Long time

It has been a long while since I did a blog post. Life can sometimes jump up and get you smack in the face, and no joke, it did that and more, knocking me out of my fictional world.

It all started when I finally noticed that my editors excuses were piling up into the unbelievable category, surpassing the unlikely, and moving into she was either having a breakdown or had lost interest. Naturally I did some digging and discovered it had nothing to do with my stories and everything to do with her lack of ability to focus and move forward. That was a relief and a sad discovery at the same time. I happen to like Jo, but I also need someone who can pick up the pieces and move forward as life has a way of smacking all of us around.

Okay…So things were unbelievably delayed, but I was in the middle of a move and my folks were going to need more of my attention anyway, so I let Joe work out her problems, moved, unpacked, and started seriously looking for a new editor.

Now that may sound like an easy job, check someone’s ability to assess writing and hire them on, but nothing is ever as simple as it seems. Editors take ownership of their projects. They like to shape the stories they work on. I happen to be a grade A #1 control freak of my creative world and resist shaping, nudging, or otherwise sharing control of my fictional universe. I am looking for someone to tear apart the writing, not to influence characters or story outcomes. Those I have fixed and cemented in my mind. No stranger has a vote, at least until they become a trusted member of my creative team.

Well, it turns out most editors expect to be brought into the inner workings of the creative process before the first check is written. I wanted someone who would read about my world before I hand them the seventh book to be edited. Yes, different expectations can make a search difficult.

To add to the complexities of the situation, my mother’s health began to decline and she needed more help. I needed to get a job and earn money to pay for life, editing, food, and whatnots. Complication after complication arose and everything stalled.

If you follow my other accounts you are aware that my family suffered a terrible loss with my mother’s passing. It will take time before things are back on track, but I am going to pick up the blog posting again. Not that I am promising to post everyday, but I will do my best to contribute regularly. The trips into my fictional world will be good for me and hopefully entertaining for you.

As it stands, Jennifer, an acquaintance of my brother, is an editor and is reading the first six books. We’ll see what she thinks and if she wants to come work and play in the Combined Territories of NewEarth.

So far she has only gotten a few chapters into Gordon’s Pride as far as I know. I’ll let you know what happens next.