Eddie D. Moore's Blog

Echoes in the Ether VI

My dad and I are slowly working on his book, Smoke of the Fire. Only eight more chapters to edit. I made an editing pass on everything except the last ten chapters on my own, but I didn’t feel comfortable enough to do the last few chapters on my own because they are rough enough to actually need a rewrite. My father’s prose is quite different than mine, and I didn’t want to change it too much, so I was stuck there. Now that we can work on it together, I feel much better about making changes. I need to start work on a book cover for it. Perhaps I can make some progress in that area there this week as well.

Since my last post, I have added a little to my novelette, The Corvid’s Key. I should be working on that now, but I decided to write this post instead. As I’ve said before, writing these updates helps me keep my mind ordered and drives progress forward. If I’m not working on it, what would there be to post about? For example, I haven’t done a single thing with my audio recording equipment. I haven’t even had the opportunity to play with it, so that’s all there is to say about that. I will have to schedule some time to work on that project.

I have spent some time working on a few wood projects in my garage. I made these bookshelves to hang beside your easy chair and hold whatever book you’re currently reading or tablet you’re using to read. In my mind, this door is your escape from reality. I’m currently trying to make one in the shape of a Hobbit door. I’ll post pictures of it next time. I thought people might like these enough to buy a few of them. So far, no one has expressed any interest in them. What do you think? Oh, and click the link and buy a book! Recirculated Tales: A Mini-Anthology

Echoes in the Ether V

We have made some progress on my dad’s book this week. Two more chapters have been edited, and we only have ten more chapters to go. I need to spend some time working on the book cover. I’ve had a cover in mind for over a decade. In my mind, I see the silhouettes of two Native Americans sitting by a fire, with smoke rising between them. I picture the background as orange or dark red. Thoughts?

I worked up the nerve to hook up my interface and mic to my computer the other day. I downloaded Audacity and experimented with its settings. When I checked out the mic, I noticed that something was rattling around inside it that didn’t sound right, so I took it apart and found a loose component and a broken wire. Luckily, I managed to solder it back together, and it seems to work fine. Who knows if it was broken when I bought it or if it broke during shipping? I don’t guess it matters since I fixed it.

I haven’t worked on The Corvid’s Key this week, but I did write a couple of drabbles. The urge to write something longer is definitely burning within me. Hopefully, it builds up pressure and explodes onto the page soon. The only excuse I can offer for not writing more is that I’m lazy. I need to learn to write a little here and there when I have the opportunity and make it a habit. The drabbles give me a sense of accomplishment or help me feel like I have completed something, but I know that I need to do something more substantial.

We only have 104 days left in this year! It’s time to get things done. Let’s go!

Here, read a book: Recirculated Tales

Tossing Thoughts Into the Void II

I’m going to finish writing The Corvid’s Key and then change gears in my writing. As much as I love writing stories with a dark twist or dark tone, it would probably help my mental state to lighten things up a bit. I came across a story this morning, maybe I should say headline, of a woman who slit her five-year-old daughter’s throat and put a trash bag over her head. Apparently, she was acquitted for mental reasons. I’ve seen enough evil, horror, and sad stories in the news and real life lately that I think we could all use a change.

The next story I write will be either fantasy or science fiction pulp. I want to create something that will make people smile and leave them with a good feeling at the end of the story. I don’t usually write what I’d consider happy endings, but if I feel the need for it, surely others do as well.

I have a couple of stories that I started writing that I intended to be fun and witty. Maybe I’ll revisit one of those and finish it. When I was a kid, I’d make a random line on a sheet of paper and then try to draw a spaceship using that line. I like doing the same thing when I’m writing. Sometimes I’ll write an odd sentence with a random thought just to see where it takes me.

What do you think? Are you ready to escape reality with me? Where should we flee? Science fiction or fantasy? Let me know.

Tossing Thoughts Into the Void

It took a few days for me to process my thoughts and feelings after the assassination of Charlie Kirk. I was scrolling through TikTok that night before bed, and I swiped the screen to watch one last video. That was a mistake. It turned out to be the video of Charlie getting shot. It was uncensored and close enough to put you in the front row. It was after one in the morning before I was able to sleep.

Like many others, I wondered why it affected me so deeply. I’d seen several videos of Charlie Kirk, but I never made it a point to follow him. After giving it some thought, I can think of three reasons.

