RECONSTRUCTION BLUES

Status: Rewriting the last six chapters to Starchild Duel. (Some kinks)

Doing: Writing on this blog; answering e-mails; working out, and well...you know the rest! :0)

Watching: Nothing at the moment.

Listening to: Taped music.

Reading: Kushiel's Scion. Page 424.

TOPIC: THE TRADITION CONTINUES. :0)

I'm in the middle of reconstructing a part of my Starchild Duel novel (taking a minor break from A Girl Named Mystery) and fighting with a medical supply store over my prescription for compression stockings.

On the book front, it seems as though I might've goobered just a bit on a couple of the story elements and made total hash browns of the continuity of the storyline up to this point--but like I've indicated in the past--? The same thing happened with The Starchild--where I had to go and rip out 200 pages and start over from scratch.

I did some rewriting and rewiring of a few chapters; glued some things together and rearranging other aspects of the last 30 pages today.

Everything reads the way it should--from my perspective--but I had the order all wrong it turns out.

So instead of some major writing today and yesterday, I spent the last couple of days reworking everything around.

I still have some things to iron out and I redid the title from "Dark Despair" to "Catch the Flag". (Anyone who is familiar with this term will know what I mean when they read this section of the book. What it boils down is that the Praetorial Guard is on full alert after the near-destruction of Shark's Bay; and everyone involved: Talia and Isis McGowan, Bayen--plus Nemesis--are on everyone's shit list for certain.

The last 5 years has given the PG some impressive countermeasures to deal with both the Starchild and Nemesis--hence the section title.)

However, this looks like it will be something of a tradition with each book following the last. lol

But this "glitch" happened around 272,000 words--and so I also deep-sixed the last 30,000 as well. I was hovering around 300,000 words, but the last 30K involving the final battle will have to be reworked again.

All because of the new introduction of Talia McGowan. Her enhanced presence threw the third draft book into a whole new arena--so I've been spending the last 3 years or so working on the improved upgrades to the book.

But regardless of what people say about not writing sequels, this one's definitely going to just as good--if not better than the first.

Not because I'm trying to outdo The Starchild, but because this one was pre-planned six to eight years ago to be a royal cat fight that would make people like Danica Patrick jealous. :0P

My compression stockings issue cemented around my medical insurance. Apparently, having a monthly COUPON doesn't work with this one medical store and they expected me to have a card instead.

As I told the medical receptionist: "When they were talking about issuing everyone a card, they didn't issue me mine--three years ago. The way it went was, 'wait a couple more weeks' and see if you get yours. Well, it didn't turn out that way. 2 weeks became 2 more weeks, and then a month, then 2 months, and finally, the response I got was: 'Just keep using your coupon for the time being.' "

She then said: "Well, we can't use it because it'll just be a denial of service. We have to have a card to know who to bill."

I'm standing there thinking, "Didn't she just hear a WORD of what I just told her?"

When I tried to explain it to her again, she gave me the same line and added, "Until you find yours or get one--we can't help you."

Oooh yes...I just wanted to wring this woman's neck for being completely TONE-DEAF to what I was saying! lmao

Fortunately, my wife found me a black pair of stockings that was given to us 2 years ago.

These things are really tight--but an extra pair never hurts. :0)

I got a call yesterday--while I was out; that the problem was fixed and I could go back and get my stockings.

But I'm probably going to wait till Monday, because I have so much to do today. April's still nagging me about getting my glasses.

Sky

STARCHILD DUEL UPDATE

Status: Doing some writing on Starchild Duel. Chapter 147.

Doing: Writing on this blog; answering e-mails; working out, and well...you know the rest! :0)

Watching: Nothing at the moment.

Listening to: "I Walk The Line"--By Alien Sex Fiend; "Database"--by PTI; "Recoil"--by Fleshfield

Reading: Kushiel's Scion. Page 404.

STAR TREK-THE NEXT GENERATION: WAR DRUMS. Page 78.

STAR TREK-NEW EARTH: BOOK 5 OF 6-THIN AIR. Page 45.

TOPIC: BOOK UPDATE!

I just want to let everyone know that I've begun writing in earnest once more on Starchild Duel. I think I'm a little bit more emotionally stable to continue writing--until I get word on the outcome of my hearing.

