Michael C. Bailey's Blog, page 39
October 12, 2021
Weekly Update – October 12, 2021
My office has a couch again, which means I can use it for writing again!
You can tell by the photo I still have a lot of work to do, namely installing all the built-in storage, but The Writer’s Block is at least functional from a writing perspective. I have a place to sit, my desk, a TV for background noise…I’m good to go!
I officially baptized the office Monday, taking advantage of Indigenous Peoples’ Day (screw Christopher Columbus) to get a full writing day in in the revitalized space. The empty walls called to be, tempting me to abandon the laptop and build more shelves, but the current high cost of lumber is going to keep progress on that part of the project restrained for a while yet.
WRITING PROJECTS
Action Figures – Secret Origins: Audiobook recording underway, scheduled for late 2021 release.
Action Figures – Issue Eleven: Draft one underway. Scheduled for a winter/spring 2022 release.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Elfish Motives: Production is about to begin on the audiobook edition. Tentatively set for a late 2021 release.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Twins and Losses: In the editing phase. Tentatively set for a fall/winter 2021 release.
APPEARANCES & EVENTS
Nothing scheduled.
MISC.
The New England Speculative Writers group has a new preview book for newsletter subscribers. Pick it up and read the opening chapters to Well-Behaved Women – Awakening and other stories.
If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.
October 5, 2021
Weekly Update – October 5, 2021
Alas, another slow writing week this week. I reviewed audio for the Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins audiobook, got some work done on the first draft of book eleven in the series, and that’s it. However, on a tangentially related note, I finished the flooring in my office! I still have a lot of work to do before it’s truly finished, but as soon as I get my new couch in, I can use the space for writing again!
WRITING PROJECTS
Action Figures – Secret Origins: Audiobook recording underway, scheduled for late 2021 release.
Action Figures – Issue Eleven: Draft one underway. Scheduled for a winter/spring 2022 release.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Elfish Motives: Production is about to begin on the audiobook edition. Tentatively set for a late 2021 release.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Twins and Losses: In the editing phase. Tentatively set for a fall/winter 2021 release.
APPEARANCES & EVENTS
Nothing scheduled.
MISC.
The New England Speculative Writers group has a new preview book for newsletter subscribers. Pick it up and read the opening chapters to Well-Behaved Women – Awakening and other stories.
If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.
September 28, 2021
Weekly Update – September 28, 2021
Slow writing week this week, but as I speak I am reviewing a batch of audio uploads for the Action Figures audiobook. My narrator Bethany is pushing to get this wrapped up in time for the holiday shopping season, so fingers crossed!
In other mildly interesting news, I’m waiting to hear back about two author events: the Nahant Public Library’s annual indie author day, to which I’ve been invited several times but have never been able to attend due to other commitments; and Arisia 2022.
Of course, my excitement at the prospect of being at these events is tempered by the fact that (gestures at the state of the entire country). Seriously, people, get vaccinated already.
In closing this week, enjoy this admittedly dull photo of my basement office remodeling project. It’s almost time to start making the built-in storage!
WRITING PROJECTS
Action Figures – Secret Origins: Audiobook recording underway, scheduled for late 2021 release.
Action Figures – Issue Eleven: Draft one underway. Scheduled for a winter/spring 2022 release.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Elfish Motives: Production is about to begin on the audiobook edition. Tentatively set for a late 2021 release.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Twins and Losses: In the editing phase. Tentatively set for a fall/winter 2021 release.
APPEARANCES & EVENTS
Nothing scheduled.
MISC.
The New England Speculative Writers group has a new preview book for newsletter subscribers. Pick it up and read the opening chapters to Well-Behaved Women – Awakening and other stories.
If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.
September 23, 2021
Well-Behaved Women – A Series Overview
What’s it About?
Rose Booker remembers how she died. Both times.
Rose’s pursuit of the truth behind those memories leads her to discover that she was in a past life the legendary pirate queen Mary Read — and that she’s not the only infamous historical figure who has returned from the dead.
Who is this Series For?
Well-Behaved Women is an urban fantasy trilogy featuring a predominantly female cast. I wrote it for everyone looking for an action-packed adventure tale driven by complex heroic (and villainous, and somewhere in-between) LGBTQ women.
Is it Suitable for Young Readers?
No. The series contains violence, language, and sexual content that make it inappropriate for younger readers.
What are the Books in the Series?
Awakening: Nearly a year after being shot and left for dead, Sergeant Rose Booker returns to active duty with the Worcester Police Department, hoping to put the past behind her — except she’s not sure it’s her past that’s haunting her.
