Category Archives: Writing

Getting into Mode

Posted on by
Reply

HRG CharityHere it is, well into December and I really haven’t written anything since 10-26.  I’ve done some editing, but that’s it.  It’s been really hard to get into the writing mode.  Maybe it’s the writing mood.  Between work, the holidays, stressing over family problems– I’m at the age when both parents and children come with BIG problems attached.  I don’t see it getting much better in the short term, since I’ll be taking classes for the next few months– hopefully the last classes I ever need to take.

In the meantime, I’m looking forward to the release of His Robot Girlfriend: Charity, a little over a month away.  It’s already getting pretty good pre-order activity.  In fact, it has more pre-orders than any other of my books– maybe more than the others combined, but I’ll have to check on that.

Hopefully, the next time I visit this subject, I’ll be able to tell you I’m writing feverishly on something.  Until then…

His Robot Girlfriend: Charity (Notes)

Posted on by
Reply

HRG CharityLike most writers, I put some of myself in just about every character.  You can’t help it really, can you?  In the original His Robot Girlfriend, the character of Mike really was me– about five years older than me, when I wrote it.  Now I’m several years older than him.  We’re both middle school teachers, both pretty snarky, and like him, I have a grown up daughter and son.  The big difference is that he gets into shape, and I continue to get more out of shape– but then, I don’t have a Daffodil.

In the new robot book, His Robot Girlfriend: Charity, I wanted a character who was very different.  So, the main character, Dakota Hawk, is young, blond, and athletic– all things which I am not.  He runs marathons– something I never did, even when I had two good knees.  He has very different relationships with other people than I have ever had, with one exception.  Part of his back story is a mother suffering from Alzheimer’s.  That is something we share.

Unlike his mother, mine is alive and physically healthy.  She currently lives in a memory care facility.  If you’ve ever had a family member or friend suffering from this terrible disease, I don’t need to tell you how difficult it can be for you or them.  If you haven’t, then you can’t understand.

In the story, Dakota’s relationship with his mother plays a small but ultimately pivotal part.  But this is something that I never would have included in any story, if I hadn’t experienced it myself.  I simply wouldn’t have understood.

What to write?

Posted on by
Reply

I’ve finished two Astrid Maxxim books and the reception has been very good.  I really kind of write them for myself, as I haven’t made enough money from them to pay for the covers.  (I take that back.  The first Astrid Maxxim book has more than sold enough to pay for its cover art.  The others are still working at it.)  Still, Astrid Maxxim and her Hypersonic Space Plane had a very good first month. I couldn’t be more pleased.

I’ve also got His Robot Girlfriend: Charity on its way to publication.  It is available now for pre-order for just 99 cents.  Since my robot series is far and away my best seller, I expect it to do well too.

Now, the question is what to write.  My plan is to go back to 82 Eridani: Journey, which I had originally planned to finish before any of the previous three books.  It may take me a day or two to get into the right frame of mind.  I have to be in a very different mind-set than the one I’m in writing Astrid Maxxim or even His Robot Girlfriend.  82 Eridani is very gritty and adult.  I think of it as sort of my “HBO Sci-Fi.”  In other words, sex, violence, and darkness abound.

The good news is that I have a very detailed outline and the first 8 1/2 chapters drafted.  I’ll keep you updated.  In the meantime, go out and pre-order His Robot Girlfriend: Charity.  It’s only 99 cents to you, but it will mean a great deal to me.  Thanks.

Oops Part III

Posted on by
7

HRG CharityFor some reason I had much more trouble getting my manuscript ready for publication with His Robot Girlfriend: Charity that I usually do.  As soon as I fixed one formatting problem, another popped up.  Finally, I got a message form Smashwords that everything was fine, except that I had an extra line at the end of each paragraph.  There!  It’s fixed!

Finally everything is set and the book is now available for preorder at Smashwords, Amazon, and iBooks.  It should be available for preorder at the other bookstores that offer such, soon.

If you enjoyed the previous His Robot Girlfriend and His Robot Wife books, I think you will like this one.  I personally think its the best of the series.  Keep an eye out for it.

Oops Part II

Posted on by
2

HRG CharityYesterday I talked about creating a big error in my book.  Well I did it again, sort of.  I was setting up my newest book for publication at Smashwords and created a really big error.  The error wasn’t in the book, but in Smashwords itself.  Instead of typing the title as His Robot Girlfriend: Charity, I typed His Robot Wife: Charity.  Since I typed it in the title section, I couldn’t just edit it.  I had to start the process all over (The Smashwords meta-data reviewer probably hates me).