Don't blame me. This is how I've always been.

I've spent last night working on Chapter 147 of the book and then revising it until about 2:45 in the morning.

The title for this section of the book (on page 1,304) is called "Dark Despair"; drawing on the theme of failure and hopelessness wrought forth by the latest battle between Talia and Isis McGowan, and Cara Hastings (under the thrall of Nemesis).

None of the involved parties were able to claim a solid victory over the other (as Isis and Talia have teamed up against Cara to stop her destructive rampage)--and a good portion of Shark's Bay has been left in ruins as a result of the battle. (Isis's Viper X-1 auto-frame is now a memory.)

The race track where the Desert Storm was supposed to have played out was completely destroyed in the fight--and a lot of people and auto-frame pilots were killed in the process.

The primary players have retreated for the moment; each licking their respective wounds from the ongoing conflict.

Talia has finally relented to go back to Jonas's underground auto-frame hanger to find Jonas himself--at the request of his current girlfriend, Sara Braihteen. (Jonas likely filed for divorce against his estranged wife--Rayna Hastings--5 years previous. But there is nothing on what happened between the events surrounding The Starchild and Starchild Duel.)

But the 16-year-old stranded super heroine from the alternate universe is none too happy about doing this.

However, she has no other choice in the matter. With her sister (the other Isis McGowan) dead from wounds suffered at the hands of Nemesis on her world, the girl is literally on her own, and is still struggling to adapt and change to the universe she now lives in.

Isis McGowan is still out cold from being subjected to absolute zero temperatures elicited on top of a 5-mile free fall (after being cocooned in a block of ice) expose--and it doesn't like she's going to be much help to anyone presently, until she has time to recover from a combination of steep exhaustion and her sustained injuries in her fight against Nemesis.

Pulver has taken Bayen prisoner where he's going to be tortured and interrogated by the Praetorial Guard--while the rest of the rescued party returns to Fran's workshop to plan for his release--and any ideas on how to confront and contain Nemesis's destructive onslaught against the surface dwellers residing on the desert Earth.

Or the population of sky dancers living on the orbiting space complex of Stratos City itself.

But--as before--none of the ideas look doable or even the least bit attractive.

So...no immediate resolution to the problems at hand. (But you don't think that I don't have my own bag of tricks up my sleeve--now do you? lol

Trust me: I've been in tighter spots than this--with my writing. It's all a part of the job-description.)

WEDNESDAY'S CHAOS THEORY STARTS OUT LIKE THIS...

Status: Writing on Chapter 146 of Starchild Duel. (Last one was Chapter 145. My bad! See? This is what happens when: A) You're me, and B) You've had nothing but 2 full months of nothing but bad luck left and right.)

Doing: Writing on this blog; answering e-mails; working out, and well...you know the rest! :0)

Watching: KING 5 DT CH 5.2; WEATHER PLUS

Listening to: "Passion's Killing Floor" by H.I.M.; "Visions" by Razed in Black

Reading: Kushiel's Scion. Page 252.

TOPIC: THE ROWLING LEXICON CONTROVERSY

Just so everyone knows, I'm feeling a lot better today. But boy...! Do I have a shit load of things to catch up on. MY WRITING INCLUDED.

I just got done pasting the Starchild of Ancient Lore into the ground in my latest chapter. (Trust me: She's going to be feeling much better later on--after she gets some quality nap time. :0) The battle with Cara Hastings (or Nemesis--as she likes to be called) has taken a much greater toll on the embattled surface dweller. And her boyfriend Bayen Yelou...?

Let's just say that he has his own problems at the moment. (Praetorial Guard issues as usual. It doesn't help their case much when a wide area of the Barren Wastelands gets annihilated in the process by the other stranded Starchild of Ancient Lore--as she was left to battle Cara on her own terms.)

Anyway...not to distract anyone from the reasons why I'm writing today, the issue surrounding J.K. Rowling and that website which some 50-year-old fan had created a lexicon around the whole entire Harry Potter universe is something which had only recently caught my attention. (Being sick doesn't help my case much.)

With his intent to publish what is on the website--which has roughly 1.5 million hits per month. (Or is it per day?)

