R.M. Ridley's Blog

Tempting Mother Nature Cover Release – Kingdom City Revolt

Whew – That’s done…Next!

I have one paragraph in Chapter 3 of the next White Dragon Black novel, ‘Bindings & Spines’ to rework – other than that, Chapters 1-10 are ready for proof. Usually little issue arrises in proof, so essentially those chapters are out of my life. I will have to tackle that one paragraph- today. I’ve already reworked and reworded it significantly once…but clearly failed in my job to make what I see in my head appear in my readers head. Sometimes changing it up just clicks and sometimes it doesn’t. It isn’t something to get upset or stressed over. It will get there – it just may take a few tries, and there is nothing wrong with that. If everything I wrote was simply sent on up the line, without issue being taken or corrections asked for – well, I’d be highly suspicious and, in my heart, know my editor wasn’t doing their job.

Being ‘done’ 1-10 means I just sent chapters 11-20 of ‘Bindings & Spines’ on up to my editor for her to start working through them, I should start getting them back in my email rather soon and the cycle rolls on.

I also finished the ‘tongue’ style brooches I was working on. They are for a SCA Arts & Science event coming up in two weeks called ‘
Being the crafter I don’t see the ‘shiny’, I see the ‘flaw’. That’s life, and I’ve taught myself to accept a certain point as being ‘done’ whether my brain says it isn’t or not. Eventually you have to put the thing down, out of reach, and sight, and move on. I have learned to do that. This isn’t going to be worn by the queen, in foreign lands, as proof of the greatness of the A&S in the Kingdom of Ealdormere – and thus… it’s done.

Although, I have already purchased a great looking horn to inspire me to do further work in the area of repousse. Now that I’ve taught myself the basics, it is time to practice, practice, practice. Before I do that, however, there are other projects waiting …

I can move on to the other projects on the go which I stayed away rom playing with during the last push to finish the QPT project. I have a ‘simple’ rosary of fancy beads to string together; the hold up being I’m making a tiny pomander in the shape of a shell, and I haven’t worked out all the kinks in how it works.

I want to get back to work on a project I have neglected too long – my wife’s toothpick pomander. I have to start cutting glass into tiny gems, so I can then set them in the metal.

But most of all, I want – and need – to get started on the challenge I set myself before their majesties; hand carve a rosary, out of bone, in a year. I need to get started on this pronto if, for no other reason, than to understand the time it is going to take me to carve each bead. I must have a work time line so I can apply myself appropriately. First I must make the tools I will need – tiny, tiny, chisels, hand shaped from very small screwdrivers.