A quick update on the progress of Human Resources — over the weekend I finished my submission and entered the novel in The Launchpad Manuscript competition! I have no doubt the competition will be fierce, but hopefully my next update on that matter will be to tell you I’m in the second round :)

The competition entry required fifty pages, all of my effort since my last update has been focussed on writing the complete synopsis (entry requirement) and polishing the first few chapters. As a result, it may not have looked like much was happening - but there have been many small changes made to the excerpts available on Inkshares as I worked to give everything a lustrous shine.

Now that is over, apart from catching up on sleep, I’m back to focussing on the main re-write. The synopsis-writing process for the competition helped me tighten up some aspects of the planned re-write, so I am excited to get back into it.

Now, before I sign off, another recommendation: Deus Hex Machina.  

This one is already fully funded, but well worth pre-ordering. It is set in a remarkably well-realised future, where society has been transformed by upheaval and technological advancement. It is easy to become absorbed in both the physical and digital worlds of DHM, exploring their surprises with a sense of wonder. The characters launch us into an adventure where things are obviously not what they seem, and where the correct path forward is not clear. Amanda has created us a tale of mystery and adventure that is hard to put down — add this to your reading list and you won’t be disappointed.