And the kicker? It got a full endorsement from the writer herself. Not the publishing aspect, but the fact that she endorsed a website which took full advantage of the HP phenomenon.

And now--suddenly--Rowling's trying to sue this one fan to stop him from publishing what's already on the website!

So why the John Kerry-style flip-flops on Rowling's part? The full and undeniable fact that she wants full and uncontested control of her creation and life's work.

See, this is what I don't get. The most popular icons of the 20th century--from Green Gables to Star Trek, to The Blade Runner, Star Wars, and so on...get gobbled up by generations of fans alike.

We didn't hear George Lucas suing that group of fans for creating that one hour long--STAR WARS: REVELATIONS--episode 4 years ago. (Which was profiled on CBS News.)

So why take this issue to court? It's all about control.

"Fuck my fans and readers alike! I want TOTAL CONTROL!!!"--shouts J.K. Rowling; a.k.a: Queen Witch of the Known Universe. "None of you empty-headed peons have any rights to enjoy my work! I make the money, I make the damned rules around here!"

...

And right then and there, authors like Mrs. Rowling gets screwed in the long run over how people view her novels or any future releases that will bring on board new generations of dedicated readers.

Her book sales may not be in danger of going the way of the dodo, but her reputation and credibility gets taken down a notch.

See, this is the price of vanity which some established authors fall prey to in the long term.

They no longer see value in what their hard-won fan base has labored long and hard for--to pay homage to and give out to their respective readers as a bonus treat to some of the die-hard book worms (or movie buffs). At some point the allure and glitz dies down...and maybe it's age or something else that takes hold and the author of this and that book suddenly feels threatened by what he or she sees as treading on some unclaimed--personal--turf, and now...?

They have to make one big fucking stink over it. Given by what the creator of that lexicon site has said in his defense of his intent--you would think that Rowling would welcome such a move.

Because why? Nothing on the site distorts what the Harry Potter universe represents. It is just a collection of terms, dictionary eulogies, and lots of other fun facts based on Rowling's already published books.

So where's the fire? The fire is that one fan has one-upped Rowling's intent to do one compendium herself at some point before HP becomes a faded memory in the back of everyone's mind.

This man went and pissed all over what Rowling's grand plan to make what again...?

That's right kiddies!

MONEY!

LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY! CABBAGE, BREAD, DOUGH, SCRATCH, MOOLA, WHATEVER YOU CALL THE GREENBACK, THIS IS WHAT SHE WANTS THE MOST.

Rowling created this massive money-making cash cow from the start about 11 years ago--with the first Harry Potter book--and now she wants to milk everything for what is worth--even at the expense of her fan base loyalties.

See, this is where I draw the line.

Copyright infringement and legalities aside, fans should reserve the right to go fucking nuts with the author's works--so long as there is no preverse scheme involved to take away the original vision set in place by the original creator or author.

The money making schtick involved in this pointed mess is something I'm still at odds over. If there is money to be made, the author should get the lion's share of the profits made from this little venture, while the creator of the said lexicon should get a modest repast for his efforts and hard work.

But the two of them should be working together on this, not fighting it in federal court.

That in itself would give fans like my wife a bit of a breather and not grant everyone a severe migraine over the issue of free creative license and who should benefit it the most.

Because--should the court rule on this--if things go awry and the judge decides that it's Rowling's sole inheritance to claim eminent domain over anything put out now or in the near future--it's going to make it damned impossible for anyone to rightfully enjoy what an an author puts out--because he or she is going to be afraid of being SUED or taken to court over fan-created works of interest; based on the original idea.

This means anyone--including the guys whom made STAR WARS: REVELATIONS--can be dragged into a court of law and sued for everything they got.

Because they happened to step on the toes of either the original author or the original creator/producer of said movie or book.

And that is going to freeze everyone's personal enjoyment of reading that book or watching that movie--because a federal judge said that fans everywhere have no rights to do anything that will upset the money-making status quos of the authors or anyone else.

As an unpublished author myself, I am a man of free will and free enterprise. As much as I want to make a sickening amount of money off of my books (a man can dream--can't he?)...I also have to realize that once the genie comes out of the bottle, it's virtually impossible to put back in.

