R.W. Krpoun's Blog, page 8

Just a quick update: Grog 4 is at 25,000 words of rough draft. I am still plugging away.

I am still working on Grog 4; its in early stages, so a sudden blitz is not very likely, although I am settling down into the flow of the second section.

In other news, Grog got a one-star review on the basis that ‘slavery is bad’, a point I apparently failed the emphasize in that book. I find it odd that the post chose to note that slavery was bad, but apparently had no issues with the MC having 60+ kills in a gladiatorial game, but morality is a personal choice.

For those of you who are reading the Grog series, let me assure you that I am most emphatically anti-slavery/human trafficking in real life (and also am against death sports). I am, however, a writer of fiction, and I thought that the circumstances of Grog and his world to be an interesting venue. For those who are interested, I have based the overall situation and conditions of slavery in Grog’s world on the Roman institution of slavery.

Anyway, here’s hoping that everyone had a nice Thanksgiving, and that my Jewish readers, if I have any, have a pleasant Hanukah. I seldom forget that particular holiday (I man\y have told this story before) because years ago (a lot of years ago) I stopped a man for a traffic offense in the first week of December, and ended up writing him a ticket for not having valid liability insurance (a substantial fine in Texas).

While I wrote the ticket he very agitatedly told me I had no business issuing tickets at Christmas. Now, my agency did have an unofficial policy of not writing tickets between 20 December and the 25th, but that was still two weeks away. When the citation was signed, I told the man ‘Happy Hanukah’. I’m not Jewish, just a smartass. Although I felt that I also made a point in suggesting or pointing out that not everyone celebrates Christmas. But mostly, I was being a smartass. I did not intend any slight towards the Jewish people or their religious holidays.

The gentlemen drove straight to the PD, where he confronted my Sergeant with the situation. The Sergeant’s only question was “Do you have insurance?’

The man then proceeded to the Chief of Police (Skipping several layers of supervisors in the process) to complain on both me and my Sergeant. The Chief’s only question was the same as my Sergeant’s.

Thereafter, the Chief always made it a point to wish me a Happy Hanukah. I took the point, and did not repeat that (specific) wisecrack again.

So I am risking a jnix, but my current project is Grog 4. I have decided to write it as two parts, and have finished the first, smaller part. The two parts will comprise the novel. It will cover more time than the earlier novels, as I feel that the events in winter quarters need to be covered (part 1) before the story line progresses (part 2).

Now, I have started far more project than I have complete novels. Grog languished for years in several stages of completion before I had the spark to finish it, but I hope for better with Grog 4. Although the longer you write a series, the greater the challenge to keep things consistent.

Anyway, that’s the news that is fit to print. Have a happy Thanksgivng, everyone.

Still hammering away steadily; not ready to name the project, but I am working hard.

Meanwhile, I shot the best score on the annual retirees qualification:

Got a little ragged shooting left hand unsupported, but overall I’m not displeased.

Still alive and writing, if anyone was wondering. Don’t have a project far enough yet to report its tile, but I am at the keyboard.

I am following the Rust shooting incident with considerable interest. It seems to me to be one of those ‘We have a policy for a reason” situations.

Well, Grog 3 has been out for a week now, and has set a personal record for sale; I was very concerned whether I got the tone right, which is always tough as a series continues.

As usual, Big Dee disliked my cover design, but he gave me five stars anyway, so we’re cool. Amidst a flurry of great reviews, Grog 3 got a 1-star as ‘unreadable’. I’m not sure what was meant by that, particularly since it is the third in the series, but so it goes: you can’t please everyone.

Publishing a project always demands three or four weeks of fairly intense scrutiny, study, and hard choices. There are discussions about the nature of supporting cast, the choice of descriptive terms, and of places where the plot needs work.

Once it is uploaded and the cover designed (always a process filled with issues), there is a terrible absence of intensity. It is done. Documents and maps are sorted into files and posted to back-up media storage, and the work area, both computer and physical, is ordered.

And now there is empty time where there was once pressure and demands. It’s a bit disconcerting.

But I am breaking free of it, and turning to the endless list of stalled projects and half-formed ideas that live in a computer file and a stack of jottings on scratch paper in the corner of one of my desks. It is time to start anew. It won’t be Grog 4 right away, unless a brilliant stroke of insight hits me, but I already have a general idea for the fourth in the series. But something will get hammered out in a plastic rattle of keyboard strokes.

The E-book is lives, the paperback within 72 hours.

Due to the rising cost of punctuation, the e-book will be $3.99

It includes a very crude map, as several people have asked for such, and I have finally found a simple hex mapper that does not require a degree in art or computer science to use.

I hope it finds its way to good homes.

Now begins the final review and adjustment. Still no estimate on release date, but it is definitely drawing next.

I would guess two weeks, but that is simply a guess. Don’t hold me to it.

Third edit will start today or tomorrow. More news as it comes.

One bit of grim news is that the price for the ebook will be $3.99, so look to your budgets and finance options.

Grog 3 has finished the first stage of editing, which added around 2000 words, and a simple (crude) map has been assembled. Do not expect great things of the latter, but it is better than no map at all.

No estimate on release date yet.

But the search for a viable frito pie has shown some progress.