(Really liking this song. Though, parts of it seem to hurt when I listen too closely.)
Sad, but true. This was my last full week of summer break, which really didn’t have an impact because of Covid-19. Aside from one day of subbing last month, I haven’t stepped foot in my school since March. That’s about 5-6 months and life has really been strange since then. Weekends mean nothing. Days all meld together. I’ve counted the time more by custody split than anything else. Don’t even get me started on how that’s going to go once school starts. It’s going to be rough because there are 3 different schedules that have to be considered. Needless to say, I’m dreading the coming months unless things change quickly.
My son was with his mom this week, so I spent my time preparing for going back to school next week. Well, that and writing War of Nytefall: Eulogy. This is the finale for the series, which means it’s going to be big. At least, that’s what I thought. It’s coming out more like a mystery. There’s a big death at the beginning and that sets the scene for things to go south. I can’t explain much because of spoilers for the preceding books. All I can say is that Clyde is going to be put through an emotional wringer, which is difficult for a character who’s main feelings are rage and calm. I’ve made it that Dawn Fangs have stronger emotional reactions than mortals, but Clyde hasn’t really shown this like the others. From how the book is going, this is the time and it might be due to things happening that should affect him. Facing a villain like Jewelz, Leo Kandrel, or Desirae Duvall is one thing. They aim primarily for the body and he can regenerate that. This time . . . the villains are aiming for his heart and soul. Huh, maybe this is going to come out better than I thought. Compared to Legends of Windemere, this series is turning out a lot heavier and gut-wrenching. Really wish I could promote it better.
Speaking of promotions, we have a little less than a week before the debut of War of Nytefall: Ravenous. I’m hitting publish on Thursday night before I go to bed and then announce it the following morning once I wake up. Thank you to everyone who has offered to help me promote this book. Due to time and money, I can’t do more than a simple blog tour. That doesn’t net me any reviews, which is something I really need to figure out. Anyway, if anybody wants to lend a hand with spreading the word then let me know and I’ll add your email address to the list.
Well . . . Not really sure what else to talk about today. I’m just numb. Nervous about going back to school because I don’t know how it will go. The unknown and things being beyond my control have always been sources of anxiety. Doesn’t help that I’m someone who feels like he has absolutely no control over his own fate. I should have the first 6 chapters of Eulogy done before my son is home and I can add another 2-3 chapters to done pile before school officially starts. I might be writing evenings on the days that I don’t have my son, which is becoming a more painful phrase to write. If I finish this book/series by mid-October then that clears the rest of the year for other projects since I’ll be 3 books ahead of the publishing side of things. Gives me plenty of time to outline Tales of the Slumberlord and write Do I Need to Use a Dragon? (Fantasy Writing Tips). You can see I’m just ranting now. Wait. I know what I can talk about.
I’ve watched a bunch of shows recently because new seasons were showing up:
- I really enjoyed season 2 of ‘New Adventures of Monkey’, which is a retelling of ‘Journey to the West’. It had a real 90’s TV fantasy show (Hercules, Xena, Sinbad, Beastmaster) type of feel that I’m a sucker for. Nice mix of comedy and action with a good story.
- Season 4 of ‘The Seven Deadly Sins’, which is an anime, didn’t grab me as much as I’d hoped. I loved first few seasons because of the fun characters and story. This season didn’t feel as solid and made me think it’s only purpose was to be a bridge from Season 3 to Season 5. Empty might be the best way to explain it.
- Tried ‘Letter to the King’ and just gave up after episode 3. I don’t know why, but I couldn’t get myself to care about the characters or the world. There were moments of fun, but not enough to make me stay.
- Stumbled onto ‘That Time I Was Reincarnated as a Slime’, which is a fantasy anime. I thought it would be silly and it kind of was, but I enjoyed it. Basically, a person in our world is killed and is reincarnated in a fantasy video game world as a slime. He has the ability to eat and absorb anything, so he becomes very strong. I feared that this would be like ‘Overlord’ where the overpowered main character shrugged everything off and won with no effort. Yet, this slime had to really think his way through problems and work for victory. The funny inner monologue helped because he was really anxious and awkward at times.
- ‘Lucifer’ Season 5 Part 1 . . . Goddamn, I want Part 2 to show up. Enjoyed it so much, especially when *spoiler removed*.
- ‘Black Blood Brothers’ is an older anime that I watched while waiting for another show to hit Netflix. It was okay. It was only 12 episodes and about vampires. Pretty straightforward story with thorough world-building. I got a good sense of the history and structure of the setting. Nice binge for 2 evenings.
