Untitled Short Story
I am just about finished editing a short story I’ve been working on. It’s roughly 5,600 words. It’s a bit different from some of my other stuff, but I think it’s a fast, engaging read. The few beta readers I’ve had agree. There is only one problem.
I can’t come up with a good title.
Something Evil
Cover for Something Evil. Any thoughts?
April Work
I completed The Revenant a couple of weeks ago and have since moved on to a new manuscript. For the moment, it is entitled AGHAST. I’m not sure how I feel about it. I started out strong, writing a few thousand words a day on it, but over the past several days, I have slacked. I don’t know if I am slacking because my brain needs to recharge from writing 8-10 hours a day for the past few months or if the story isn’t holding my interest. I’ll force myself to get through a few more chapters. If I don’t like it, I will set it aside and begin something new.
I still have an agent looking at Hotel Sangria and have submitted Something Evil to a publisher. I have also submitted a short story to an online mag, but haven’t heard anything from them yet. We’ll see what happens.
St. Patty’s Day Update
Happy St. Patty’s Day to all my fellow Irish (even if only for a day) kinsmen.
I just thought I would update where I am at so far this month.
I think I’ve decided on a title for my work in progress–The Revenant. That sums up the book perfectly. Although I started on Jan 25, I have 76,000 words so far. It has been a slow-go since I was editing while writing–something I don’t normally do.
I had joined the Amazon Breakthrough Novel (ABNA) Contest, using Something Evil as my submission, but was cut on the pitch (basically a query letter). On the bright side, since no one even looked at the first sentence of the novel, I don’t feel the angst I might if I were cut based on the prose/style. No worries, though. Before joining the contest, I sent a query package to Leisure Books. I’d rather Leisure publish it, since I had to cut the prologue into something I was not happy with for the contest.
An agent is still looking at a partial for Hotel Sangria, but I believe I will hedge my bets and send out a couple extra queries this week for that novel.
What I’m Working on in February
It’s just Feb. 03, 2009, but here is what I’m working on for the moment:
I’m sending out a couple of agent queries for Hotel Sangria, a supernatural thriller about a skinhead and a black Vietnam vet who end up in a trap set by hell.
I shelved the novel I started in the middle of last month (I was calling it Something Wicked). Instead, I am working on another novel. It may end up being SW, but I’m not sure. It’s a quick-paced read, but a slow write. I have about 16,000 words written since I started it on Jan 25.
I will be looking for a home for my short story Uncollected.
I’m still on my first cup of coffee and it’s still early in the month. Many things can change, but that’s what I plan on working on February.
What I’m Currently Working On:
As of January 23, 2009
Editing Review- A short story (flash) about a woman reliving the last moments of her life. I am editing this for the 400th time while looking for a place to submit it.
A Synopsis for Something Evil, a horror/supernatural thriller novel set a short way outside of Keller Falls, Alabama. Ray Weaver is a small-time drug dealer looking for romance and redemption. If he’s going to have a shot at either, he’ll have to find a way to escape from the beast hounding him and killing his friends.
Editing Hotel Sangria, another horror novel set on the outskirts of Keller Falls. I’m also planning the synopsis for this. Strange things happen around Keller Falls and the Hotel Sangria is one of them. It’s where Dazzle, the leader of a racist skinhead gang, and Joel Sims, a homeless, black, Vietnam vet will meet. Both will have to put aside their differences and prejudices if they hope to survive another hour.
I’m in the planning stage of Something Wicked, the third novel in the Keller Falls series. I have the first couple thousand words written, but nothing in stone yet. It can still go many different directions. Since I just finished Hotel Sangria, I’ll take my time before diving into another novel to keep them from being run-ons.
Uncollected – is a short story. I just submitted it to a contest. So, I am not doing anything with it, except crossing my fingers.
Untitled Novel- While working on Something Wicked, I came up with an idea for a fourth novel. I am working out more of the details before I begin writing it.