WISH I COULD GET PAID SICK LEAVE HERE!

Status: You guessed it: I'M SICK.

Doing: Playing on my new Disgaea 2 game I purchased a few months back. (This game is sooo twisted.)

Listening to: The Cars: Greatest Hits CD

Reading: Kushiel's Scion. Page 252.

TOPIC: ....(someone give me a barf bag! QUICK!)

Several days ago I was hit with the flu. Or something like that. Intense pressure in my neck, the base of my skull...in my head...plus a raging fever and an urge to sleep more than I'm used to. (Not to mention my ears being clogged--like I've gone up a few atmospheres and someone forgot to decompress me on the way back.)

As a consequence, I haven't been in any real contact with anyone in my groups (save for a few people today), or done any serious writing on my Starchild Duel novel. Please forgive my lack of participation--but I've called in sick this week.

Until I get better. (Burping up grapes here.)

Thankfully, I had a little money left over from this past week's contributions and I had my wife (April) run to Wal-Mart to get me some cold medicine and decongestant. (The rest I dumped into paying another chunk of my Verizon bill off. I've got something like $53 left on it--after they gave me some new numbers. But that's not including next month's new addition. Still? That's better than $132.)

Let's just say that both helped me be a little better coordinated, but I'm still feeling like road kill at the moment. I won't be making a run to the doctor's unless I absolutely have to.

I was going to post a couple more interesting things today in this blog, but I haven't had the energy or the strength to do much of anything.

So please bear with me.

Sky

THURSDAY'S MUSINGS

Status: Writing on Starchild Duel. Chapter 146.

Doing: Writing this blog; surfing the net; answering e-mails.

Watching: Nothing at the moment.

Listening to: Dance Rush-1997; Disc 1. (Some old favorites--including the "Macarena")

Reading: Kushiel's Scion. Page 252.

TOPIC: SNEAK PEEK INTO STARCHILD DUEL.

This may be jumping out a little--far ahead as a matter of fact--of what's been written so far in the book, but I wanted to show my readers some up and coming action from the sequel to The Starchild.

Enjoy!

***


Talia charged into the storm itself–not caring of the danger that it truly presented itself–even as the winds roared, howled, or screamed at her in earnest.

She didn’t care.

Nemesis was as good as dead–once she found her!

But minutes of searching in this blind soup produced nothing–and so the stranded Starchild of Ancient Lore tried another tact.

Believing she had escaped.

Gathering herself up for the chase, the teenager rocketed up towards the heavens themselves for the next twenty seconds–encountering huge pockets of air turbulence in the process–but hitting past Mach 5 all the same.

Her own speed was producing shockwaves of its own–which sought out the air turbulence and crushed it.

The storm’s fury increased as a result of her meddling–and sheet lightning raced about in a gloriously blinding display of awe-inspiring motion and dazzling pyrotechnics.

Peals of thunder followed suit–wracking the stranded Starchild’s hearing as she continued to her ascent–but couldn’t quite reach her.

None of it could reach her!

But as fast as the storm was, Talia was going much faster.

Mach 7.

A nimbus of energy formed around her as she ripped right into the upper limits of the atmosphere–leaving a glowing trail behind her as a result of intense friction.

Weightlessness greeted her soon after, but Talia didn’t care.

She was on the hunt.

“Where are you, Nemesis?!” She called out into the thin air of the ionosphere itself. “In the name of Taro Aii–where did you fucking go?!?”

Endless emptiness greeted her in reply.

Talia smashed her fist and open palm together in outright frustration.

“Fine. You want to play games? So can I…” She whispered in deadly earnest. “Let’s see how you like this one.”

The girl dived towards Earth once more, breaking open the sound barrier in less than a millisecond. But she wasn’t finished. Not by a long shot.

With each passing second, she was nothing but a blur of speed built on two emotions: Anger and…love.

But only one would win out.

* * *

Isis fell back into the soft embrace of the sandy ground beneath her–digging up a couple of nice furrows in the process.

“Ooof!” She croaked–after feeling the wind being knocked out of her. “Who in the world–?”

“That would be me, you pedantic fool. Or have you forgotten all about me…already?” Nemesis’s cold voice cut through the storm’s wrath.