- ‘Cobra Kai’ is the one I just started. Not being heavy into ‘The Karate Kid’, it isn’t having the franchise nostalgia effect. It does feel very 1980’s even though it’s modern day, which draws me in. I’m only in season 1, but I’m enjoying how flawed the characters are. You can’t say anyone is really a hero or villain here. Well, a few secondaries are clearly assholes. I think I’m going to enjoying ending my summer on this series.
Well, that’s all we have for updates. Goals for next week?
- Spend time with son.
- Back to work.
- Write more War of Nytefall: Eulogy.
- Publish War of Nytefall: Ravenous on Labor Day Weekend.
- December blog posts if I can.
- Get pizza at some point.
Legends of Windemere 
Glad you’ve mostly been enjoying the shows you’ve been watching, and making great progress with writing. Good luck with the new release, and with figuring out and working around everyone’s schedules when school starts back. Oh, and… I should be on your list, so this is just a reminder there’s a slot for you on my blog when you’re ready for it. 🙂
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Thanks. I believe you are on my list. You have trouble with the HTML thing too, right? The schedule thing is going to be the biggest source of stress. Mostly because it isn’t always a civil conversation.
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Yeah. I mean, I’ve had the html version from you before, and made it work, because I know enough about html to make it work if I absolutely have to, but it’s a real headache (made worse by how things now work with the new Blogger) because I literally have to scroll through pieces of code letter by letter to get my screen reader to understand what it’s reading well enough for me to find what I need to tweak to make something created for a WordPress post work in a Blogger one. Needless to say, I prefer not to if I can avoid it. So if you can send a basic text version with any images just atatched to the same eMail, I’d be very grateful.
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WordPress and Blogger don’t seem to get along very well. I’ll send the Word file with images.
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I’m where you are, Charles – in the midst of anxiety. But you are such an organizer! Tuck some time in to meditate to help you deal with all the unknowns. And I know, I should take my own advice!
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I’m organized with my stories, but not the rest of my life. Mostly because there are other people involved there, so I can’t do whatever I want. Time for meditation isn’t on the schedule. 😦
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Awesome on the publishing!
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Thanks.
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Charles, you have the busiest mind of any author I know. And most productive! Even while juggling other things in your life. Some degree of anxious anticipation goes along with all of that. Try to keep it at a manageable level is all you can do. Congrats on publishing in September. 📚🎶 Christine
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I’ll do my best, but things are going to be messy. It’s already starting to take a wrong turn since posting this. It’s what happens when events depend on working with others.
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That’s a hard one. Compromise is difficult when you’re dealing with uncompromising people. Hang in there. Hoping you get good outcomes you can live with. 📚🎶 Christine
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Given this year so far, I’m not holding my breath. That uncompromising person seems to enjoy causing me anxiety and pain.
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I think I’m on your Promo List for Life but in case you missed it, add me in.
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Thanks. You’re on there. Appreciate it.
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That song makes me want strong beer!
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Never thought of it that way. Then again, beer and my stomach don’t get along.
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I’m down to blog tours myself. I manage a few reviews, but more are always appreciated. Always happy to help with your release. I posted one the other day via HTML, and it’s only going to work until the old editor goes away. I don’t see the option on the new one. It may show up, but I’m not opposed to assembling something myself either.
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Thanks. Is the old editor going away? I still see it when I go to the dashboard.
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That’s the rumor. There are some folks petitioning to have WP leave it as an option.
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Them and Facebook. Just can’t leave well enough alone.
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With all that you have going on, the fact that you have a new release coming up is admirable. Hope this week goes well for you.
Glad you found some shows to enjoy, though some didn’t work out.
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Thanks. There’s been a few other shows that lost me, but I forgot which ones. Can’t always pick a winner.
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Yep, back to school for me, too. I’m not due in the building until Wednesday, but there’s an all-staff Webinar at 8 Monday. Got one more day to finish up a summer landscaping project.
You’re always welcome on my blog to promo your latest book. E-mail me when you’re ready.
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We’re doing in-person meetings this week, but no students until after Labor Day. Should give us time to sort things out. It’s going to be weird being physically back since it’s been months. Waking up early is going to be rough.
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Yes, we have conferences the first two weeks. Going over IEPs and making sure we all know how to handle the technology. Students are to meet by Zoom but that won’t start til the 14th.
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So, you’re in the school and the students are at home? We’re doing full opening.
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