Tag Archives: The Bastard Line

Update – All but Done.

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misty-mountain

Yes, I am still here – I owe you guys an update on my progress with The Bastard Line, book three in the Khekarian series – My humble apologies for having been away so long, many things have happened in my life, but for now I will report solely on the manuscript you have been waiting for.

The slash-and-burn process is over and out of the way (thank goodness). No more chopping and changing, no more starting over or chopping things in half or reshaping the book. All the major pieces are in place and so is the flow, the character development is great, the story holds together very well and – best of all – I LIKE IT.

Finishing touches are going in place and needed polishing is being done (albeit heavily in some places). Yet to come is the stand-back-and-see-what-it-looks-like-to-a-reader, the read-through. My Beta-reader has been standing by for ages and is eager to get into it. He won’t have to wait long… and neither will you.

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Tippy-tap, tippy-tap.

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Nose down, rear up, tippy-tap, tippy-tap – Yes I’m at the computer and typing like mad – Just letting you know I’m alive and well and still making progress although it must seem to some as though “nothing is happening”.

I’ve had to push through a few barriers and re-size The Bastard Line (Book Three of the Khekarian series) – twice! This is on top of the life-upheavals we’re still going through, although progress is happening there too (resettling into a new location interstate takes longer when doing it one partner at a time).

Once again my apologies to all for keeping you waiting, it was never my intention. While I would love to blog more regularly, my best bet at the moment is to remain locked into my work until the book is done. The best I can do is pop in occasionally to let everyone know I’m still here, still working and supply a publishing date when I know what it is!

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Getting back to normal… Whatever that is. And a Thank You also.

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The last eighteen months or so have seen some huge upheavals in my life as my husband prepares for his retirement – an interstate move into a new location, forced separation so far lasting over a year, and all the uncertainty that comes with the whole shifting and changing of our financial concerns as we move from one way of life to another.

I guess that sums it up pretty well and it’s no wonder my writing has been greatly thrown out of whack.

So… What of the science fiction series I am writing?

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Unintended Delays.

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I suddenly realized that I have been subconsciously delaying posting until I could deliver a publishing date for my third book in the Khekarian series, The Bastard Line, with the unfortunate result is that nothing is being posted at all, and that – once again – it looks as though I have fallen off the edge of the planet or given up or something.

Nothing could be further than the truth. It is true my world is currently still unsettled with an interstate move largely sorted but a house still to sell and an enforced separation to endure until the sale goes through. Added to the early delays that robbed me of six months of writing, the overall setback to this book is something I admit to being quite uncomfortable with. Nevertheless, work is progressing with most of the book finished, so really it shouldn’t be long now.

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Yes, I’m creating where it counts.

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Just letting you all know that I have NOT run out of steam, I have NOT run out of inspiration nor imagination nor creativity – the (albeit lengthy) delays in getting book 3 of the Khekarian series completed and published has nothing to do with lack of willpower or energy but everything to do with the circumstances that cropped up during this last year, including moving house interstate.

With the manuscript itself, there were some early issues, all successfully dealt with now. I am currently writing my fingers to the bone and I’m heading towards the final run.

So, please forgive me for not blogging and chatting which I said and believe I would do, but I really want to see this book completed and to be free to start on the next one.

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First Day of Winter for a Writer (and when the heck am I going to publish Book Three?)

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1st day of Winter

1st day of Winter. Photo taken from my back yard 2015.

 

We had snow on the ground here in our new home in the mountains – a lovely sight to see and a promise of things to come – a good feeling, despite the water pipes frozen solid twice (and not defrosting until mid afternoon).

The house is frequently cold, but that’s to be expected in the early days as we sort out new curtains and carpets, clothing and fuel. A kero heater in my office makes a big difference and so do socks, a scarf and a hat. I have fingerless gloves for typing in, although they feel cumbersome so I rarely use them.

Yes, I’m still typing away and my latest manuscript in the Khekarian series (The Bastard Line) is growing and taking good form. At last the various issues I’ve had with it and the multitude of delays seem to be behind me.

I expect to publish towards the end of the year. This latest book has coincided with an assortment of events that have held me up. The break I took after writing two books back-to-back and an unexpected illness cost me the first six months, which was half my allotted time right there with not a word written. On top of that there have been minor emergencies, delays and the most important move interstate. It’s been a very busy time.

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Still Alive and Typing.

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Photo taken from my front yard 2015

Photo taken from my front yard 2015

 Yes, I know, I’ve been out of Blogsville for ages, but all in a good cause – I’ve popped in to let you know I’m still alive!

I’m getting heaps of writing done, the important stuff, the sci-fi series, Book Three, The Bastard Line. I can’t give you an ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) yet. It’s unfortunate that this is taking so long to come to maturity, but I can report that I’m very happy with the way it is shaping up and I know you’re going to love it. At least I hope so!

From my point of view, The Bastard Line is already a far better book than I had hoped for and I’ll say, yet again, it will be worth the wait. So, please hang in there! I’m typing as fast as I can!

Okay, I’d better get back at it. I hope all is going well with all you writers out there (and other inspired and inspiring people). Please know I’ve not forgotten anybody and will catch up with you when I’m free to do so.

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A Glut of Characters – Ah, so that’s what I was doing.

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Too much too soon, as it turns out. Yes, I know I’m late with Book 3 and this post by no means excuses that, I’m just letting you know Why and What and where I am currently in the Khekarian sci-fi series.

Each book in the series is a stand alone book, with a beginning, a middle and, most importantly, an ending – a conclusion. At the same time, the background story continues to roll on, so parts of the story move forward or the series would not mesh into a whole.

Each of my books contains two main threads, often split into further threads, but in the main there are two stories interwoven. I think of each as a double book (certainly each are thick enough at 500-600 pages).

Book 3 of the Khekarian series, The Bastard Line, continues the overall story, running two stories side-by-side. One of the threads, however, I had in mind to contain more of the story than it should. That notion needed the addition of other characters and other stories to reach that particular conclusion, and this led me into an area where I was, in effect, trying to write two books (four books?) as one and squash way too much in.

That’s where I got mired. Not so much a tangle as a glut of characters and small stories that needed sorting because, as it was, everyone would get mired!

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Light Posting and Thin on the Ground.

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Yes, I know you’ve noticed – The reason is that I’m trying very hard to get my third book finished, which is important to me.

I am making progress with the manuscript and, if you’ve read books one and two, number three will be worth the wait – I just don’t want to extend that wait too long! So please forgive my absence from Blogsville at the moment and in the foreseeable future (although I will pop in as and how I come up with things worth posting about).

I trust you all understand.

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WRITER LOSES INTERNET – Oh Shoot!

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Yes, it has been awhile, and my goodness, losing the Internet hurts when you’ve grown used to it.

Where have I been? I’ve moved house, deep into the Alpine area of Victoria, Australia, way, way out in mountainous country. Do I love it? ABSOLUTELY!

Yes, I’ve had adventures too, but let’s leave that for another time. The IMPORTANT STUFF:

AM I WRITING??? You bet the heck I am! In fact, as much as I love you all, I’ve decided to take the advice of a friend who told me awhile ago – “Less blogging, more writing.” Yes, Rob, that’s you. You were right! The book comes first, blogging comes second.

No, folks, I won’t disappear again, I just won’t blog four times a day.

I want you all to know that I am alive and well, extremely happy in my new location, I am inspired and writing, and all is well in my world.

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