Ray Daley's Blog, page 60
February 25, 2014
The Release Reshuffle
I was going through my finalised releases for this year late last night and decided to move a few titles around from their original release dates.
I’ve now bumped a Military SF title up to next months release.
What was going to be next months release will now come out in April.
And the original April release has been pushed back to December.
Obviously I could have gone ahead and done these releases without saying I’d moved them around, you (by “you” I mean my wonderful readers) would have been blissfully unaware and without a care in the world, simply happy to have a new e-book by me to read. But I like to tell you what’s going on behind the scenes of my little writing & publishing world.
It may be a very small world. Population 1, in fact. Yours truly.
The reading world, however, is quite a bit larger.
I happen to know that on Feedbooks alone, 8383 people have downloaded my most popular book.
One of my erotica titles. ;-P
Oddly enough, the same title is my most downloaded on Smashwords too. 1083 people have taken it from there.
Anyway, now you know roughly what will be coming on Saturday.
February 24, 2014
Read-backs
I’ve been going over some stuff I wrote a few days ago, just to see if it worked or not.
It appears that the endings do hold up. I did some mild tweaking for improvement.
My editing process is never very intensive, I normally add, remove or change the odd word here or there.
Most of the time what you read when I release it is exactly what I wrote. It’s very rare that I edit or re-write.
I’m content with “Station Three“. The military stuff sounds good. It reads well.
But I’m STILL trying to type up my story from the 16th.
If I start and give up one more time I might just rip it to pieces.
A personal memory of war
23 years ago in 1991 at 4am, the land battle started for the first Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm.
And I was part of it. I was at war.
I was serving in the Royal Air Force, stationed at RAF High Wycombe and my job was within the Primary War Headquarters.
A pretty important place in military terms. As a clerk my job was to process signals and make sure they got to who needed them, some of that involved actually running around and delivering by hand for the really important stuff.
So while most of you were in your beds, enjoying your sleep, some of us were taking part in the biggest land battle since the end of the Second World War.
Remember that the next time you look at my picture. I’ve seen things. Things I’d rather forget.
One day I might. I hope. And on that day, for me the war really will be over. At last.
February 22, 2014
Another writing update
Just finished another short. 1200 words exactly.
I was watching an animated short called “Junk Head” and it gave me an idea.
Not sure how well it works or if the finish came across as I’d wanted.
Only a future read after several days of not looking at it will tell there.
At least it’s another finished story which is good. Sleep time now.
February 21, 2014
Health Update
I didn’t say much about my recent visit to The Eye Clinic before because I wasn’t very happy.
Had a pressure spike in the right eye, it may well be that I am one of those people who doesn’t react well to the new type of glaucoma laser surgery being used to treat the condition. The minion who saw me in lieu of the consultant said he wanted to think about giving me more laser surgery.
It’s been a little less than 10 months since I had it last time and it was one of the most painful procedures I’ve ever undergone. Right now I’m on drops in my right eye for the next two weeks and going back for another pressure test in late May.
I’ve had two consecutive bad days in terms of eye pain and headache too, went to bed really early last night because I felt so bad. Probably retiring early tonight too after I go do tonights meds shortly. This change in my condition is quite depressing. I hope I can stick to my writing resolution but right now next Wednesday feels like a million miles away.
Hopefully a good nights rest will improve my outlook.
February 19, 2014
Writing update
Knocked out a horror-type short of 1360 words about 10 minutes ago.
2 stories in a day. The idea came easily, it was tough to find a good end though. Hopefully what I got down works.
Ray Bradbury Challenge, Week 8.
Story completed, 1404 words from a reddit prompt.
Not all that difficult.
I didn’t write yesterday because I was feeling a bit crappy after my long day at the Eye Clinic.
February 16, 2014
Man From The Future, a FREE flash fiction story by Ray Daley
Man From The Future, a FREE flash fiction story by Ray Daley.
The man was dressed oddly. “I’ve been sent from the future, take me to The President.”
“You want to see Obama? The future really must be bleak! Who’s President?”
“Eddie Vedder.”
“The guy from Aerosmith?”
“No, that’s Steve Tyler. Eddie Vedder makes pottery.”
“Your rock & roll President makes pottery? The future really IS in a mess.”
More flash written
Hammered out 1065 words from an idea I got whilst using the smallest room in the house.
References Gary Numan, Thomas Dolby, Ray Bradbury, Wil Wheaton, Star Trek TNG, Guinan, George Burns and channels William Gibson.
It’s also possible that the large American tourist in the fake silk shirt is based on Penn Jillette.
February 15, 2014
Sneaking one more story in today
The day isn’t quite over here in the UK. I just finished my 3rd short of the day.
1130 words. Rather beautiful if I say so myself.
And I just did. Classic Golden Age SF.
