Wow, it was only a few days ago that I was working on chapter 13.  I’ve just paused in my work today, and I am finishing up chapter 20.  What’s more, I’m a little further along than it might seem.  My original outline was for 25 chapters, but I’ve combined a few things (as I almost always do) and my new, revised outline is 22 chapters.  I might even shorten it by one more– it all depends on how I work out one of the main climactic scenes.

If I finish the draft before the end of January, as seems very possible right now, then the release might be April Fools Day.  That will give me time to get it revised and edited.

One of the main things I want to do in the revision is make sure that the tone is the same throughout the book.  I have to do this with every book I write.  My emotions, both as a writer and as a guy living my life, change over time and it is reflected in the book.  Sometimes this is a bigger job than others.  The Senta and the Steel Dragon are maybe less of a problem in this regard than some of the others I’ve written.

Anyway, hopefully my next update will say that I’ve finished the draft.