Why I’m doing something different

 

 

I’m working on a new story series for 2015. From a marketing standpoint this is a bad idea. Everybody knows that people only buy series, and I’ve already got a sci-fi series started. So why am I not finishing up Avarice Dynasty: Illusion? Why am I putting aside the second book of Avarice Dynasty in favor of something new?

It has to do with neighbors.

Yes, you read that right. You see, I was born and raised in southern California. The culture where I lived was markedly different from the Midwest and East Coast: in my part of southern California, neighbors are those annoying people who prevent you from having more land around your house. You waved to them occasionally, but for the most part you ignored your neighbors and they ignored you. You did not inquire about their children and they didn’t ask you about your ancestors. Life was uncluttered with people. It was simple and happy because you weren’t bugged every day by overly intrusive neighbors. I very much enjoyed that way of dealing with neighbors, and still do.

What does this have to do with stories? Over the course of 2014, when I wasn’t working on The Golden Scepter, I was working on Illusion. In fact, I’ve been working on Illusion for a long time. I finished writing the first three books of the Avarice Dynasty series almost eight years ago. I’ve spent the time since then trying to refine the stories, adding what needs to be added, but more importantly, removing that which needs to be cut. That means I’ve been working, on and off, on the Avarice Dynasty series for eight years. It’s my own fault that they haven’t been released yet: too much perfectionism, not enough efforts to learn the ropes of indie publishing. But still, eight long years explains why I want to switch tracks for a bit; why I need to switch tracks. Avarice Dynasty and its characters are starting to feel like an annoying neighbor who keeps showing up several times a day and expects me to chat with them. It feels oppressive, restrictive, and is getting to the point of being stressful.

So, to carry this metaphor farther, I am moving out of the neighborhood for awhile. I’m going to work on something fresh and new in an effort to recharge my mental batteries. What am I working on? Well, that’s what next week’s blog is for.