The first is that being a parent was not just a position for me or a role I filled. It became my entire identity. Hi, I’m Dad! When my kids became adults, it nearly triggered an identity crisis for me. Lucky for me, I soon became a grandfather, and though my role may have shifted, I still have a purpose in life. Hi, I’m Grandpa!

I’ve seen videos of Charlie Kirk spending time with his family, and it drives a stake in my heart knowing that his kids were robbed of their father. Knowing that they were present when it happened twists my stomach in knots. I definitely have an emotional connection to the situation as a parent and family man myself.

I became a Christian nearly thirty years ago, and to me, it was all or nothing. So, I went all in. I wore out two Bibles reading and studying. I loved discussing what I was learning with like-minded people. I believed that a person should know what they believed and why they believed it. Once I had a firm understanding of the Bible, I began studying other religions and different denominations because I wanted to know what and why other people believed differently. I thought that one day I might get into apologetics, write books, and take the stage to debate other people. So, that brings me to the second connection. Charlie did what, at one time, I wanted to do… And they killed him for it.

The main road I took in my study of apologetics was young Earth creation. I followed people like Kent Hovind, Dr. Carl Baugh, and Ken Ham. When I researched many of the things Kent Hovind presented as proof of a young Earth, I found dead ends and fraud. I met him twice before he went to prison for tax evasion. I met Dr. Carl Baugh when at church when he spoke one Wednesday night. Let’s just say the energy-infused water he was selling reminded me of snake oil salesmen in old western movies. He claimed to know of human footprints in the same rock layer as dinosaur prints. I found out later that they no longer exist. (How convenient) Lastly, I’ll just say Ken Ham lost his debate with Bill Nye, and I found his creation museum to be a walk-through PowerPoint presentation. The Ark is a cool place to visit regardless.

Wow, that last paragraph went off the tracks of the train of thought, but I had to say it to explain why I let go of apologetics. Remember, I said I was an all-or-nothing kind of person. I still have faith, but I no longer believe that it is black and white like I once did. Maybe I’ll look up some videos of Charlie defending young Earth creation and see how he defended the subject.

I think the final connection is one we all have in common. I think the shared grief that everyone is talking about is from a shared source. Could it be that we all felt that way because it grieved the spirit of God himself? People around the world have stated that they don’t understand why his death has affected them so much. Perhaps, we’re sharing that grief for a spiritual reason. Thoughts?

Echoes in the Ether IV

I spent nineteen consecutive days remodeling several rooms in my house, and I’ve spent the last two or three days physically recuperating from that project. My plan was to work daily with my dad on his book until we finish the last twelve chapters, but it appears that my travel season has begun. This means that I will be spending a few days each week on the road. My new plan will be to work on my dad’s book every day that I’m home. We’ll just have to use the time we have wisely.

It’s tempting to set up my audio equipment and record my first project. The story I want to record is only forty-two words, so it will definitely take me longer to set it up and figure out the software than to actually record the project. Since it is such a short project, I’m going to bump this to the top of my list of things to do. Sometimes finishing small tasks can give you the boost in confidence needed to work on larger tasks. I still need to organize my bedroom and pack away a few things I don’t need at the moment, but I don’t see why I can’t get it done.

I still haven’t tried advertising the new audiobook, and I’m unsure if it’s a good time to do so, given current events. I’m disheartened and distracted at the moment, like everyone else. I’ve seen the videos of Iryna Zarutska and Charlie Kirk’s murder. I’ll never unsee the fear and sadness in Iryna’s eyes just before she died, and I’ll never forget how Charlie bled out and collapsed after being shot. The sheer number of people celebrating Charlie’s death sickens me. I’ve made it a point to follow every author who has expressed their sadness over these deaths and their anger concerning those celebrating. These are the people I want to support and surround myself with. I considered the audiobook a vanity project to begin with, but I have no doubt that people would enjoy the production if they knew about it.

I will be working in AZ and CA for the next couple of weeks, and there will be a significant amount of downtime between jobs. My plan is to take advantage of this free time and work on The Corvid’s Key. This will be my first stand-alone novelette! I don’t see any reason that I can’t have this written, edited, and released before the end of the year.

