M. Duda's Blog: The Cryo-Freeze II - Posts Tagged "fantasy"

Going forward, I think I know where I’m stepping. But I’m not yet sure of what I’m stepping into.

The New

For some time now, I’ve wanted to write other genre fiction. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun, and hopefully for you too.

Right now, most of my work has fallen under the literary umbrella, only covering other genre elements like sci-fi and suspense. It’s time to expand myself.

My readers who enjoy M. Duda books know me for experimental, literary type stories. So how do I go about writing in other genres?

I’ll be using pen names. This isn’t to deceive readers. I’ll use pen names because new readers will associate my new genre with a different focus. The reader will know what they are getting.

Could the new books be fantasy? Yes. Pen name, “X.” Sci-Fi? Pen name, “Y.” Mystery? You get the idea.

Going forward, I think that this will be fair to a reader’s expectations. You, the reader, are who really matters.

The Not So New

I’m about to publish a literary anthology of flash shorts and poetry titled Tiny Stories. It’s just something that I’ve wanted to do. Indulgent, I know. But I’ve enjoyed it.

The book should be ready by August or September. I’ll post updates about this anthology at a later date on this site.

A second book will be all of my short stories gathered together in one collected anthology. I haven’t decided on the book’s title and publisher tags. Or the format.

Because the stories are all over the place, I’ll have to brainstorm to figure out how this book fits into the fiction marketplace.

And I’ll continue to write experimental literary under the name M. Duda. Like Bedtime for Seneca, A Cat Will Play and Deny the Father. No one will be surprised by this.

Not New at All

Several of my existing shorts will be broken out as stand-alone stories. They’ll even get their own artwork. Expect to see these trickled out over the year.

So expect some new things. And some things not so new.

Two weeks ago I completed a 96 mile hike. Starting in Milngavie, Scotland, I continued north. It was rough (ancient) military roads, mountain ascents and unpredictable weather all the way. My legs dragged the rest of me to the finish at Fort William eight days later.

Rugged? Yes. But it was the adventure that mattered. And without some trials, it would be a boring story to tell.

Footing was always a concern. The early southern part of the trail sometimes diverted. From Rowardennan to Inveraran, nearly twenty miles of rock climbing and a narrow trail impeded my progress. (The guide book promised only 14 miles.) And in the northern highlands, scree and slick rock could trip up the unwary.

Adventure Doesn't Come Easy
The trail always delivered new surprises. In just one day, I could walk in warm sunshine, freezing rain and pelting hail. On the route to Kingshouse, I had overlooked the need for gloves in May. I arrived at the hotel with swollen hands and chattering teeth.

But would I have given up at any time? Not a chance. Because to have done so would give up the opportunity for amazing views and a sense of accomplishment.

Hidden Surprises
To look down and over the shoreline of Loch Lomond was breathtaking. Rob Roy's hideout teased me nearby. Further on, I passed the small lochan where Robert the Bruce's sword supposedly lies submerged in its dark waters. And I dared the walk up the Devil's Staircase. You could never experience this if you had driven a car to Glen Coe.

The adventure grounded me in a way that daily routines cannot. As a result, I forgot about computers and gadgets that are so far removed from reality. Technology can disconnect us as humans. But on the trail, new friends were made, a camaraderie formed by similar trials of endurance. And a warm meal never tasted better than after a long hike in cold rain.

All That is Gold
So how does a fantasy story play into my hike? When I was a teenager, J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy was one of my favorite reads. As I walked the West Highland Way, I imagined meeting elves in the dark forests on the moors. Dwarves guarded their precious mines on top of Ben Lomond. And Shelob's Lair waited somewhere north of Balmaha.

Hiking the trail was an adventure with hardships and many rewards--personal satisfaction, new friendships made and introspection. Only a quarter of those who begin actually finish. When I completed the West Highland Way, I treated myself to some Scotch. It's a drink that has to be appreciated like the trail itself. At first, it can be daunting. But remember, "All that is gold does not glitter... ."