Normal late-night backstage frazzle here - I'm in a production of By the Bog of Cats and opening night is tomorrow, so consider this a communique lobbed over the prison walls of exhaustion, Irish accents, and stage blood.
By the Bog of Cats - Publicity Shot - Town & Gown Players - Athens, GA - Matt Hardy -photographer
I finished PHASE I edits tonight and am ready to record my scratch audio book this weekend so I can make my deep dive and get the manuscript ready to submit to Inkshares and beta readers -- fingers crossed so hard that my knuckles crack, I'm hoping I'll be finished with Phase II edits by the time this show closes on August 16th. I have a tiny part in the show, which leaves me a couple of hours every night unspoken for sitting backstage -- I mean tomorrow night doesn't count because it's opening night and I have to focus on the fancy cake and libations that await, but YOU GET THE IDEA.
For my snippet du jour, here's the invocation that will appear at the beginning of the book. All of my other books begin with my invoking the Muse - as is only right and proper. If you are disinterested in Homeric poetry or the Greek pantheon, you can just think of it as a weird bit of poetry to set the mood before the golem fights and psychic dragon hi-jinks begin.
Sing in me, O Muse
of the moment when
of the moment then
her gray fingers
wrapped
and coiled
around my heart,
a circle.
Help me sing of the circle
the circle that cannot break
the center that should not hold
but does.
For now.
Just a quickie:
I thought you all may be interested to know I finished my final personal edits on the Ageless manuscript and I've submitted it to Inkshares. I still need to finish this new author questionnaire, but THE MANUSCRIPT IS NOW OUT OF MY HANDS and should move on to a professional very soon!
Welcome to all of the new followers! If you haven't yet pre-ordered, then go for it! We are very close to having 800 pre-orders (that blows my mind guys!).
Tomorrow is my 35th birthday. In honor of that, here is an excerpt from page 35 of Ageless:
“Holy shit, whatcha doing Tank? You haven’t been touched yet!” PunkZappa moaned. “Get out there and give us some breathing room, or this will be over before it starts.”
“What do you think that I am trying to do, blow dry my hair?” said Magis Ka. “I can’t get in front of him; he’s like hopping around all over the damn place.”
With XinXin out for the count until healed, FDO’s Right Hand Man moved his avatar into attacking position. He charged toward the back side of Hadroc and began a melee attack. Hadroc, who now had taken a small amount of damage, kicked out with his hind legs and sent FDO flying. Immediately, Take Me Gnome Tonight was on his job casting healing spells. It should be noted that, so far, Take Me Gnome Tonight had brought his “A” game to tonight’s raid.
“I HAVE HIM!” Magis Ka suddenly exclaimed, “ATTACK! ATTACK! ATTACK!”
Everyone began attacking. XinXin, PunkZappa, and FDO’s Right Hand Man began a brutal onslaught on the left, right, and rear of the monstrosity. Bearisa Fo Mundie began firing arrows toward Hadroc’s head and torso, while Take Me Gnome Tonight and Merlin’s Neck Beard cast high-damaging spells directly toward him. Collectively, the group was functioning better since their disheveled introduction to Hadroc.
Thanks everyone for everything,
Paul
Hey gang. Welcome to all the new followers! I hope all is well! Want a sneak peek at the back cover copy? Keep reading.
Just a little insight to my manuscript. Before submission, I spent some time reading it again and editing. I made a big decision to split one of the larger chapters into two separate chapters, and not only that, I MOVED the new chapter to a different location in the book. It's a scary move. I hope it pays off. The original chapter was just too long, but it was important info for the story.
Speaking of manuscript, I am just waiting patiently to get my feedback from the editors. Word is we are getting the ISBN and Library of Congress numbers situated this past week.
My full time job of teaching went back into full swing as of this passed week, so I'm about to be very busy! I will keep you all updated as often as possible.
Spread the word about Ageless and get some people interested in the book, the more pre-orders the better!
I had to write a draft for the back cover for the editors. Here is the first paragraph...subject to change of course...
Thanks for everything that you all do!
Paul