The Starchild wiped the back of her mouth gingerly–feeling what she thought was nothing more than drool; turned out to be nothing more than her own blood.

Isis grunted to herself.

“Nice shot. I didn’t think you had much left in you–after the pounding Talia gave you earlier.”

Nemesis laughed.

“That little mouse? Oh, how she does try to overcome me! But with each passing second, with each passing injury, I just grow stronger and stronger. Her hits on me have become more of an annoyance than anything else.” She stepped closer to the downed protector of the known universe.

“And what about you? Do you seem to be up to the challenge, my little herald of Chaos? Perhaps you and I can exchange blows at our true power levels…?”

Isis’s eyes glued shut for a moment–as she instantly recalled what she told Calis.

“The planet would never withstand that kind of leveled energy release–even for a picosecond. You know that as well as I, Nemesis.” She said matter-of-factly.

More laughter soon followed.

“Do you think I really care about this little sphere? I could care less if it was destroyed in the process! I only want you!”

Isis McGowan shook her head in bewilderment.

“This isn’t a date, Nemesis.” Then she smiled. “And besides–you’re not even my type.”

Nemesis’s emerald green eyes glowed brightly for a second–piercing the storm’s choking sand veil.

“Oh, so we have a comedian in the midst, do we?”

Isis got to her feet–staggering just a bit–but stood and faced Nemesis without any recourse.

“Laugh this one off–if you can.”

The Starchild vanished in a blur of motion–catching Nemesis with a solid punch to the face; staggering her smartly. The woman delivered a reverse punch on the follow up strike–throwing her off balance even more, and then reached around her hunched over body–grabbing her firmly by the middle–and finally pivoting around on one foot with her burden.

“You always were too full of yourself, Nemesis.” Isis said under no certain terms, before slamming her sideways right into the ground with brute force.
Geysers of broken earth shot upwards as a result of the ensuing impact, but the Starchild of Ancient Lore wasn’t finished with her just yet.

“Time to take out the trash!" She announced with unmistakable glee–reaching down and grabbed Nemesis by her legs–tearing the woman out from the desert confines of her own partially embossed earthly tomb.

Raising her up with one hand–with shivers of sand and rock debris cascaded off of the bruised Daughter of Chaos–Isis McGowan simply shook her head; having zero sympathy for someone who didn’t share in the greater respect for life in general.

“Believe me when I say this, Nemesis: You’re going to wish that you have never met me after this day.” And with that, she spun herself around in a tight arc and launched her most hated adversary straight up into the storm-laden skies.

* * *

Approaching speeds measuring upwards of Mach 15-Talia McGowan saw Nemesis coming up at her with such force that it literally surprised her.

But that emotion came and went, as the teenager pounced on a glorious opportunity without hesitation.

“Surprise!” She crowed with grand maliciousness–and jack-hammered Nemesis right back to Earth with overpowering results–sending her earthward at an astonishing 34,600 miles per hour.

A caterwauling peal of sound rippled right across the desert, across Shark’s Bay–as Nemesis’s body screamed through space and thundered right into the Earth without mercy; cutting right into it like a hot knife through butter.

But Talia was right behind her–separated only by several seconds. The girl righted herself at the last moment, and dropped right into the gaping hole made by the impact–feet first.

The whole Pit area imploded with a savage intensity–with most of the auto-frames tossed about like toys in an instant.

Some of the more unfortunate ones lit off in quick succession due to the mounting compression waves subjected against them at close range. Still…others managed to escape the onslaught with varying degrees of damage.

Spectators in the stands next door scattered about like scared mice–while the participating pilots in the Desert Storm had caught the tail end of the conflict. As a result, most of the auto-frames were badly affected by the shockwaves from the terrific impact.

A great many of them on the outside track were picked up and shoved 1,200 yards out further from the starting line–only to rain back down in crushed heaps of metal, plastic, and power cores. Those closer to the grandstands were crushed against one another. Some explosions were seen dotting the lineup, while the fresh screams of tortured metal and sharp exclamations over the open comm net filled the air.

“Don’t think I’m done with you yet–Nemesis!” Talia declared with burning indignation. “I still have something to give to you–from my sister–you uncaring bitch!”