So, that’s it for my update. FYI, I can see your visit, I can see if you click the link, and I see my sales… I’m watching. Here’s your book link! Recirculated Tales

Echoes in the Ether III

My dad and I have only edited one chapter of his book since my last post. I still fully intend on finishing this project this year, but the plan will face a few challenges. Sometime in the near future, my work travel season will begin again, and that will limit our efforts to weekends.

For the last two weeks, my daughter and I have been remodeling several rooms in the house and completing a few much needed repairs that I’ve put off way too long. We’ll be starting work on my bedroom tonight, and once we’re done there, we’ll take a few months break on remodeling. I might decide to do a couple small rooms like the laundry room or my bathroom and closet over a weekend. We’ll see.

The audiobook for Recirculated Tales is now available on Amazon! I need to do a little advertisement, but I’ve been rather busy working on the house. Pick up a copy now and tell a few friends! How could you go wrong with a book narrated by Michael Kramer & Kate Reading?

I have all the necessary equipment to start recording audio files. Once I find the time to set it up, I’ve got a quick project to practice on. I had a 42-word story published in 42 Stories Anthology Presents: Book of 42² last year, and I saw on TikTok that they are posting videos of authors reading their story. If you’d like to check them out, look up @42storiesanthology on TikTok. Hopefully, I’ll get a chance to record my narration soon.

Finally, my most recent story, The Corvid’s Key, finished at just over 7,500 words. It has already received its first rejection. I quickly found out that there aren’t that many places that want supernatural/horror stories of that size. I’m currently working on writing a few more scenes with the hopes of increasing the length to over 10,000 words. If I can hit that mark, this could be my first standalone novelette publication.

Don’t forget to pick up the new audiobook! Here’s a handy dandy link for you: Recirculated Tales.

Echoes in the Ether II

Recirculated Tales – Audiobook!

The audio production of Recirculated Tales is complete! I have uploaded the files to Audible, and the only thing to do now is wait for them to approve the book. Michael Kramer & Kate Reading read this one! If you’re an audiobook fan, you should be familiar with their work. If not, you’re missing out! They narrated Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, and they’ve read several of Brandon Sanderson’s books.

I have spent countless hours listening to them read books for me over the last two decades. I really don’t have the words to describe how it makes me feel, hearing them read my work. It is a dream and a life goal come true. They make me sound like I might know what I’m doing! I will be writing another post when Audible notifies me that it has been released. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this!

Smoke of the Fire

My dad and I have edited 26 chapters of his book, Smoke of the Fire. We have 13 more chapters to go. I plan on running everything one last pass through Grammarly and a final audio pass on everything to finish everything out. The plan is still to finish this before my travel season starts back at work, but these last 13 chapters are going to be a challenge. This is where I’ve always tossed up my hands and walked away in the past, but that’s not going to happen this year.

Narration Project

I have all the necessary equipment to experiment with recording audio. I’ll be downloading the software to operate the interface and mic soon. There’s no rush on the narration project, so I will focus on my dad’s book and spend my time on that project for now. I’m considering writing a story and letting my daughters and grandchildren voice some of the dialogue. That would be a family treasure for generations to come! I have a recording of my grandmother wishing my cousin happy birthday over the radio back in the late 80s. She passed away 31 years ago. It’s heartwarming to hear her voice every so often, and I want to make sure that my grandchildren and someday great-grandchildren have this as well.

My Current Story

I’m 6200 words into the current story that I’m writing. Last week, I had to travel to South Carolina for work, forcing me to stop writing. Hopefully, I can find my groove and finish this short story this week. That’s all for now. Time to work!

Required book link below! I have updated the print and ebook after a few minor issues were discovered during the audio production. Besides that, you might even find the audiobook listed for sale before I announce it!

Recirculated Tales: A Mini-Anthology

Echoes in the Ether

I may write these posts for anyone interested, but writing out my progress helps me see that there is actual forward momentum on my goals. Every step forward will get you closer to your destination, but we all need to remember that time is limited. Sometimes you have to force yourself to take a few extra steps.

I’ve been considering forcing myself to take a few extra steps lately. My dad and I have been working on editing his book, Smoke of the Fire, as we get the opportunity. However, working three or four chapters a week will take us months to complete the work. I’m thinking about taking a vacation day and spending the entire day with him, or making some coffee and staying up most of the night. We have completed eleven chapters out of thirty-nine. A couple of days or nights would finish the editing.