When hard-drinking hellraiser Julie d’Aubigny enters Rose’s life, she promises to reveal the truth behind Rose’s nightmares — or are they memories? — of her death at the end of a hangman’s noose.
But first Rose must stop the mysterious madman waging a bloody campaign of vengeance that threatens to turn the city’s streets red. All she has to do is uncover his identity — and his own dark secret.
Transition: The adventure continues as Rose and her friends deal with the aftermath of the events in Awakening and face off against a new, deadlier enemy hellbent on revenge.
Endtimes: Rose, Anna, and Julie face the fight of their lives in the conclusion of the Well-Behaved Women trilogy.
All three titles are available as audiobooks on Audible.
Where Can I Learn More?
Read can read sample chapters from Awakening, buy signed copies, connect with me through social media, and get regular updates at my website: innsmouthlook.com
September 21, 2021
Weekly Update – September 21, 2021
My first author event in a year and a half is, to use my favorite dumb pun, in the books.
The Corner Spot in Ashland, MA hosted the event, which was sponsored the Ashland Public Library in cooperation with the Framingham and Hopkinton libraries. It was a small affair with a nice variety of authors selling books and doing readings, and we couldn’t ask for better weather.
As is often the case, these small events are a crap shoot in terms of attendance. This one saw light attendance, but everyone had a good time and, on a more practical note, I turned a profit, so I’ll call it a modest success and a fun afternoon.
I tentatively have another event lined up for November, and I’ll announce that once things have been nailed down.
WRITING PROJECTS
Action Figures – Secret Origins: Audiobook recording underway, scheduled for late 2021 release.
Action Figures – Issue Eleven: Draft one underway. Scheduled for a winter/spring 2022 release.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Elfish Motives: Production is about to begin on the audiobook edition. Tentatively set for a late 2021 release.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Twins and Losses: In the editing phase. Tentatively set for a fall/winter 2021 release.
APPEARANCES & EVENTS
Nothing scheduled.
MISC.
The New England Speculative Writers group has a new preview book for newsletter subscribers. Pick it up and read the opening chapters to Well-Behaved Women – Awakening and other stories.
If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.
September 16, 2021
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – A Series Overview
What’s it About?
Derek Strongarm and Felix Lightfoot are a pair of hard-luck adventurers for hire with an unfortunate knack for landing jobs that pay too little and threaten their lives too much. Erika Racewind is a hardened elven warrior who doesn’t like people, except maybe when she’s killing them. Winifred Graceword is a kindhearted elven priestess skilled in the healing arts. David is a young sorcerer on a path to discover who he really is — and whether that person has a last name, because going by just David is getting old fast.
Together these companions travel across the land of Asaches looking for adventure and the glory and riches that come with it. Mostly the riches, though, because you can’t buy food and beer with glory.
Who is this Series For?
Sword-and-sorcery fantasy fans looking for something a little lighter than most of the fare currently on the shelves. If you want heavy, dark, serious stories with lots of death, destruction, torture, rape, and political intrigue, go read something else because you won’t find it here.
What you will find is a fast-paced adventure filled with colorful characters, rip-roaring action, humor, and gentle jabs at the classic elements of fantasy fiction.
Which is not to say this series is a comedy or parody. There is still drama aplenty, but as a rule I don’t take things too seriously. You can read these books and not feel like you need a hug and a room full of puppies afterward.
Is it Suitable for Young Readers?
Not really. The series is a hard PG-13/light R for violence, language, and sexual content. It is suitable for older teens, but not for the YA crowd.
What are the Books in the Series?
Scratching a Lich: Derek and Felix find themselves entangled in an urgent quest to slay a legendary lich before he can trigger a world-ending apocalypse – as insane undead sorcerers are wont to do. Together with Erika Racewind, bodyguard for a mysterious young wizard named David, and Winifred Graceword, they head out to discover lost cities, recover long lost magical artifacts, and slay great evils in order to fulfill curiously specific prophecies – as mismatched, ragtag groups of adventurers are wont to do.
Assassins Brawl: The companions are hired to safeguard a spoiled brat of a princess targeted for death by the assassin Ruined Isys, but as is often the case, there’s more going on here than meets the eye. Now all they have to do is determine who is behind the plot before they get caught in the crossfire.
