Update: December 2023

Well, here we are: the last day of 2023. This year’s had its share of ups and downs, so it’s only fitting for its final month to be the same, right?

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Unfortunately, this wasn’t a good month for writing. COVID slammed me right after my birthday, and that was the nail in the coffin for my efforts to finish “In the Web of Fate”–or even its third scene–in 2023. I lost about a week bedridden and another recovering. By then, there was this sense of disconnection from the story, as if all the passion had bled away. Plus it was almost Christmas. So, I’ve made the decision to set aside “In the Web of Fate”. Hopefully I’ll be able to return to it after finishing my romance novelization of “The Gale at Quiet Cove”.

Speaking of which, I started working on character sheets for Arlise, Earc, and the rest of the cast. Arlise’s ended up being something like fourteen pages? Maybe the longest one I’ve ever written, which makes sense considering all the details from other stories I need to keep straight. Some things may change–obviously the novelization will completely overhaul the plot and render the original non-canon, and there may be changes to the timeline described in “Rekindling–but I’m hoping to avoid inconsistencies and major retcons.

I’ve also done a little more work revising my notes for the Faith of the Mother. Most of it’s ancient history stuff, with minimal relevance to the plot, but I’ve enjoyed forging a more connected backstory for the world itself.

2024 will be all about this book. I’d really like to start the actual writing in February, with January dedicated to worldbuilding, character development, and an outline, but I wouldn’t be surprised if pre-writing takes a few months. Building a firm foundation should make things flow much more smoothly.

One good thing about COVID is that it gave me tons of time to read!

Since I grabbed Paladin’s Faith as a sort of birthday present for myself, it came first. Fluffy romance, excellent action and humor, some tantalizing plot hooks for future installments…T. Kingfisher doesn’t disappoint! I’m especially intrigued by the fact our next paladin lead will probably be Wren. She seems really different from most fantasy romance FMCs.

I’m still chugging along with His Sacred Incantations. A nice balance of sweet and spicy, but the relative lack of romantic tension it easy to get distracted by other books, which brings me to His Orc Charioteer Bride. Not many romances focus on the male perspective or feature non-human FMCs, so well-reviewed ones always catch my attention. And M/F romance by a male author? Sign me up!

Both leads are fairly fleshed out, the setting is unique, and I can’t way to see where the story goes.

COVID also totally wrecked my astronomy dreams this month. And in the days I haven’t been sick, it’s been cloudy! Figures this would happen after getting a couple new eyepieces and a lunar filter

Football was a bright spot, at least. Texas did trounce OSU in the Big XII Championship, but that wasn’t unexpected. While I would’ve liked a better berth than the Texas Bowl, I’m glad we got a chance to avenge 2019 with a rematch against Texas A&M. The game came right down to the wire, but OSU held off the Aggies. Ten wins, beating OU in the final Bedlam, competing for a Big XII title and winning a bowl game against a team from the SEC…not bad for a season that started 2-2 and included a blowout loss at home to South Alabama.

Hopefully I have some good news and clear skies in January!