I’ve been told that Dead Bait 2 is on the printers this week, so not too much longer before I get to read it.

Five days ago I started the second draft of a novel I trunked in May. It’s amazing going back into that world. For the novel I’m querying I waited six weeks before the second draft, and there’s no question that allowed for a better editing experience. But for this novel it was about ten months. To be honest I was a little freaked out that the novel wasn’t how I remembered it, that I’d be disappointed. Well, it’s better than I thought. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done and I’m OK in saying that. I set it aside after the first draft because of plot complications and the amount of editing and proceeded with the linear, fast-paced novel #2, and this “hopscotching” worked out. My goal is to have the fifth and final draft complete by May 1st, with a query to an agent on the 2nd. That gives me two novels out in the agentsphere.

This is a great time for me to be editing. I’ve burned a lot of creative fuel since last February–two novels and thirty short stories (all the short stories coming from May 2010 until present). In mid-May I’ll start a new novel if the ideas are there.
My query for novel #2 is in the mailbox of one agent right now, the other query got caught in a spam filter. Time to resend that one.

I’m happy to announce that my short story “The Red Aspen” will be appearing in the June 2011 issue of Ghostlight Magazine. I’m excited about this one and can’t wait to read the final product. I have not seen a TOC yet, but I’m sure the issue will be a great read.

I consider “The Red Aspen” one of my top short stories, and I’m glad to have it in such a neat magazine.

My 81,000-word apocalyptic thriller is finished. The setting is Montana. Five drafts.

I’ve got a few short stories out at various markets; a couple of them passing the slush piles to the editor’s desk. That’s always a nice feeling. Tough competition out there. The market continues to shrink, too. Necrotic Tissue closed its doors a couple days ago.

I’ve also been enjoying the hell out of the new PJ Harvey album Let England Shake:

I’m a lucky guy. I have someone who is open, honest and willing to read my work. The third draft of my novel is in her hands and so far I couldn’t be happier with the comments. If all goes well, I should be querying agents at the end of the month.

I also wanted to share this photo with you. I like the mood it conveys:

I took the photo several years ago in Glacier National Park, Montana. It’s not surprising that Montana is the setting for my novel.

Click the image for a bigger version.

I’ve been told that Dead Bait 2 is on track for a January release. I can’t wait to get a copy in my hands, and I’m sure the stories will be first-rate.

I’m in the process of finishing the second draft of my novel. I’m pleased with the progress and the lack of major changes. My plan for the first draft was 1200 words a day of quality writing, keeping careful track of momentum and story arc. I hope to have the novel prepared for my beta reader by Christmas. I’m happy with the immediate immersion into action; I’m not a fan of backstory at the beginning of a book. I know the characters so well, I feel like I can reach out and talk to them. This includes the creatures. Yes, the novel is full of them. I mean really full. The story is so stuffed with creatures they are slithering out of my manuscript and clawing at my face. But this work also has humor, love, and of course despair. Lots of despair.

The “experts” say you should write what you want to read. That definitely applies here. Cormac McCarthy’s The Road was a major inspiration for this novel in terms of cutting out the fat and just telling the damn story.

I’ve also finished a 5,000 word short story which might be my best. It will be revised this weekend and possibly sent out Christmas week.

I hope everyone is having a great holiday season. Don’t be too good.