Then she transformed right then and there–the whole area being wiped away in an instant by a searing white light–and became an awesome release of energy and unfathomable power.

DOWN WITH THE FLU

Status: SICK

Doing: Writing this blog; surfing the net; answering e-mails; taking it easy

Watching: Nothing on the RTN channel. (Retro Television Network.)

Listening to: "Carbine [Escape Mix]" by Nokturnal Transmission's (Blue Amazon)

Reading: Kushiel's Scion by Jacqueline Carey (Page 173)--haven't read this book in a month

TOPIC: SICK

Okay. So it's official. After 3 years of not having the flu--I get waxed by a strain called the Brisbane N1-H5 rhino virus--which is not covered by this year's vaccine; against the current strains.

As a result, I've been out sick this week--and thus no writing. Nothing on Stories of the Dead Earth--Book 3: Jasper (left off on Chapter 27.

I've been taking it easy--doing little more than resting and relaxing. I've reduced my weight training to 3 sets instead of 5 for the week. (But power lifting has become troublesome--because of the weakness and achiness prevalent in my body.)

My e-mails have backed up some, and I still have to post a chapter my novel, The Price of Freedom on my other blogger account. I might be able to get one done with my Stories of the Dead Earth saga.

I dunno. I was pretty backed up last month and didn't post. This month? Well, welcome to the flu.

After my 2 week vacation (ending on March 16th), I have to get cracking on completing Starchild Duel and then start Starchild Ruin.

I know what I said before about my current housing situation, but I promised some people that I would end POF on a good note--if things go sour this summer.

But the book is far from being completed--as predicted. I'm still on Chapter 190.

So until then, I have lots of hot tea and honey to chug down, plus this persistent bladder infection and more kidney stones to worry about. (Passed another one last night--making it two for the week.)

Sky

MONDAY'S MUSINGS. (PART 3.)

Status: Writing Chapter 20 to Stories of the Dead Earth-Book 3: Jasper

Doing: Writing this blog; surfing the net; answering e-mails; working out

Watching: Nothing at the moment. (Quiet day.)

Listening to: "Track X" by Sheep on Drugs; "No Love Will Heal" by In Strict Confidence; "Maniacal" by KMFDM

Reading: Kushiel's Scion by Jacqueline Carey (Page 173)

TOPIC: UNDERSTANDING THE BOOKS YOU INTEND TO WRITE

When the Price of Freedom is completed sometime in 2011 or 2012; I'll either be looking at an impressive personal record of 1 million words, or I'll be pretty damned close! (lol)

But the point of writing the first book in this six-book saga isn't to simply shoot for a million words, but to tell a story. I've already crossed the threshold by achieving a new high in any of the books written so far. But I still have a long ways to go.

Of course, I'll have people tell me that I should cut my book down and fit it into the space of a breadbox. but seriously everyone: Who am I writing this book for? An industry that doesn't want the book anyway, or for a small eclective group of readers--whom might enjoy something a little different from usual fare of commercialized literature?

I know that I have a lot of work ahead of me--in terms of editing--but for right now...I need to focus more on finishing the book instead of worrying about all the little details about publishing, marketing, and shrinking it down so massively that what is left is completely unrecognizable to the average reader with an 8th grade reading equivalent. (Sad but true. There are studies that show that some Americans can't read past the 5th or 6th grade level these days.)

13 years ago, I couldn't have imagined doing something on a scale this large. My maximum ceiling limit back then was 60,000 words (like today's minimum allotted word counts by agents and publishers), and I was having a bitch of a time trying to break 100,000 words.

Nothing I wrote seemed to be working! lol

No...

Scratch that.

The problem wasn't the word counts. It was me.

My mind simply hadn't evolved to a point where I started to see things differently with my writing. Doors inside my mind were still very much closed off and I was just plodding along the best I could.

Sometime in 1999, I finally did it though.

I hit the magical number of 100,000 words! (Okay, so it was 99,500. But close enough. Is anyone going to roast me alive for stretching things out a little here? >g<)

But the problem was, my book back then wasn't good enough. It needed some work. However, I couldn't see that.

Couldn't see beyond my own limitations. It took the words of one editor to finally unlock the doors to greater potential within me.

