New novelette going well

The ideas just keep coming. Those 2 excerpts have changed, of course. Everything changes just after 5000 words. After that threshold, big ideas come which change the whole story. Big. I now have the hobgoblins and Satan in the story. I hope I can keep it to the 17000 word limit! Whatever happens, I'll be publishing this one :-) (TDX2 - https://www.smashwords.com/books/byseries/2766)

New comments on 'Rage'

Just got a few nice comments about 'Rage' on authonomy.com...


This is a brief, startling chapter that makes me want to read on to find out what is going on. I like the humor and love this line: “And if you can’t run, shuffle”—it’s brilliant. 

I have not actually read such a great comical short paced beginning to a book. I really do love your style.

More from the new novelette

At over 5000 words now, and it's going well, though probably won't go any further than 7-8000. That size is okay for a 1 POV short story. Graham Reader (Grim Reaper) is there, so is Peter, God, Audrey, and Mavis. Some of the 'Christmas Carol' type memory flashbacks are 'sad', but there are still laughs to be found in them.
Here's another excerpt. Guido is asking Mavis for a drink. Graham is holding a Re-entry form...

“Excuse me, do you have any water? I’m dying of thirst.”

“Is that meant to be a joke?”

“Sorry? No, no, really, I need a drink.” Mavis kept her eyes on Guido as she poured him a small glass of water from her own supply.

“Here.” Guido took the water and started drinking.

“Ah, a Re-entry form.” It was a tatty piece of A5 paper with a list typed on it. “What do you do with it?” With a tut, Mavis explained the process to Graham.

 “Choose which experience you wish to deal with. If you find some of credit, circle it on the paper, if not, cross it off.”

“Ah, technology today.” Graham tried to hand the paper over to Guido.

“No, Graham, you’re in charge. You’re doing it.”

“Oh, right. Have you got a pen?” She begrudingly handed him over a pen.

“I want that back when you’re done with it.”

“Sure.”

“Oh, and here’s your titty.” She blew a large layer of dust off a small circular device she found on a shelf and passed it to Graham.

“Long time since I’ve had my hands on one of these.” Guido sprayed his last gulp of water all over Graham.

“Sorry? What? Tittie? Excuse me? What’s that?” Graham took out a handerkerchief and wiped himself down.

“Well, with this we’ll be going back in time in your life, well, what you can remember of your life, but it has a limit.” Graham showed Guido the time device. “It’s called a Time-Travel Timer, a TTT, a’titty’. It allows us to travel through your memory and see what you experienced.”

“So choose wisely.”

“Ha, ‘tittie’. That’s a laugh.” Guido was starting to have a good time ‘up above’.

“We have to have some around here. Are you ready?”

“I’m not going anywhere, I’m dead.”

New MC based on Martin Freeman

Yes, corny, isn't it. The new Main Character of my new novelette, a short 'Man by a tree' revival, is based on Martin Freeman, of the 2005 Hitchhiker's movie. It's just so natural to write this part in the style of his typical casting. Already written the first 2000 words, the first 'scene' in the bedroom of 'Guido Leflorainex-Defouis'. It's reminiscent of HHGTTG and Monty Python all rolled into one.
Here's a short extract from the middle of the 1st scene with Guido and Graham Reader (Grim Reaper).

“I’m dead.”

“Yes.”

“And you’re the Grim Reaper.”

“Graham. Yes.”

“'I’m dead'. It’s a bit…blunt, isn’t it?”

“Mmm, I guess so.”

“Surely you’ve done this before. Couldn’t you have broken it to me a bit better?”

“You’re dead, what does it matter?”

“What? Couldn’t you have said something like ‘I’m terribly sorry to tell you this but you have just passed away in your sleep’ or something?”

“Could’ve done.”

“And?”

“Didn’t. I’m done with all that. See this?” Graham showed Guido his clothes, normal clothes bordering on boring. “Not the old black hood and cloak, is it? I haven’t worn anything like that for centuries. Too theatrical, it scares people. Why scare them? They’ve just died, they don’t need some bloke in a frightening hood to come along and say ‘I am Death. I have come for you.’” Guido laughed.

“Yeah, that’s good that.” Guido pointed to an imaginary table. “It was the salmon pâté!”

“Mousse, actually. Get it right.”

“Oh right, yes, so it was. Funny how the details really matter.” Guido sat there for a while, contemplating his death.

New Novelette coming

I'd like to enter the L. Ron Hubbard's contest, which means writing something sci-fi or fantasy which can be up to 17,000 words. This is the maximum word count for a novelette (17,500 actually). I have until the end of September to write and send it. I already have an idea, kind of a return to 'Man by a tree', just a little story based on the characters from that book. I could go on for years like that. It's a nice little idea, should be a nice read. Whether it'll be good enough to win a competition is another thing. So, if I don't win anything with it, I'll just self-publish it :-) Depending on its quality, of course.

Life of Brian, The Bethlehem Fiasco

Not many people reading the blog ATM. Though there are a few more countries to add to the growing list of hits....South Korea, Indonesia, Spain, and Italy. Yes, I haven't had Italy before.
I always wonder who exactly is looking at the blog. Is it readers? Is it potential readers? I'm beginning to feel it's neither. With the 'Life of Brian', it got it's credentials from its religious critics, as many people went to see the movie to find out what the fuss was all about. Perhaps 'The Bethlehem Fiasco' is too much for some people. Wait until they read 'The Rage of Atlantis'. Paranoia growing...
Entered another competition, will enter another later. Maybe one day I'll get lucky :-)

More competitions

Just entered one more short story competition, and finishing up an entry for another much larger one. Still a few more to look at before the month is done. Missed out on a huge competition, hope I can catch it next year.
Another competition at Glimmer Train, but you know what? They ask you to enter and then demand 15 dollars for a reading fee. What a scam. Why don't they get a sponsor? There are tons of writing competitions, unfortunately you have the pay an entrance fee for most of them.
All quiet on the book front...