I’m currently writing Elementary which is the eventual outcome of a bunch of ideas I had regarding doing science in a world with magic. It’s got hints of Thaumatology in it, but just hints. It’s been going really well, much better than Starlight did. And then I hit the last section and I can’t figure out how to finish the damn thing!
It’s not so much writer’s block. More like Lego. All the little blocks are firmly connected together and breaking through the wall is driving me nuts. I’m third-guessing myself. I am displacing. I’ll figure it out eventually, but it’s really annoying. I was so close!
At this point, I’m thinking about starting the next Death’s Handmaiden book, because I have the plot for the first section worked out, and hoping that I have a brilliant idea in a week or so.
I hate writer’s block!
Witches and Ray-Guns 
We will be happy there are new books no mater what and i for one am happy to read that you are writing a new Death’s Handmaiden book it is my favorite series you worte. I cant give you any tips in regads to you writer’s Lego problem. But i find walking away from a problem and coming back to it helps to find new ways to solve it.
Doesn’t matter what ya write I’ll buy it and read it lol. Ill be right here waiting patiently.
I’m waiting impatiently patient! You have to be in my head to understand that, for the next Death’s Handmaiden book. You sucked all my free time with the fantastic T-101, anchored me down with Fox & Kit then Aneka & Ella, but I truly enjoyed DH the most. Nava-Suki and friends were just so much fun. Knowing that an advanced enemy is out there and perhaps another upshift in power for Nava. These series for me are the best as the characters are so likable and interesting. So I’m patiently waiting as I tap my foot and sigh as I reread these series!
Please!!!!
I love your work, but of all your series, Deaths Handmaiden is my favorite. Please more!
On that note, a short remark about Loyalty. From the title the story was exactly what I thought it would be, was afraid it would be. That’s okay though, you made it much better than I thought you would, and for that, I thank you.
Now I can hardly wait for the next one. It just seems like each one is better than the one before it. Now, I can’t even imagine where you are taking the story next.
Until next time….
Mycroft
You know, if you wrote a book about Legos I’d buy it …. Magical polyamorous sci-fi Legos solving interstellar crime!
… please?
Um… probably not.
“Probably not.” is not “Definitely not.” However, slightly related to legos if you squint hard enough and had enough to drink, a nanopunk story would be interesting. Not a whole lot of that out there, and what Ive found mostly wasnt all that great and wasnt very creative with it.
I’ve had nanopunk concepts in the works before. I didn’t know they were a specific genre, but I’ve had them. Never anything that got to press, but if something does coem up, I’ll let you know.
So any guesses on when Elementary might come out? How long has a block typically impeded you?
Anywhere from forever to not long. I’m getting this one out on the sooner end. April or May.
New Death’s Handmaiden 🙂 Yeah *cheer* Can’t wait.
Have you thought of a collection of short stories . Anything that pops into your head.
Yeah, but I never seem to have time to write them.
Checking out Amazon new books I am struck by the increase of the end of the world stories. Plague books are coming back too. The latter I dislike because we are just coming out of our own real life plague and the former for its sheer pessimism.
Well, ‘Titans’ is my post-apocalypse story. I don’t really plan to do any others.
Do you not count the series Aneka Jansen, Death’s Handmaiden, and Tatsu Yamada as well as the Gunwitch book post-apocalyptic? Fox and Ultrahumans might not be full-on apocalypse, but they certainly have world-wide disasters that are getting there.
And now I have the old R.E.M. song stuck in my head.
I suppose I could accept Tatsu.
Post-apocalypse implies a destroyed world and neither Aneka nor the Death’s Handmaiden books have the right feel. Okay, Earth is a mess in both, but the actual setting of the books is elsewhere and pretty nice.
Fox… I can see your point.
Ultrahumans, I don’t see it.
In Ultrahumans with how many large cities were destroyed and the mess in China I think it qualifies for a lot of people, but they are mostly “off-screen” except in parts of True Dark.
Ah, Ben C… I had to go through my old REM songs in order to get it stuck in my head too. Annoying, but “I feel fine”
I think I have it on my playlist for ‘Titans.’
I guess my idea of post-apocalypse is more narrow than most. I think of worlds and landscapes like Mad Max, Terminator after the bombs dropped or to go wayyyy back, On the Beach. For me, it is depressing to read about a world with no hope just survival. I understand that people may like to read them. Different strokes and all that.
It does seem that the online publishing market gets flooded with these types of stories depending on world news. Amazon will flood you with”suggestions” if you just look at a book to see the cover.
That’s pretty much my idea of post-apocalypse settings.
Any updates on forthcoming publication dates for Works in Progress?
I’ll be putting a new book out next weekend (maybe Friday).
Did watching the coronation disrupt your workflow?
Didn’t watch it.
Ill health has been messing with my workflow a lot recently. I’m taking a few days holiday this week. The change of scenery will, I hope, reset my will to live.
Take your time get well. Enjoy your hollyday. Honestly dont brake yourself.
Hope you feel better soon. Looking forward to your next book. Have you considered cloning yourself to work through these rough patches?
I wish…