Still Alive, Still Writing

Writing in the COVID Era

My last update was in Christmas 2019.  How things have changed.

We’ve weathered the storm here, and it has been a storm.  We’ve been locked down and cut off for long periods of time due to sickness, and as the months have rolled by time has been hard to come by for us at least. 

Work has been exceedingly busy, which has meant between work and family, very little time for writing.

However, I’ve not been idle.

I’ve managed to keep a custom written D&D Role play game going with 4 friends of mine.  This has let me at least flex my creative muscles and do a bit of scenario and back story writing.  To keep me in the game so to speak.

Likewise, I’ve been in touch with my publisher and despite everything, progress is being made.  Sadly they have been affected by COVID more so than me; based in America, their immediate area has been badly hit like the rest of the country.

What happens next?  Hopefully in the next few months if things calm down there will be some progress on the novel and I will get a bit more time to write.  This all depends on things continuing to improve here in Northern Ireland, and at last improving in America.   We will see.

Stay safe everyone

Exciting news!

And when I say exciting news, I really mean it.

For the last year, I have been contacting agents and publishers, hoping that one of them would pick up Haldred Chronicles.  It has always been my ambition to become a fully published author.  Sadly, whilst many have praised the writing and style, none have been interested in taking on the series.

Until now.

The wonderful people over at the hybrid publisher Boyle and Dalton have very kindly agreed to publish my first book ‘Alyssa’.  I had contacted them a while back and after a few emails, the exchange of manuscripts and the official signatures, they have agreed to take me on.

This is fantastic news, and both my family and I are overjoyed.  We hope to publish in 2019.

With this news, planning has gone into overdrive. 

I’m researching extensively how to market the series anew, as well as looking into fresh methods of getting the word out.  I’ve set myself a number of goals, such as more regular blogging (I know, you’ll believe it when you see it) and blogging about more than just the books (expect wargaming, sword fighting, airsofting and more to start appearing on the blog).

All the while, I will continue to work on book 5 of the series.  I hope to use the next few months to really get my teeth into the book, and then concentrate on getting the word out about ‘Alyssa.’

So exciting times are ahead, and 2019 will be the year of Haldred Chronicles!

Seeking publishers and writing book 5

It’s been a few months since I released the 4th book, ‘Haldred Chronicles: Anna’, so I thought it was about time I let you all know how things have been going since then. 

Glad to report, I’ve been busy.

After many years of meaning to but never getting around to it, I have at last started submitting the book series to publishers and agents.  I have spent the last few months submitting to about 8 separate publishers and agents, and I’ve a few more on the cards. 

I have had 3 rejections so far, but I’ll see what happens with the rest.  Can’t say I’ve not been trying.

I have been meaning to do this for a long time, but what was standing in my way was a lack of a covering letter and a synopsis.  I knuckled down and wrote both of them, checked them over, and have sent them on their merry way.  I choose ‘Shade’ as my main signature book, as I consider it my best work.  It’s mid-way through the series so hopefully will be an advertisement to publishers and agents interested in seeing the rest of the books.

As well as this, work is now well on the way on book 5.

I’ve written 4000 words already and progress is good.  Originally, book 5 was going to explore the Courier-Fey of the series, with one of the primary characters being one of the said Courier-Fey.  However, after a trip to Scotland that involved walking through a beautiful forest park up near Stirling, I changed my mind.

Book 5 will instead feature the people of the northern kingdom of Trima (strongly Scottish and Irish influence) and their efforts to defeat a monster that threatens the peace.  Victoria and team will travel to this new land and lend them aid.

I’m already enjoying new characters and the chance to create a new culture for the series.

Anyways, I’m off today so I’m going to take advantage and get more writing done.  Till next time!