Blades of Glory: Derek, Felix, and company are up for a job that seems a little too simple for a payday that seems a little too generous – but unfortunately, so are the famed adventurers of fortune known as the Noble Blades. Which of them will be the first to find a stolen ceremonial mask that is absolutely positively completely normal and not at all some lost artifact possessed of dark power?
Sworded Affairs: The company takes a job to dispose of a potentially dangerous magical artifact only to become snowbound in an isolated city besieged by flesh-hungry beasts — and under assault from within by a dark conspiracy.
Elfish Motives: Winifred Graceword is called home under mysterious circumstances, which lead to the company revisiting the lost even city of Wihend. But what do the four clans want with their long-abandoned ancestral home?
Twins and Losses: The company finally returns home to Ambride, only to become immediately embroiled in a scandal threatening to consume the Ambride Academy of Magic. Scheduled for late 2021/early 2022 release.
How Long Will the Series Run?
Unknown, but tentatively ten books.
Are They Available As Audiobooks?
The first four books, narrated by Heather S. Auden, are currently available on Audible.
Where Can I Learn More?
Read can read sample chapters from Scratching a Lich, buy signed copies, connect with me through social media, and get regular updates at my website: innsmouthlook.com
September 14, 2021
Weekly Update – September 14, 2021
First, a reminder that my first (and potentially only) live appearance of the year is this Sunday!
The weather’s looking good so the event will be held outside at The Corner Spot in Ashland, MA (with the Ashland Public Library ready to go should the weather turn unexpectedly). Hope to see you there!
Now, time for a bit of a serious discussion, book lovers (turns chair backwards, sits).
I know we’re only halfway through September but you need to start thinking about the holidays, and I’m going to tell you why. I’ll endeavor to be brief and to the point.
The TL;DR version is this: we’re still in the midst of a global pandemic and it’s screwing things up, so you need to prepare accordingly.
You may have heard talk about “supply chains” being disrupted in various industries, at which point you nod, grunt knowingly, and say, “Ah, yes, of course — the supply chain” without actually knowing what anyone was talking about. You might have thought it was similar to a blockchain and zoned out because you couldn’t bare to listen to someone droning on about cryptocurrency AGAIN, and who could blame you?
Basically, a supply chain is the route by which any product travels from point A, its source, to point Z, the consumer. You’ll note I didn’t say “point B,” and that’s intentional, because modern supply chains can be surprisingly long and convoluted. Look at any electronic item and you’ll see a supply chain that bounces back and forth all over the globe — and since the whole globe is still actively dealing with a pandemic, relatively small disruptions that, by themselves, might have a minor impact are compounding on another to lead to delays across the supply chain that, ultimately, impact the consumer.
Publishing is no different. I wasn’t able to find specific numbers, but Chinese publishing operations handle a significant percentage of America’s publishing needs. That’s of course because the cost of producing books in China is far lower than producing books domestically, and several articles I found indicated that American publishing businesses simply cannot handle “complex” publishing needs, which covers everything from specialized bindings to the intricacy of the art found in children’s books. It’s cheaper by far to have these books made in China and shipped overseas.
The problem here: the supply chain is vulnerable to congestion at shipping ports, and congestion right now is pretty bad. On top of that, the American trucking industry lacks capacity to transport those goods to distribution centers, and from there to retailers.
Here’s where you, the consumer, comes in.
As the holidays draw near, demand for product is going to increase substantially, but the supply is not necessarily going to keep up. You might find yourself scrambling to find anything, and prices are going to increase, which is going to put a strain on your wallet and your good cheer come Christmastime.
The answer (though I won’t go so far as to call it a solution): do your shopping now. Get your list of books for gift-giving together, head right down to your local bookshop — who will be hit by stock shortages much earlier and harder than Amazon or Barnes & Noble — and place your order. If you’ve got any books by indie authors on that list (and I hope you do!), and those authors sell directly via their websites, order those books now too.
This year, it’s going to be even more important to support small businesses, so act early — earlier than you normally would. Added bonus: get your shopping done now and you can spend more time relaxing and enjoying the holidays! My shopping is typically finished before Thanksgiving and I’ve never regretted it.
WRITING PROJECTS
Action Figures – Secret Origins: Audiobook recording underway, scheduled for late 2021 release.
Action Figures – Issue Eleven: Draft one underway. Scheduled for a winter/spring 2022 release.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Elfish Motives: Production is about to begin on the audiobook edition. Tentatively set for a late 2021 release.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Twins and Losses: In the editing phase. Tentatively set for a fall/winter 2021 release.
