An Apology

Dear Readers,

In June 2012, I published my book, Dawnwind: Last Man Standing, via Amazon. At the end of the book, I planned on publishing its sequel in 2013.

That is not going to happen.

Life, as it so often does, got in the way.

I’m still working on the book, but have not been able to devote the time and attention to it that it needs. At this point, I have approximately 30,000 words written and at least another 20,000 to go. That’s before editing and rewrites.

I had hoped that I could get back on track this month, devote more time to the sequel, but that has not happened and I don’t believe it will in the near future.

So, I want to offer an apology to those who have been waiting, patients and impatiently alike, for Dawnwind: Resurrection. I said I would have it done and released this year and that is just not going to happen.

However, I am going to finish it.

It may be an entirely different creation by the time I do, but it will be finished.

Perspective

A little while ago I thought I was having a bad day.
I tore the sole off my shoe, got stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, had a flat tire.
Then, I heard that a friend of mine was getting divorced.
My friend's bad day put mine into perspective.  What I had had were inconveniences. Little bumps in life that we all hit.  I was not having a bad day. My friend was.
In all honesty, I can't say that I've had too many 'bad' days.  Most of my days are actually pretty good. I've got a job I like, good friends, a warm roof over my head and more than enough to eat.
My life is actually pretty freakin' good.
I'm betting that yours is too.
So, the next time you think you're having a bad day, take a good hard look at what's happening to you and what's happening to the people around you and ask yourself, "Am I really having a bad day?"

Heat

Good morning, gentle readers.

I’m sitting at the island in my kitchen, listening as my contractors work to install my new heat system. At the moment, ladies and gentlemen, I can think of no sweeter words than ‘new heat system.’

I am not a wimp. At least, I don’t think I am. However, after over a decade of living in Alaska, I can honestly say that I am not overly fond of the cold.

Snow?

You can keep it.

Ice?

Don’t wanna see it.

Arctic temperatures?

They need to stay in the bloody arctic.

I want heat. Tropical warmth. I want a house so hot I can grow orchids in the kitchen sink. When people walk through my front door, I want them to think they’ve stepped into summer.

Tonight, once the system is installed, I plan on setting my thermostat to eighty. I’m going to get this house HOT.

Tomorrow, I’ll think about my electric bill.

Tonight? Tonight, I’m going to sweat.

Cross Our Fingers and Hope

Good afternoon, gentle readers.
As I sit here, typing these words, sunlight filters through the condensation of my bedroom windows, bathing the room in ochre light.  The air smells faintly of fresh laundry and soap; a small space heater hums contentedly.
It's an idyllic scene, I suppose. 
Relaxing.
Cozy.
Perhaps that's why I'm writing again.
And before everyone starts bouncing in their seats in anticipation, like a small child in desperate need of the toilet, let me quantify that by saying I'm writing a little.
There is no flood of productivity pouring forth from my innermost being or anything like that.  Rather, it's a lukewarm trickle.  The kind of stream one gets when one doesn't close the faucet all the way.
Sorry to disappoint.
But, I'm writing.
I'm writing and that makes me feel like everything is falling into place.  The condo is coming along, I've successfully surfed the waves of change engulfing the store and the future seems to have less pointy bits in it than expected.
That's always a good sign.
So, what next?
More writing. Hopefully, a finished novel by the end of the year.
More work on the condo. Paint! Carpet! Furniture! (You don't know the luxury of a chair until you don't have any.)
Who knows? Maybe a big lottery win?
We can only cross our fingers and hope.
Right?
Right.