Finding Myself in The Midst of a Mutiny

Here we are at the end of March, the end of the first quarter of 2023. Nancy and I have been trying to take advantage of the beautiful weather by spending time outdoors whenever possible. Last night, twenty days after the fact, we celebrated our fifty-first anniversary at Café Coconut Cove in Melbourne Beach. We had a wonderful dinner at the best table in the house, with the best server in the house, Marissa. The food was delicious, the company inspiring, and the setting couldn’t have been more perfect. I wish I could wine her and dine her like that every night, but, alas.

We had a visit from our grandson, Noah. It was a blessing to spend time with him. Unfortunately, he came down with a cold and spent three of his six days in bed. In the time he was able, we went fishing at Sabastian Inlet. He caught a rock fish. So did I. In fact, we caught the same rock fish twice. Okay, maybe it wasn’t a fish, but it took our tackle with it. We also went to the Dinosaur Store and museum in Cocoa Beach. Noah would like to get into paleontology, so his interest in that drew us there. We also took an airboat ride from Camp Holly, south through Big Sawgrass and Little Sawgrass, in search of gators. Saw a few. We had a great meal together at my and Nancy’s favorite outdoor eating establishment, the Grant Fish House. We had planned a day at the zoo but gave it up for a day of rest. Besides, the zoo is all around us every day, like in The Matrix.

Life goes on, on Croton Road. In fact, it has been very busy this month with doctors appointments and caring for the sick and wounded. Nancy’s knee is improving steadily, and the surgeon was pleased with her progress. So am I. We have friends that were seriously injured in a motorcycle accident at Bike Week in Daytona. We’re trying to minister to them with meals, but it’s difficult as they live miles away in Southwest Palm Bay.

Here at the old folks’ home, Mom continues her slow decline, requiring more and more care from us. In addition, she wounded her leg on the car door and the wound became infected. We’ve been battling the infection most of the month as well as battling with her to take her pills. Mom is OCPD, and trying to change anything in her daily routine is like trying to get Monk, the TV detective, to search a dumpster. It’s frustrating and consumes a great deal of time and patience.

As far as work goes, I’m not blocked. I’m never blocked. Quite the opposite, in fact. I’m normally overwhelmed by the number of story ideas that pop into my head each week, stories I will never have time to write, but I dutifully make notes about the inspiration. No, this month has been different. Often, when I am writing, one of my characters, or several, or an element of the plot, will take over the story and start bending it, twisting the plot in ways I hadn’t intended until I become confused about where the story is going. That’s what happened this month with the Patriarch manuscript. I’ve struggled with the confusion all month long, trying to understand the plot twists my characters were creating. Trying to see how their particular subplot plays into the central theme of the story. It’s been difficult. As I’m working hard to write about the mutiny taking place aboard Patriarch, my characters are mutinying against me. The solution to my dilemma was surprising, even to me. A new character has entered the story, a sentient AI who is conspiring with Patriarch’s Executive Officer to take over the ship. An interesting turn, very interesting. Anyway, the story is back on track, headed for an explosive climax. Can’t wait to get it finished.

In the meantime, I’m now nine weeks behind schedule. What that means is, if I finished the manuscript today, it would take another nine weeks to launch the book. Finished or not, I begin the final draft of “The Rift”, book two of the Gray Empire Series, on May first, come hell or high water. The additional weeks required to finish and publish “Patriarch” will have to be accomplished in the background. The manuscript stands at 96,093 words today. As the work continues that number moves up on some days, and down on others, depending on the ever-changing story.

Until next month, think good thoughts, press onward regardless, and do good work.