Vacation time trickles out…

I have everything I need to publish Serang today, but I procrastinated. People aren’t hurting for something fresh from me, so I have time.

  • Side note, still time to read Viral Blues for Halloween.

I’d like to publish this before the year runs out, and next weekend is a fair option. I need to devote some time to the blurb for this one. Because it’s a supporting story for Lanternfish, it takes place in a mildly fantasy setting. It isn’t quite as big as Lanternfish, but there is a dragon of sorts, (Maybe two or three depending on how you count) and I don’t want to mislead anyone.

Serang is a coming of age tale, so I need to communicate that. It takes place in a time of great political upheaval, so that has to get in there. I don’t want people to be upset because there are fantasy elements, or disappointed that it isn’t epic fantasy. A bit more thought might help when writing this blurb. By next weekend I might have it all sorted out.

What did I do with my spare time? I spent some time supporting the Something Wicked blog tour, along with some of my older posts. Today there is a blog push from the paid promo I did, and I already saw one sale from that. Fingers crossed for more.

I’ve also been staying up late for the World Series. So far the home team hasn’t won a single game. That’s never happened before, and it’s been a great series. Game seven is tonight, so I’ll be tired at work tomorrow. A nap seems like a good idea so I’m not too flat in the morning.

We had a chore day, so we got the camper put away for winter, and managed a date night out of the deal. Halloween is the only beer tour I participate in these days, and got my glow in the dark tee-shirt. I’m wearing it right now.

I spent a couple of days adding thousands of words to my side project. This one is a cyberpunk tale set in a futuristic version of San Francisco. It challenged me to use science fiction to exaggerate some issues we see in current society, and it challenged my world-building skills, too.

I’m very happy with a piece I wrote yesterday that went down during the Chinese New Year parade. A cyberpunk version of that parade. If the stars align, I can publish it on actual Chinese New Year for a bit of extra luck. I’m year of the rat, next year is rat. Maybe I’m due for some luck. There are rats in the story…

The story is called Grinders, and I’m at 71,000 words right now. Getting it done this year shouldn’t be too tough, and if I can afford the artwork, publishing on Chinese New Year seems realistic.

I didn’t do anything particularly exciting, and it felt great. I did what I wanted, when I wanted to do it. I was mildly productive and I wasn’t at the office. Sometimes it’s good to have a break from the workaday world, and that’s what I did.

Hope everyone has a Happy Halloween, and finds a way to take a small break on occasion.

37 Comments

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37 responses to “Vacation time trickles out…

  1. Sounds like a great day, Craig. I like the sound of both Serang and Grinders and will be keeping a look out for their releases. Happy Halloween 🎃

    Liked by 3 people

  2. Vacation sounds like it went well. Bummer when you have to go back to work. The year of the Rat will work for you, I have a good feeling. I can’t wait to read this one. It sounds interesting.

    Happy Halloween 💀

    Liked by 4 people

  3. I had to look up the Chinese New Year–Jan. 25, 2020, right? I’m a rat, too. Hope you’re right and it’s a good one. Three books is ambitious but do-able. Good luck!

    Liked by 2 people

  4. Happy Halloween! Curious to see how the World Series ends. It’ll give me an idea of several people’s moods tomorrow.

    Liked by 3 people

  5. Can I say I hope the home team doesn’t win tonight? And I’m from Texas but the wrong team is in the championship game.

    Liked by 3 people

  6. I admit I’m lost when it comes to the whole Chinese New Year and animals thing, but I look forward to Serang and Grinders. You’ve got a cool variety of stories going on. There’s a lot to look forward to.

    Liked by 3 people

  7. D.L. Finn, Author

    Happy Halloween!

    Liked by 3 people

  8. Hey Craig… when do you sleep?
    Amazed at the work you produce!!
    PS: Happy Halloween from Down Under

    Liked by 3 people

  9. Glad you had a reasonably productive vacation from work, and got some quiet time and a date night in there too. Great about you getting your t-shirt.

    Liked by 3 people

  10. Sometimes, a change is better than a rest! But however you do things, Craig, they work very well!

    Liked by 2 people

  11. Looking forward to the new books (your productivity puts me to shame). Happy Halloween, Craig!

    Liked by 2 people

  12. I agree that “Viral Blues” is a GREAT Halloween read! You can’t go wrong with masses of Zombies. 🙂 Sounds like your new WIP is coming along nicely, and how nice to have Serang waiting serenely in the wings. 🙂 Happy Halloween!! And here’s to whatever is next!

    Liked by 2 people

  13. >It takes place in a time of great political upheaval, so that has to get in there. I don’t want people to be upset because there are fantasy elements, or disappointed that it isn’t epic fantasy.

    Political upheaval is rather a hallmark of epic fantasy, though. Perhaps you could call it a “fantasy adventure” or something like that?

    Liked by 2 people

  14. Lots going on in your writing life as always, Craig.

    Like

  15. Sometimes not doing anything exciting is exactly what I want. Most Sundays. Whenever possible.

    Liked by 1 person

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