Steven Radecki's Blog, page 4

How far can you genetically alter someone before she becomes someone else … before she loses her soul?

A breakthrough in human cloning leads to unspeakable evil.

Psychiatrist Sanantha Mauwad is back, helping a world leading geneticist recover a four-month memory gap in which his wife was killed and his daughter was left in a coma. But, as she unravels the mystery, she finds nothing and no one are as they appear.

Cutting-edge science and ancient cults collide in this tale of too much power driven by too much passion.

Goddess Daughter by Jay Hartlove is available from Paper Angel Press (and the usual online booksellers).

This is a fascinating follow-up to Goddess Chosen that, while it continues the story begun in Goddess Chosen, follows it own modern path melding history with cutting-edge genetics.

(Personal note: I found it interesting that we would have to two books so close to together — this and The Stork — with genetic exploration at their core.)

Final word count:  41,580

Words this week:  5,213

Average words per day:  2,607

Well, I can claim that I hit (and slightly surpassed) by revised goal of 40,000 words. I never could quite recover from falling behind as far as I during Week Two. But, of course, I now have 41,580 words in a story that I did not have before November 1st.

During the last day, though, the pieces of the mystery behind the story finally started to fall together. Had this happened last week, it might have given me a better chance to hot 50,000 words, as I would have known where the story was going. (I still don’t know where it’s ending, but at least now it finally seems to have a direction.)

So, until next year: Keep on writing!

Current word count:  36,367

Words this week:  10,091

Average words per day:  1,442

I did my darnedest to try to catch up this week, with somewhat positive results. My total words for the week were a nice total, but not where I needed them to be in order to fully catch up.

The story itself continues to evolve. There are three key mysteries taking place that may or may not be connected. There have been some nice character moments, though, which pleases me.

The likelihood that I can write 14,000 words in the next two days seem pretty slim — not impossible, but pretty darn slim. If I can reach a total of 40,000 words this year, I will consider it a personal win.

So, until next week: Write, write, write!

Current word count:  26,276

Words this week:  4,968

Average words per day:  710

I knew this week would likely be rough, in terms of word count, with a week-long training and three days of personal travel, but I had not anticipated that it would be quite this bad.

On the plus side, I did write some words every day. However, I am way, way behind where I should be, and not at all certain that I can catch up. As I always tell everyone else: “Any word count greater than zero is a good thing!”

The story itself continues to progress … although exactly to where I’m still not sure. This might be the first year that I have ever done this where I did not know the ending of the story by now. That had better come to me soon, as I’m running out of daily routine details to pad the story with.

So, until next week: Write early and often!

Current word count:  21,308

Words this week:  9,298

Average words per day:  1,328

Steady progress early in the week, chiefly due to attending a Virtual Write-In over the weekend. My word count dropped off significantly as the week wore on — as I pretty much expected it to due to commitments at the day job. (Which was, of course, why I front-loaded the week.)

The story has continued to move along. There is enough of a plot now that I could probably even write an exciting-sounding teaser for it. Other than that, though, it’s must just doing that: moving along.

Until next week . . . Write on!

Current word count:  12,010

Words this week:  12,010

Average words per day:  1,716

A fine, steady start to this year — actually far better than I expected, considering that I barely had a hint of an idea of what the story would be. (I still don’t, really, but it’s been interesting getting there.)

Some interesting themes and character stories have come out that I had not anticipated at all. I suspected that some of these would eventually turn up in my writing, but not in this story. Clearly the muse had other ideas.

Until next week . . . Write on!

We’ve all been there: standing behind a desk or a counter for ridiculously long hours, letting the movie of our imagination roll behind our eyes. We’re certain that you can, far too easily, find inspiration from your workplace. Magic, mayhem, revenge — and, yes, perhaps even redemption — can all be found here.

This is the anthology we all need — one that can help us survive our corporate servitude with our hearts and souls intact.

With stories by J Dark, Laureen Hudson, L. A. Jacob, Sophie Kearing, Andrea Monticue, Stephen Pimentel, Steven Radecki, Bob Schoonover, Vern Smith, Steve Soult, Ryan Southwick, and Kimberley Wall

Corporate Catharsis is particularly special to me for several reasons, not the least of which that it contains my short story, “Aggressive Negotiations”, that has sat on multiple hard drives for a long time waiting for a good publishing home. If you are looking for a variety of different story types and genres, you will find them here, and surrounded by a theme that I think many people can relate to.

Up until last night, I had absolutely no idea what this year’s story was going to be. None.

Tonight, I have a title (The Light of Distant Stars) and a main character — actually several supporting characters as well, as I plan to set it aboard a starship in my space opera universe.

As to the plot … well, um … all I can claim at this point is that there will be one.

And, if you’re interested, you can follow my progress here.

Get ready. Get set. Write!

Since my book, Building Bay Brother, has been available for a few years now, it’s nice when someone new not only discovers it, cares enough to write a review.

Author Ryan Southwick posted this review of it recently: https://www.ryansouthwickauthor.com/post/book-review-building-baby-brother.

Thank you so much, Ryan!

Shelby McDougall’s past is behind her. Almost.

It’s been five and a half years since Shelby put her infant twins up for adoption, and she’s finally on track. Back in Santa Cruz, California, she’s sharing an apartment with her brother, Dexter, and in her second year of criminal justice studies. She’s landed her dream job as an intern to local P.I. Kathleen Bennett. And her stone-cold love life is heating up.

Then a late-night phone call puts Shelby’s perfectly ordered life into a tailspin.

One of the twins has been kidnapped, snatched from home in the middle of the night. There are no witnesses — no clues, no trails to follow. After meeting the family, Shelby knows something is off. The adoptive parents tell her the children don’t sleep, they eat constantly, and their IQs are off the charts. Against her better judgment, Shelby agrees to help.

By the time she realizes she’s up against something powerful, something evil, it’s almost too late. As Shelby fights for her life, and that of the kidnapped child, she discovers shocking truths about herself and the children.

The Stork is a fascinating follow-up to Nancy Wood’s Due Date in addition to continuing the mystery of Shelby and the surrogate children that she carried, it take a turn into territory that I really enjoyed — and one that it rapidly becoming too timely. I really enjoyed this book and I think you will too.

The Stork by Nancy Wood is available from Paper Angel Press (and the usual online booksellers).