I really didn’t like my last entry. It definitely felt like a ‘blog filler’. This place is supposed to be my little place on the interwebs to come to be closer to you, the reader. A place where I keep you up on how things are going, what’s new and what’s happening. Since nothing was new but it had been so long since my last entry, I felt compelled to put something up anyway. The result didn’t sit well with me.
Since then, little has changed. But the ‘little’ that has is still kind of cool to me. So I thought I’d share it with you.
First, I’ve reached the tipping point on MS5. Things are definitely picking up and will be accelerating quickly as I reach the cliffhanger conclusion of this installment of the new saga. Old friends may or may not survive this next offering. As many of you came to discover, nobody is safe. There was a reason behind the losses in MS4. It may not be apparent, but they are there. I got a lot of hate mail over those deaths. I’ve also gotten a LOT more negative criticisms over the last two books, as well. I’ve actually debated coming here and trying to address them, but…that’s not what this blog is about. I’ve stated before, the story told itself. I just typed it. There are reasons for why things happened the way they did. We don’t have to like them. I didn’t like them, how can I expect others to? Anywho…
Second, I made a new friend. A new friend that SHOULD play Laura Youngblood if the Monster Squad ever got made into a movie. Well…if she’s close to six foot tall, she should. It’s kind of funny, but we hit it off like old high school buddies. She decides to help me ‘dress up my site’ and when I see a current picture of her. I nearly fell over. When I write of Laura…THAT was the face I saw. It was spooky. Because when I say it was Laura, I don’t mean ‘she kind of sort of looked a little like her if you turn the picture sideways and squint a little…’ No. I mean, it was as if somebody reached inside my head, pulled the Laura Youngblood file, yanked her photo from her service record and then posted it on Facebook. Weird, eh? Well, it was pretty cool, anyway. Because this gal is really sharp and she’s going to make my website look really professional. Rather than just a blog, it will have a splash page. For those of you who are techno-stoopid like me (she had to explain it to me, too) it’s like a portal page with neat graphics and hyperlinks to my blog, links to my books and other stuff like that. I don’t want to say any more about it because she may scrap the whole idea and go a completely different way.
So…that’s what’s new. I’m still pushing against the September deadline, but I think it will be good. Hopefully, I can get this saga pounded out while it’s all still somewhat fresh on my mind and then hand it over to Todd to polish.
Ooh…yeah. Okay. I wasn’t going to say anything about the other novels that have been kind of standing by the wayside while I concentrated on the MS series…but. I sent Corson to a different publishing house for consideration. No…I’m not upset with MDP. Let’s quash that rumor before it ever gets started. But the fact is, they’re swamped. And it’s just not a high priority. I understand that. In fact, I’m okay with that. I talked with Denise and she’s given me her blessing so I feel good about the move with that one.
I also got the opportunity to submit both Whispers and Caldera to an agent via a friend of mine. A real agent that deals with the big NY publishers. While I’m not holding my breath, I am hopeful that they are well received. After all, Whispers is my personal favorite and Caldera is my missus’ favorite. I have no idea how long it will take to hear back on those two, but I’m daring to hope. The agent is just the first step.
So, that wraps up everything. Unless you want to know about how well supper went? We decided to use our new grill tonight. I made steamed carrots and steamed corn, cheesy squash and grilled sirloin. Chicken for the girls because that’s their favorite. Then we had…huh? Oh. You don’t care? Okay. I can take a hint.
Heath Stallcup Author 