In any case, it shouldn’t affect the publication timetable.  His Robot Girlfriend: Charity is available for preorder at Amazon now as well as Smashwords, and should be available for preorder at all other ebookstores soon.  It is still slated for release on January 16th, 2015.

Oops!

Posted on by
Reply

Astrid Maxxim and her Hypersonic Space PlaneWhen you publish your own books, you’re always on the lookout for errors.  Of course the most common is the typo.  I work very hard to find and correct all the typos.  Every once in a while though, you have a much bigger mistake.  I’ve just dealt with one of those.

I discovered that on one of the title pages for Astrid Maxxim book 4, it actually had the title for book 3.  This was because I was pasting in the pages from the earlier book (which I knew had correct formatting) and then changed the text.  Well, I forgot to change all of it!

If you are one of the first 24 people to buy Astrid Maxxim and her Hypersonic Space Plane, you’ve got the error.  You should be able to download an updated file from any of the bookstores by now.  Or you could keep it.  I doubt it will ever be as valuable as the Beatles original Here, There, and Everywhere album cover, but you never know.

His Robot Girlfriend: Charity – Coming January 16, 2015

Posted on by
1

HRG CharityThe draft of His Robot Girlfriend: Charity is complete and the revision has begun.  Right now, the release date is scheduled for January 16, 2015.  Watch this space for more information, such as when pre-orders will be available.

Robotics engineer Dakota Hawk has problems.  His life is falling apart.  And even he doesn’t know why he bought a used, and seemingly non-functional, Daffodil Nonne.  When your life turns to crap, which should you worry about more– your past or your future?  How easy is it really to remake yourself and start over?  And will having your own robot girlfriend help or make things even more difficult?

His Robot Girlfriend: Charity

Posted on by
4

HRG CharityI mentioned that I was working on a new robot book, and as I write this, I am on the last chapter of the draft.  So I feel like I’m close enough to announce it.  The new book is His Robot Girlfriend: Charity.  The story takes place two years after events in His Robot Wife: Patience is a Virtue.  It isn’t really a sequel, more like a related storyline.

Robotics engineer Dakota Hawk has problems.  His life is falling apart.  And even he doesn’t know why he bought a used, and seemingly non-functional, Daffodil Nonne.  When your life turns to crap, which should you worry about more– your past or your future?  How easy is it really to remake yourself and start over?  And will having your own robot girlfriend help or make things even more difficult?

I should be finishing the draft any day now.  As soon as I do, I’ll plan out a schedule for the editing process and determine a release date.  Right now, I’d guess some time just before Christmas.  Watch this space for more information.

What I’m Writing

Posted on by
Reply

I feel a little wary lately of talking about what I’m working on, because I’ve started so many different pieces and then stopped along the way.  I’ve got three pieces that I’ve mentioned in this blog about halfway done and I’ve gotten inquiries about all of them, and when they’ll be done.  I’ve got a horror story Love and the Darkness, the first volume of a sic-fi epic 82 Eridani: Journey, and a pulp-style adventure Kanana: The Jungle Girl.  I plan to get back to all of them, and would expect at least one of them next year.

The last several months, I’ve been feeling my way along– writing whatever I felt like I needed to write.  I’ve been pretty consistent about finishing things for the past six months. I wrote The Sorceress and her Lovers and then Astrid Maxxim and the Antarctic Expedition, which had been sitting in outline form for years.  I kept right on with Astrid, finishing Astrid Maxxim and her Hypersonic Spaceplane and even the first three chapters of the next one.

I felt like I needed to write something more adult though.  I suppose I should have jumped back on 82 Eridani, but I just couldn’t get my mind into the dark place that it needed to be.  Instead, I started a new robot book.  I am about 2/3 of the way through at this point.  I don’t want to give out too many details until I finish the first draft, but…  It’s not quite a sequel to Patience is a Virtue, though it does take place two years later and has some of the same characters.  The main character and the robot are both new characters however.  So, watch this space for more information.

Astrid Maxxim and her Undersea Dome – 99 cents for Kindle.

Posted on by
Reply

Astrid Maxxim 2Girl inventor Astrid Maxxim and her friends are back. This time Astrid is building an observation dome beneath the sea. Will she complete her amazing construction project, or will she be sidetracked by underwater monsters, the evil organization known as the Black Hand, or her snotty cousin Gloria?

Astrid Maxxim and her Undersea Dome is available for the Kindle for just 99 cents.  Find it by searching the menu on your device or follow this link.

If you’ve already purchased this book for the Kindle– thank you.  Would you please leave a review?