APPEARANCES & EVENTS
The Ashland, Framingham, and Hopkinton Public Libraries’ Local Author Fair – Sunday, September 19, 2 – 5 PM, The Corner Spot, Ashland, MA.
MISC.
The New England Speculative Writers group has a new preview book for newsletter subscribers. Pick it up and read the opening chapters to Well-Behaved Women – Awakening and other stories.
If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.
September 9, 2021
Action Figures – A Series Overview
What’s it About?
The series focuses on Carrie Hauser, a 15-year-old girl who one summer experiences two life-changing events: her parents announce they’re getting divorced, and she gains superhuman abilities after encountering a dying extraterrestrial after he falls to Earth.
Her adventure begins after Carrie and her mother Christina move back to Christina’s childhood home town of Kingsport, Massachusetts, and Carrie meets four teens with powers of their own: superhero fanboy Matt Steiger, who owns a pair of magic gloves that can produce any object he can envision out of thin air, like a living cartoon character; Sara Danvers, a telepath and telekinetic who is afraid of her own abilities; the easygoing Stuart Lumley, who possesses superhuman strength; and Missy Hamill, an adorable motormouth with enhanced strength and reflexes.
The teens form a superhero team almost on a whim, but soon find themselves fighting for their lives against very real super-villains – much to the dismay of Kingsport’s hometown hero Concorde, leader of the super-team The Protectorate.
Who is this Series For?
Fans of superhero comics, TV shows, and movies in general, but particularly of titles featuring teen heroes such as Young Justice, Teen Titans, Young Avengers, and Champions.
The tone is generally lighter than a lot of YA books out there now. While there is drama and conflict, and some later stories deal with darker issues, I try to keep the series fun, upbeat, and optimistic.
Is it Suitable for Young Readers?
Action Figures is a PG-13 series that contains mild to moderate profanity, non-graphic violence, some mature themes, and later on in the series mild sexual content.
An added word about the violent content: while the violence is not graphic, the consequences are not downplayed. This isn’t sanitized Hollywood violence. People get hurt just as they would in real life and do not easily shrug off injuries, and in some cases the characters have to deal with the emotional trauma of their experiences.
What are the Books in the Series?
Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins – Carrie and her new friends in the Hero Squad (yes, they know their team name is awful) find themselves caught in the crossfire as the deadly mercenary Manticore comes to Kingsport, on the hunt for the rogue artificial intelligence known as Archimedes. Soon to be available through Audible!
Action Figures – Issue Two: Black Magic Women – The sorceress Black Betty threatens to raise hell – maybe literally – as she pursues her vendetta against the Protectorate’s resident paranormal expert Dr. Enigma.
Action Figures – Issue Three: Pasts Imperfect – Missy’s life is turned upside-down when she learns the truth about the source of her powers, and her connection to the bloodthirsty killer Buzzkill Joy.
Action Figures – Issue Four: Cruel Summer – Sara finds herself in the crosshairs of the mysterious hero killer the King of Pain, but to save herself, she might have to sacrifice everything she holds dear.
Action Figures – Issue Five: Team-Ups – The Hero Squad, still reeling from their devastating encounter with the King of Pain, get a little help picking up the pieces from their friends in the Protectorate and the Quantum Quintet.
Action Figures – Issue Six: Power Play – The Squad finds itself outnumbered and under-powered after one of their members goes missing – and at the worst possible time as foes from their past reappear, more dangerous than ever and ready to exact revenge.
Action Figures – Issue Seven: The Black End War – On Earth, Carrie Hauser is a hero, but on the far side of the galaxy, she’s just another soldier on the front lines of an interplanetary war against the terrorists in the Black End.
Action Figures – Issue Eight: Crawling from the Wreckage – Carrie returns to Earth to reclaim her life, but life has moved on without her. Does she have a place with her team, her friends, or her family anymore?
Action Figures – Issue Nine: Hell Hath No Fury – Black Betty is back, and ready to unleash Hell — literally, but can the Hero Squad trust Dr. Enigma to have their backs? Or does she have her own dark agenda?
Action Figures – Issue Ten: Unintended Consequences – The Hero Squad learns that hard way that no good deed goes unpunished and the sins of their past have not been forgotten.
The Action Figures Omnibus – Volume One: Stepping Up – Collects the first three books in the series (Secret Origins, Black Magic Women, Pasts Imperfect) and features a new foreward by Patrick Hodges and a new introduction by the author.
How Long Will the Series Run?