I spent the next 10 months rewriting that book and broke through another milestone while doing it: 200,000 words!

But even then, I wasn't done with the book. While the novel was being looked at by my second agent, I suddenly had an ephinany; a revelation like none other: I had this "urge" to go back and rewrite that book over again and make it better!

So began another long journey into what would become 300,000 words. (With some spare change included of course.)

And that book was none other than The Starchild.

But why 1 million words (potentially) for The Price of Freedom and only 300,000 words for The Starchild and its sequel; Starchild Duel?

Quite frankly, it's because of the way I've approached each storyline by the extent each saga will run: One will always be longer than the other by design. Not by simple default.

For example: Stories of the Dead Earth is a first-person POV saga that limits itself by the simple fact that the storylines will be shorter and the action fast-paced. So the maximum word count for this saga shouldn't breach no more than 125,000 words maximum. (I'm shooting for 110,000 conservatively.)

The Starchild saga could easily breach 400 to 500,000 words--eventually. 300,00 words (for right now) is the absolute ceiling limit for the first 2 novels in this 30 book series. (I planned out this saga some 10 years ago with some storyline modifications over the last 4 years.)

The Price of Freedom is so much different than anything I've ever gone and created. This saga involves a much deeper and more richer storyline than what I have currently running in both The Starchild and Stories of the Dead Earth. (Which was my answer to people's nagging persistence that I write 'shorter novels'.)

And it has taken me to new levels of storytelling than I ever thought possible. Add the erotic romance elements into the mix, and you have something that makes those classic 'Civil War' novels look like a walk in the park. (The books that were titled by each state's given name; Texas!.)

Tooting my horn a little? Yes and no. I am proud of what I've gone and accomplished as a disabled individual and as a writer in question. But I'm not going to glorify this as a new publishing standard and hope to hell that people will follow me and emulate what I've spent the last 4 years trying to finish.

In fact, I would advise against trying in the first place. Seriously here folks. Don't even try!

Writing expansive tomes that stretch hundreds of thousands of words takes years of practice and a deep understanding of your craft.

Simply jumping on the band wagon and declaring in a broad voice; "I want to be like So and So!" isn't going to make your book any better.

Wanting to be like someone and understanding what they really wrote are two different things here. I've come across newbie writers whom want to be like Stephen King or J.K. Rowling, but they lack the general understanding of what they've gone and written.

No single book that they've published is one and the same. Each storyline or plot will be different from last book. And in time, the next generation of novels that they publish will take on a life completely apart from the very first novel that they spent years writing and publishing.

Which is why I don't want to copy or be copied by anyone who wishes to follow in my footsteps.

Each of my novels may have a singularly running theme in the beginning, but over time?

Everything changes.

But you also have to have a deeper understanding of what I'm writing as well--and be prepared to encounter (and deal with) the myriad of track changes and pitfalls that each book has engrained within.

For example, The Starchild explores the beginnings of the legendary Starchild of Ancient Lore; and Isis McGowan's thrust into that unsuspecting mantle. The 14-year-old girl is plagued by both uncertainties, challenges, setbacks, and everything under the sun--while grappling with the repercussions of having virtually unlimited power at her fingertips.

Pretty straightfoward, right?

Think you can duplicate the book down to a science?

No.

And why not?

Because while you may be able write something similar in style to The Starchild you won't be able to grasp the subtle nuances and inflections embedded into the novel itself.

And what's more, Starchild Duel completely blows off the cover to what sequels should be and read like!

Here you have a much different storyline which deals with personal confrontations, past events, but also has a much darker tone to the overall storyline than the last book.

This novel is a "no holds barred" entity--where anything goes and there is no line drawn for anyone involved in that conflict.

Which makes trying to duplicate The Starchild that much more difficult. If you were expecting to find the same pattern in the second book--from the first one--prepare to be vastly disappointed.

The same applies to The Price of Freedom. While the first novel may illustrate a generational war being fought on many levels and fronts, the second book; The Catalyst of Freedom will completely deep-six that notion entirely--throwing off any hope of trying to ensconce into that one entirely.

Stories of the Dead Earth may be a little easier on the surface (based on its fantasy orbits), but the storyline elements itself may prove to be a migraine for even the most enthusiastic entrepreneurs of "copy and paste".

