Okay, update time. A short-ish one.

No calendar chart today, mainly because there was nothing new to put on it over last weeks.

Everything was rather disrupted again this week, must be the time of year. One thing I did find the time to do however, was to listen to the entirety of my book over a couple of days.

Yes. Listen.

Now it may have been with my Mac’s automatic text-to-speech through Scrivener, but it was overall a pretty good experience. The most surprising part of it all was that I actually found myself entertained by my own writing. There were small comedy moments that I’d forgotten I’d written that I actually laughed at. So I think that’s encouraging? Right?

I also realised that structurally, I’m really solidly pleased with the second half of the book. There are a few kinks to work out on the front end, but overall there’s not as much hardcore editing/rewriting to do as I thought. Which is good.

Work is back to focusing on Ghosts again this week, LandFall has hit a bit of a snag which has it in a form of limbo. Hopefully, it will get sorted soon.

Until next time.

At long last, an update on the progress of things! Tantalus Depths​ is officially 100% funded, and I am so, so thankful for that. I couldn’t have possibly managed any of this without your extensive help. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for making this happen. So what’s next?



Watch the vlog for details, but here’s the summarized version: I’m working on my final round of edits before I send Inkshares my finished manuscript. There’ll be a wait before they can pair me up with an editor and put me into the production process, and the entire process could take quite a while. But we’re on our way, and the greatest obstacles are well behind us now. Happy Thanksgiving to all, and congratulations to Kelly Miloro​ for winning my "name-a-planet promotion" thing. You’ve earned it :)

You will not believe this... 

I have never typed “The Animal in Man” into any search engine. Not during the Sword & Laser sequel campaign. Not during the ten months finishing the draft. Not during the last two months of ‘rest’ I’ve enjoyed. Not once.

Until today. I’m pleased to say that your favorite philosophical fantasy-science-fiction novel featuring animals that walk, talk, and brutalize one another came up as the third result from the top. And who was above me? This:

I cannot believe this... I had forgotten all about this song. Listening to it this afternoon, on repeat, has been surreal. My older brother used to crank the volume of this very song when we drove to high school in the morning. And now… Now I remember. Give “The Animal in Man” a listen. Let the Dead Prez tell you, in 3 minutes 19 seconds, the same type of story that mine attempts to tell you in [roughly] 500 pages. (Original credit, of course, to George Orwell as well.)

...Just don’t let the song discourage you from a pre-order, if you haven’t made one already. Don’t assume these talented rappers or George Orwell himself get to have the last word about what does or doesn’t separate man from his bestial nature. Consider a third perspective. Thanks very much, my dear animal.