http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vYsVk23oxA

Book 12 is done and it ends on a ‘fun’ note.  I’ll probably finish retooling the outline for Book 13 by the end of the weekend and then . . . no idea.  I have to fiddle with the ‘Story With No Name’ this week because I need it thought out before I’m kicked out of the house in August.  Supposed to be a working exile, but we’ll see how I do.

Speaking of the new idea, I got some interesting feedback and realized that I was thinking of a different world than everyone else.  It took me a few comments to notice that people were imagining a really rundown, desolate, edge of survival landscape.  Having pictures from the Mad Max movies didn’t help, so my bad.  This did make me realize how we jump to the same type of images and worlds when we hear ‘post-apocalyptic’, which is why I don’t want to use the term for this story unless I have to.  In this tale, the USA is cut off from the world (by the rest of the world) and the federal government was wiped out overnight.  The events in the book happen a decade after it happened and I had it that the state governments got a quick hold on their regions.  So you’re seeing a ton of regional cultures appear along with some stuff that carries over the borders.  I also had it that foreign companies are still doing secret trade with the States and the Internet has been maintained in some areas.  Basically, certain groups managed to salvage some stuff and there are pockets of civilization in this world that aren’t as bad off as we are today.  I guess you could say I went more ‘Jericho’ than ‘Mad Max’.

All writing stuff aside, my son finished school this week.  So we have the week to goof off before he starts summer sessions on July 7th.  Aiming for a father/son zoo trip on one of the few non-rainy days.  Once Thursday hits, I’ll have my hands full getting stuff ready for the big trip.  We’re driving up to Buffalo, NY for the July 4th weekend.  That’s going to be an 8-10 hour drive at least.  I’ve no idea if I’ll have Internet access.  It might be only in the mornings, nights, and as long as my phone has a charge.  So I’ll be a rarity again on the social media circuit.  I’ll be trying to respond to any comments, interesting emails, and tweets.  Just can’t make any promises because I’ll be with my in-laws for the weekend.  I don’t think I can get away with a lot of phone time.  Not even sure what we’re going to be doing exactly.  Drive up Friday, hang out Saturday/Sunday, and then drive home on Monday because people have school & work the next day.  I’ll be tackling the editing projects once I get back since I don’t want the long weekend to break my focus.  July is going to be busy with this trip, son’s birthday, and preparing Merchant of Nevra Coil for a ‘hopeful’ August release.  As usual, this is tentative.

Goals for the week?

1. Keep son entertained, fed, clean, and healthy.  Only half of those are easy.
2. Finish Book 12 outline.
3. Toy more with other idea that REALLY needs a title.  Splintered States?  Shattered States?  To Survive?  Surviving Beasts?  Nothing seems to work for some reason.
4. Possibly make a brief outline of the next Ichabod Brooks story.  Thinking of ‘Ichabod Brooks & the Starlight Egg’.
5. Mild cooking.
6. Preparing for the trip by doing laundry and packing.
7. THE TRIP!  This will cut off all other goals, so I’ll stop here.