I have ordered the audio interface, mic, and earphones to produce the audiobook for my next anthology. It will take time to figure out how to operate the editing software and set up my makeshift studio. I’m planning on recording some short stories or poetry that are in the public domain. This would give me practice and content to post on social media. Do you have any suggestions for me?

I told my dad this morning that I had concerns about my accent. When I travel up north, people often tell me that they can tell that I’m from down south. I don’t think reteaching myself to speak is an option. I do love writing mixed genres. If I have too, I’ll write stories for my own voice. Mark Twain wrote A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. Maybe I’ll write A Tennessee Redneck in the Galactic Counsel, in first person of course.

My current writing project is a dark short story involving… I hate describing my own writing. Here’s how Gemini AI describes what I have so far: This story follows Ann as she observes nature from her kitchen window. Her morning takes an unexpected turn when a series of peculiar events, initiated by a crow’s unusual gift, leads her on an intriguing journey into the woods behind her property. She stumbles upon an old, seemingly abandoned house, where she makes a startling discovery that changes her day entirely, bringing in emergency services and uncovering hidden secrets. – I couldn’t have said it better! My goal is to finish this story with over five thousand words. I’ve currently written over thirty-seven hundred.

This is where I post the book link required by the marking department. Don’t blame me. It’s their bright idea. (For those who missed it, I am the marketing department. Really, it’s just no fun when I have to explain it.) Click HERE! – Frights & Flights

New Old Idea

I’m currently listening to an audiobook narrated by the author. To be honest, I’m not all that impressed with this one. It took me a few minutes to decide if it was the writing or the narration that I didn’t like. This particular book was obviously written by and for women, so I’m clearly not the target audience. The author reads very fast and doesn’t use inflection in places that clearly need it. My first thought was: this was a great example of why an author should leave the narration to others.

My second thought was: hell, I can do better than that! The funny thing is that these are the same thoughts that led me to the keyboard to write my own stories. I’ve been building a backlog of drabbles over the years, both published and unpublished, with the intention of publishing my own drabble anthology at some point in the future. Now I’m considering narrating that collection myself.

When I was a teenager, my grandmother cleaned the local radio station every week. Every so often, the DJs would invite her to say something on the air. It was always a treat to hear her voice on the radio while I was riding the bus to school. I have a recording of her wishing my cousin happy birthday on cassette. She passed away thirty-one years ago. It is even sweeter to hear her voice now.

My grandmother would often correct my grammar and pronunciation and then tell me that if I was ever going to work with the radio that I’d have to speak properly. Several people over the years have commented on my voice and told me that it would make for great narration. (Maybe they used different words, but that’s what I heard.) So, yeah, narrating my drabble anthology is now in my plans.

I read several of my drabbles on TikTok, Reels, and YouTube. They never got many views or likes, so I may purge them from social media soon. I might repost them once I have recorded them with a proper mic. I’ll put links to my social media below in case you want to check them out before the purge. I’ll leave them up for another week or two.

Give me a follow and let me know what you think about my new plan.

TikTok: Click here

Facebook: Click here

YouTube: Click here

Oh yeah, you need a book! Click here for Recirculated Tales

Killing Time

I should be working on stories, but since I have a blog, I decided to blog a little! Let’s call it a warm up.

I’ve been working off and on for years on the editing of my dad’s book, Smoke of the Fire. We have started what I’m calling the final stage of edits by letting a AI read the story to us and making edits as needed. I’ve also been using AI to grammar check the chapters as we go. I know that many people have hard opinions about the use of AI, but I see it as a tool to be used.

The benefits of using AI to read to you in an editing phase is that it will not fill in missing words like the human brain will. Those issues stand out like a sore thumb when read as is. The AI grammar check has only helped me find a couple issues like homonyms like heard verse herd. Don’t ask me how that ended up in there. I guess it was a typo. Umm.. Twice.

Just FYI.. I’m currently listening to I’m Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin. I’ve been following him on Tiktok for a couple of years. His videos are informative and entertaining. I’m halfway through the book, and so far, it doesn’t disappoint!

Okay, that’s enough warm up. I’m going to go work on my current story.

Thanks for reading! If you aren’t, here’s a link just for you! Recirculated Tales: A Mini-Anthology