State of the Library #10

In which everything goes sideways.

Photo by Chiara Guercio on Unsplash

July was…interesting. Chaos ensued. The normal order broke down. I made plans and God said, “Hold My wine.”

To reassure you: no one died, and we are all in relatively good health. The house is still standing. Elvira the cat has not vanished into the wilderness (in fact, if anything, she’s clingier than ever after being left alone at a kennel for almost a week).

The real victim of all of this, to be honest, is my creativity. I tried to write. When that didn’t work out, I gave myself space in the hope that the writing would just flow. It did, briefly, before vanishing again. I saw a quote or meme somewhere once that said that the difference between an amateur and a professional is that an amateur waits for inspiration while the professional works no matter how he feels.

And then there’s the famous Jack London quote:

You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.

Thanks, Jack, but I find myself sans club. Because, when I say my creativity has dried up, I also mean that my motivation has evaporated, as well. And I have learned that when I force something, it doesn’t always turn out well. Take this month’s story, for example, which I will get into soon. All of this leads to my announcement, which is…

The Writing Will Be Spotty

It’s going to take me a bit to find my equilibrium again. My writing has yet to slot back into this new landscape I find myself in. Right when I try to impose my old, comfortable schedule, there’s another small earthquake and things are a-shambles again.

There is something to post for August. (Thank you, my friend

Karina Fabian

for this idea.) But September? Will the promised Sardis Serial make its debut? I honestly have no idea. I have something written, so that’s a start. The serial may just be a whole lot shorter than anticipated.

Under the Roses will still go into the Forbidden Section (a.k.a the archive) on September first. Only paid subscribers will be able to access it after that.

I am hoping like crazy that I will have things together in October, because I love autumn and Halloween. It would be a crime to not have a deliciously spooky story for all you ghouls and gals. Also, October will make it one year since I started posting fiction on Substack!

I will keep you updated, and you will see me in Notes from time to time. Please be patient with me.

ICYMI: June

Story for August

At first, I thought I would have nothing to offer, but my friend Karina suggested sharing what I did manage to write.

Years ago, I had written a series of fantasy novels called Stories of Lorst. They didn’t do well and I unpublished the series before finishing it. But there was one character I really wanted to one day return to: Jarrett, the humorous Captain of the Guard who has a soft spot for blueberry hand pies and staying home by the fire. (Like, no, seriously. I opened what would have been the penultimate novel with him complaining that his boss kept dragging him off on adventures.)

So, the story for August was my attempt at such a return. However, it quickly became evident that this was not a short story but, rather, the beginning of a novel. That is what I am sharing with you, while posing the question: Would you read this book? What do you think of this story, of Jarrett, and of the overall set up? Your thoughts and suggestions would be really appreciated.

Also, be warned that this story has been barely edited, so it will be rough.

“A Matter of Honor” — Jarrett is Captain of the Guard for a tyrant—and he doesn’t like it one bit. He does what he can to mitigate damage, but some surprising news shatters all illusions of control. Given orders to escort a “dignitary” into the city, Jarrett is faced with a choice between potential death and certain dishonor.

Excerpt:

The Lady Gate, called so because of its proximity to the Temple of Our Lady of Justice, was just coming into view. Jarrett loosened his sword in its scabbard.

“Copper, sir! Copper for a man down on his luck!”

Jarrett looked at the beggar that had suddenly appeared at his knee. The beggar held his cloak closed at the throat, but Jarrett recognized the jagged scar clefting the man’s skin.

“I’ve got no copper for you,” Jarrett replied, pitching his voice over the nearby merchant hawking necklaces.

Up ahead, a cart suddenly lost its wheel, clogging the road. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

“A Matter of Honor” will publish on Friday, August 9 at 10 am Eastern Time.