The series is plotted out to eleven, possibly twelve books in the main series. There are potential spinoffs in the works, but the core Action Figures series will come to an end by 2023.
Where Can I Learn More?
Read can read sample chapters from Secret Origins, short stories set in the Action Figures world, buy signed copies, connect with me through social media, and get regular updates at my website: innsmouthlook.com
September 7, 2021
Weekly Update – September 7, 2021
Slow news week, I’m afraid. I finished painting The Writer’s Block and am primed to begin laying down the flooring, and I wrapped up the latest round of edits on The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Twins and Losses, and that’s about it.
Honestly, I’m fine with a little boredom about now, when I’d normally be hustling hard as a member of the Connecticut Renaissance Faire cast, but I’ve basically retired from performing at faires. I’ve been involved with faires in one form or another since 1995 and it came time to admit I didn’t have the energy for them anymore. I spent my last season, 2019, in a perpetual state of exhaustion. I wanted to do one more season and call it quits after a nice, round 25 years, but then the world ended and put the kibosh on that idea.
When work began on the 2021 season and I wasn’t called for fight director duty, I decided to simply sit it out entirely. I don’t regret the decision, but I definitely have mixed emotions about it. I miss the people and the social element, but not dedicating three months’ worth of weekend to rehearsals and performances. This year, I get to enjoy autumn with my wife, and there’s nothing to be sad about there.
WRITING PROJECTS
Action Figures – Secret Origins: Audiobook recording underway, scheduled for late 2021 release.
Action Figures – Issue Eleven: Draft one underway. Scheduled for a winter/spring 2022 release.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Elfish Motives: Production is about to begin on the audiobook edition. Tentatively set for a September release.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Twins and Losses: Penultimate draft finished! The book is with my editor now, and Tricia is already working on cover art. Tentatively set for a fall/winter 2021 release.
APPEARANCES & EVENTS
The Ashland, Framingham, and Hopkinton Public Libraries’ Local Author Fair – Sunday, September 19, 2 – 5 PM, The Corner Spot, Ashland, MA.
MISC.
The New England Speculative Writers group has a new preview book for newsletter subscribers. Pick it up and read the opening chapters to Well-Behaved Women – Awakening and other stories.
If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.
August 31, 2021
Weekly Update – August 31, 2021
First, the more writerly news: the local author book fair co-sponsored by the Ashland, Framingham, and Hopkinton Public Libraries has been rescheduled to Sunday, September 19. Still being held outside at The Corner Spot in Ashland, still 2 to 5 PM.
And now, onto boring basement stuff.
My basement, aka The Writer’s Block, is desperate for good lighting. There’s only one small window down there, and the existing lighting wasn’t good enough to brighten the whole space.
I took care of that on Sunday by replacing the old, mismatched, dingy ceiling tiles with bright new tiles, and replacing the overhead light fixture with a new LED model that throws light like crazy. It also has a thinner profile, which means I’m not going to bonk my head on it constantly.
I also borrowed a trick from the many home renovation shows I watch and created a “sun tunnel.” Basically, I lined the small alcove where the lone window lives with sheet aluminum, which reflects and magnifies the sunlight that does reach the window. It’s not enough to fully light up the space, but it brings a lot more sun in that the old window by itself.
To end on a completely self-indulgent note, my friend Matt happened to spot copies of Action Figures – Issue One: Secret Origins in a display for top picks for young adult readers in a local Barnes & Noble. While I don’t put any effort into getting book shops to carry my stuff — the money is all in online sales — it’s a nice ego boost to see my work out in the wild, so to speak. Thanks for the boost, Matt!
WRITING PROJECTS
Action Figures – Secret Origins: Audiobook recording underway, scheduled for late 2021 release.
Action Figures – Issue Eleven: Draft one underway. Scheduled for a winter/spring 2022 release.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Elfish Motives: Production is about to begin on the audiobook edition. Tentatively set for a September release.
The Adventures of Strongarm & Lightfoot – Twins and Losses: Work on final draft continues.
APPEARANCES & EVENTS
The Ashland, Framingham, and Hopkinton Public Libraries’ Local Author Fair – Sunday, September 19, 2 – 5 PM, The Corner Spot, Ashland, MA.
MISC.
The New England Speculative Writers group has a new preview book for newsletter subscribers. Pick it up and read the opening chapters to Well-Behaved Women – Awakening and other stories.
If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any news from me, remember that I have a weekly newsletter that features some of the stuff you see posted here plus new, newsletter-exclusive material. Click this link to sign up.
