Thomas Riley 2

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.