Progress Update

Now you see what I’m up against.

It’s hard to get any writing done when you’d rather be spending it with these guys. But despite my addiction to my wife and kids, I do have a little progress to report.

Composition

Just finished an arrangement of COME THOU FOUNT for my aunt. If you’re into religious music you should check it out here. Or click on the BORED PRIMARY PIANIST tab at the top of this page.

Writing

The number one question I get is when the sequel to BLUE is coming out. Short answer: It’s written and waiting for book 1 to sell a thousand more copies before the publisher takes on book 2. So the fastest way to see the sequel is to share how much you enjoyed book 1. (And then guilt your friends into buy a copy….or twelve.)

Once my new book “GROOMED: book one in the HUSBAND TRIALS” is finished editing I plan to use it as bait to lure in a new agent. Here’s a taste if you’re curious.

35 word pitch:

In 2987 women are scarce and dating is complicated. To win his childhood crush,
teenage Travis enters the deadly Husband Trials and unwittingly befriends the boys he's supposed to kill.

First 250 words:

Mr. Candace was three hundred years older than his wife but he certainly didn't act it. When he learned he'd be required to attend his son's childhood graduation he made such a fuss that all of Travis's younger brothers came into the kitchen to watch.
        "I don't have time for this!" he shouted. "I'll miss my shows."
        Eventually the tantrum wound down and Mr. Candace retired to his room to change into his tuxedo. The nine younger boys wandered back to their telegame and Travis,
who'd been dressed and hairsprayed since three o'clock, followed his mother into the
entryway.
        After a few minutes, Travis asked, "How do you tell a clone from an original?"
        Candace furrowed her eyebrows at the strange question. "Your father is no
different that you or I. First or second body, the mind is the same."
        "But I'm only fifteen and I'm more mature than him. Does he even have a belly
button?"
        Candace smiled. "He has a very handsome navel. Which you see every summer at
the lakehouse."
        "Could be fake. Wendy thinks she saw her da's come off once when-"
         Travis fell silent as Mr. Candace emerged. "If this thing lasts more than an
hour, I can't promise I won't hit anyone."
        There was a time when Travis might have laughed at such a statement.  Now he
knew his father was completely serious.
        Despite their late start, Candace insisted they take the triple bicycle. "It's our last ride with my number two," she said, turning misty eyes on her son.

My WIP (work in progress) is called THE TIME TRAVELER’S SEWING KIT. I’m about 7 chapters in. Here’s the first couple paragraphs:

The library basement reeked of blood. When patrons complained to the head librarian,
she blamed the rusting pre-civil war shelves.
When they mentioned the smell to Od, he told them the truth. That Al Capone's victims were rotting inside the walls.
Some patrons laughed. These were the ones who knew corpses rarely smelled of blood and that the crime boss had done most of his murdering in Chicago. "But he did time in
Philly," Od would insist. "Nine months in Eastern State Penitentiary."
With the addition of a few grisly details, Od could usually elicit an uneasy smile, or even a shiver. Once a patron headed straight back to the elevator without any books.
It was the small things that made Od love his job.

I’ve also been busy helping my CPs (critique partner’s) hone their masterpieces. In fact I just connected with one who lives in NY that I’m super excited about. You’ll be seeing her name on the NYT Bestseller list one day.

I’ll be attending LDS storymakers in Utah this May. Super excited. I’m going to pitch GROOMED to one of the lucky agents there.

Business Ventures

Still working with the guys from PureMedia. I’ve been slacking in my social media job, but to tell you the truth I think they’re having the same problem I am. Our priorities are way out of wack. We put stuff like our family and careers before our side hobbies. Still. One day, I hope to see the eREader become a reality.

My card game COMMUNIST BARNYARD is pretty much ready to be processed. Just waiting on an extra couple thousand bucks I find sitting around my house.

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