Thursday, June 21, 2018

Writing Update and Sneak Peek

Map for Visionary From The Stars


I HAVE been working on the sequel to the Alien Mind like I promised. I just have everything on paper for now as I've been writing at doctors appointments and while waiting before interviews (I keep my resume's in a leather folder with a few clean sheets of paper and a pencil just in case). Unfortunately, this means I don't have a sneak peak from the sequel ready to share yet. AWWWWW!  I know! I'm sorry!

However, I HAVE been having some success with editing/rewriting Visionary From The Stars here lately (my second book and NOT related to The Alien Mind). I'm currently about halfway through the manuscript (FINALLY!). It took me forever to get here!

Meantime I have alternated between wanting to toss out my map and subsequently realizing I drew it that way on purpose at least half a dozen times. This map may not make it into the final book, I draw to keep myself organized when describing a scene. I do however include these drawings on the Fan Extras section for each book which can be found listed on the Books tab above.

So, since I can't give you a piece of the sequel (Darn! It is getting good too!), for this week's sneak peek, I'll give you a piece of Visionary! I hope you enjoy it, feel free to tell me what you think!

Also, I'd LOVE to hear what you are working on! Doesn't have to be writing related. Anyone doing any projects this summer? Tell us about them in the comments!


*****

“There should be a small stream coming up soon,” Chris stated while walking and peering into his MTD screen. Focused on the screen, he bumped into Laurie. Mumbling an apology he put his computer away and paid attention to the path.

“We should find two more members waiting for us on the other side of the stream.” Bushwhacker informed them.

 Upon reaching the stream, they crossed on natural stepping-stones they found midstream. When they reached the opposite bank, there was no sign of the expected ECOPs. 

“Where are they?” Chris asked.

Bushwhacker was scanning the forest edge stream bed with careful scrutiny.

“Perhaps we should signal them?” Laurie suggested.

“Yes, I suppose so. They’re probably just late,” Bushwhacker replied with a nod.

All three ECOPs took out their tegars from their belts, extended them with two shakes of their wrists, and commenced generating the signal. Two iguanas came dashing from the woods. They too were making the call in response. As the group came together, they each put away their tegars. The iguanas bent over panting and laughing, their hands on their scaly knees.

After they caught their breath, they both straightened up and introduced themselves.

“I’m Mon,”

“I’m Nom,”

“Sorry we’re late,” they chirped in unison, 

“Chameleons had farmland disputes,” 

“We just managed to get it all settled.”

Bushwhacker smiled and nodded, “Quite understandable, it is farming season for the chameleons. Whirlp expected something like that to come up… Mon, Nom, this is Laurie Kingston and Chris Hagan,”

“A pleasure,”

“To meet you,” said Mon and Nom smiling.

The brothers were identical, Laurie noticed, from the way the ridges above their eyes curved to the pattern in the scales down their chests. They both had orange spines running down their backs and multiple black rings down their tails. The tips of their tails were the only physical trait Laurie noticed a difference in; one was black the other green. The brother who had identified himself as Mon wore a red braided bracelet around his right arm.

“You two are twins!” Laurie exclaimed with a laugh.

“You are also iguanas, like Tarpin, if I’m not mistaken,” Chris added.

The way Mon and Nom kept jumping and hopping around, it was hard to tell.

“Right and,”

“Right again!” The twin brothers answered as they continued dancing in place on their tiptoes. 

 The children laughed.

“We thought Tarpin,” Mon started.

“Would  be joining us.” Nom finished.

“He will join us at the meeting,” Bushwhacker answered.

The twins stopped dancing and started doing arm circles.

“We should probably make camp now,” Bushwhacker continued, looking toward the setting sun.

Chris and Laurie went off to look for edible plants while the twins went to look for firewood. 

Bushwhacker put together a fire ring with rocks from the riverbed.

Soon after everyone had eaten, the twins stretched out on the riverbank and fell into a watchful sleep. 

Bushwhacker and the children sat beside a merrily crackling fire.

“Are Mon and Nom always this energetic?” Laurie asked. 

“They have their days. Mon and Nom can be serious when duty calls. Even so, you haven’t seen the worst of it. I’m just glad the Chameleons had the sense not to let them anywhere near their sugar cane; now that makes them hyper!” Bushwhacker answered.

Chris chuckled as he found himself trying to imagine Mon and Nom more energetic than they were today.

*****

Sunday, June 10, 2018

Writing Update and Sneak Peek

logo


So, since it has been a long while, I thought I would do this a bit differently. I have started writing again, and have finally found the appropriate plot line for the sequel to The Alien Mind- which may turn into a trilogy or more (no promises). However, I have three kiddo's, I've just graduated (Magna Cum Laude- yay me!), and hope to start working full time here soon. Which ultimately means getting this book written will not happen quickly.

So. My idea was to update you on my word count with a sneak peek. I'd like to declare once a week, but depending on the week I may not get anything written so for now... I'll just leave it at that. If you subscribe to my blog or social media channels you will get the notification when I've posted a new update/peek here.



So here goes:

Today I wrote 2,078 words in the sequel to The Alien Mind (which does not have its own name yet)


I started Friday, and had a wedding yesterday so my total word count is 3,891 so far.

I may write a tiny bit more to finish off this scene before I head to bed but that's where I stand at 11pm today.

(update... 2,451 written before heading to bed... with a final word count of 4,658)


As for the sneak peek... Here is one of my favorite pieces (unedited):

*****
A thousand options ran through his head. Ellery needed an experienced mind healer. He could ask the humans if he could take her back to Aun to be looked at, but if the humans refused things could get bad. If his Aunantet friends helped him get the children out of here it could look like an Aunantet attack on a human colony. That wasn’t what Aun stood for. But he also couldn’t just leave her here like this…

Daniel moved toward the door.
“Commander Mandel, this girl needs more help than I can give her. She needs an experienced mind healer.”
“She won’t be allowed to leave this facility!” Commander Mandel replied.
Daniel stepped back through the atoms of the door. “Could you repeat that?”
Commander Mandel stiffened as he repeated his statement. “She is under the care and protection of Earth and its government now.”
“I wonder, does Earth or its governments know what you all are doing to these children all the way out here?” Daniel growled, narrowing his eyes at the commander.
“You have no proof son,” The Commander smiled threateningly. “So unless you have any further business here, I’d suggest you leave.
Daniel eyed the Commander before stalking off back down the hallway towards his friends. 

*****

There were a few pieces from today that I am just aching to share with you, but this one was my favorite. Daniel has grown a bit since the first book and I am really enjoying allowing him to come into his own a bit more! 

So... that's it for now. Would you care to share any projects that YOU have been working on? Doesn't have to be writing related- I love hearing what everyone has been up to!