Bring it home!

Sweet Josephine in the pumpkin patch, this has been a grueling slog!

This book, 'Arlo and Jake Lost Partner', has been a wicked tough roller coaster. Great emotional highs and 'when will it end' lows.

I've had an absolute blast creating new creatures and personalities for my Universe. I've tried very hard to up the quality and depth of this story. I want you to enjoy this one more than the other two.

I've explored more AI possibilities this time. I dive deeper into the unknown pool of 'what if' and I'm very proud of what I've created. I think you'll enjoy all the cast and crew of this cool boat of mine.

The lows are mostly not delivering on time. Write. Rewrite. Redo. Start over here. Extend there. Better descriptions here and there. Better dialog. Better background stories.

It all takes a huge amount of time. But, of course, it's worth it. It pushes me to be better. The harder I work, the more I like the results.

Book #3 is in final editing. Now to make the cover and wait a few more days.

Be cool, everyone. 

Enjoy the moments.

The support of friends

Friends

Because I have the support of friends:
- I can write stories and not worry how good or bad they are because my friends will enjoy them.
- I can stop for a beer at the 'Drunken Donkey' and just enjoy being alive. The hot wings help.
- I can show up at work and feel like I'm a part of the team. Sometimes I help. Sometimes I get help.
- I can player poker once a month with a bunch of old farts like myself and feel 30 years younger for a couple of hours.
- I can reminisce about the good ole' days of shooting the breeze over the chain on ole' Blue, even through none of them really know what 'over the chain' means.
- I can share sad moments, so that I don't feel like they only happen to me.
- I can share happy moments, so I can make others happy too.
- I get to share in their lives. They allow me to be a part of something bigger than myself

I am so blessed that my best friend is my wife of 44 years.

You've got friends.
Share with them.
Tell them how cool they are over a platter of nachos and a beer or glass of sweet tea.

Family and friends are the pallet of paints you use to color your world.

Use the brush generously.

It feels so GOOD!!!!!!!

'Arlo and Jake Lost Partner' is draft complete! Yippeeee!

OK, not complete, I grant you. So no fireworks yet, But. My editor is pouring over the draft and filling the pages with red ink. A sure sign she likes it! ;-)

If I can keep up a head of steam now, I'll be heading for port in a few weeks!

Draft complete, for me, means the plot arc works and I've got all chapters 'done'. I can read the story, front to back, and it makes sense.

I've got:
- complete story with no holes that I know of
- characters are flushed out. new ones have good background stories. old ones mesh well in the story
- new environments are believable (it's SciFi, but the reader still needs to feel 'ok' with everything) and interesting
- dialog is interesting, funny in places and keeps the reader drawn into the story
- it holds together with the first two story lines
- it provides good impetus for the next book

Considering all the chaos I've had the last part of 2014, I'm feeling pretty good that I've accomplished this, even though I'm really late.

Persevere, my friends.

Be cool. Be happy. Be tenacious.