuisers and advanced cannons that can punch holes through an entire ship! *Hint* (This cannon also makes an appearance in the new Thomas Riley 2)
I'm super excited about this nifty little anthology and to celebrate, I'm giving away 2 e-copies for Twitter users. Copy and paste the text below in twitter and two winners will be chosen at random on Saturday night!
RT this for a chance to win an e-copy of new #steampunk Anthology "Her Majesty's Mysterious Conveyance" @sirthomasriley http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006ZA8P9C/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb
If you want to go on and pick up the e-book (Print books will be available in a few weeks!) you can grab them at Amazon for a very cheap $3.99 here. http://www.amazon.com/Her-Majestys-Mysterious-Conveyance-ebook/dp/B006ZA8P9C
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