If there is one thing I enjoy doing the most, it is to make my work as layered as possible.

I know most people will complain in the near-future that my works are to "wordy" for their tastes, but this is the way I approach my writing. Prose should be used to tell a story; not to limit oneself by getting your point across in the fewest words possible. (Where's the fun in that? lol)

With Stories of the Dead Earth, I took my cues from both fantasy, religion, and a multitude of my favorite RPG games--and combined that knowledge to create what has become a very fun and exciting adventure!

Most aspiring writers only look at the one thing which they like about their favorite author; the one thing which they want to adopt and integrate into their own works.

Not what makes that book so universally recognizable under the surface.

There is so much more to writing a novel or copying someone else--than just first-time impressions.

"I want to write horror like Stephen King!" I hear from the majority of new writers.

"I want to write a book like JK Rowling!" (Personally, I hope not. 10 years of dealing with that insane book craze is enough for me. Can we go onto something else that won't make my hair go gray prematurely? lol)

But do they know how to write those kinds of books or what it takes to reach that kind of level of professionalism?

Most likely not.

Which brings me back to my own books. I know enough of my own storylines and plots to see where everything is going to fit--not to mention all the deep-seated nuances and inflections contained within. People can try and copy what is The Starchild, what is The Price of Freedom (good luck going for that 1 million words kids!), but unless you can truly understand what I am trying to write--or what King and Rowling wrote and published--the best you can come away with is more of a pale copy of the original--that is nowhere near as good.

This is why I am such an ardant advocate of sticking with what works for you; while trying to stay as original to your books as close as possible.

Unfortunately, few people ever listen to me anyways. It's like I'm talking to a brick wall or a room full of deaf people. (No offense to the deaf!)

VACATION OVER--WORK BEGINS ANEW

Status: On vacation (One day left)

Doing: Writing this blog; recovering from being sick.

Watching: Nothing. (Seeing how the Mariners got spanked last night by Tampa Bay. I was passed out yesterday night--so I didn't see the actual end to the game.)

Listening to: Some old Electrobox taped music from C-89.5

Reading: Resistance by J.M. Dillard (ST-TNG)

TOPIC: STARCHILD DUEL AND THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

The week starts anew with a revival of both Starchild Duel and The Price of Freedom.

The plan is to complete the last three chapters to Duel before the final battle between Cara Hastings and Isis McGowan--and go from there.

The intrasystem fight between the two combatants is going to take a more integrated and complex approach.

I could most likely start the fight off by a brief tussle over the Moon before both jump towards Mars via a hyperspace conduit. (These are short jump methods of travel used by the Starchild of Ancient Lore. For long-distances, a hypergate bypass conduit is more favorable.)

I'm still not sure if Talia McGowan is going to want to remain behind. Since Jalen Osoro of Pasik III merged her spirit with the stranded Starchild of Ancient Lore.

I don't think that Tarnek is going to be able to stop her from leaving anyway.

And as soon as Isis gets done playing her role as the 'human ice cube'...?

She's going to have her hands full as it is.

So the novel is sitting at 291,504 words with 144 chapters in play.

As for The Price of Freedom...?

Things couldn't anymore dicier for Kenneth Sparks and Kayla Sorenson.

The shit's flying in the fan as reinforcements from Wynne show up on the heels of an Neos strike force.

Having switched sides, Timothy Caldwell, Kim Sanders, and Anna Ellison join in the fight--and eventually the journey to Jonesboro, Arkansas.

But old scores between them have to be settled first--and that's provided they can survive the Neos as well.

Previously, the 101st Combat Division; 13th Reconnaissance Unit had been partly massacred by another Neos incursion--short of Wynne itself--and at the hands of Kayla herself; when she had been transformed by one of Mother's Seeker units.

The survivors were taken hostage by Susan Meyers people in Wynne and tortured for information and other things--as per Neos sympathizers.

Kayla was left inert and in a stasis lock, while Kenneth Sparks spent 17 days as the female overseer's prisoner and personal sex toy.

This aspect of the storyline took 208 pages to flesh out.

The book so far sits on 174 chapters with 295,656 words.