We’re Underway (again)

With summer in full swing, I’ve managed to get out and play some golf and do some hiking in between writing and family time. Finding some time for “me” is very important to my creative process. For the last few months, I’ve been both resting and working through some long-term planning. Since 2016, I’ve written 25(!) novels and my brain (and body, honestly) have said it was time to take a break. And, I listened.

One of the many things I’ve been doing every day is walking. I get up around sunrise and get outside before I’ve had my coffee for a 15-30 minute walk around my neighborhood. The days where I time it right and see the first rays of sun hit the top of Pikes Peak are pretty amazing. “Purple mountain majesties” and all that; and they’re stunning. I’ve also been swimming 2-3 days per week which always helps to clean out my brain. I’m looking forward to continuing these trends into the fall.

What about you? What are you doing this summer? Feel free tell me about your adventures!

Here’s what’s happening around here these days.

Coming Soon!

Coming September 24th and available for pre-order now!

An elite soldier. A new armored weapon. The invading aliens have finally met their match.

First Lieutenant Mike Sandhurst led an elite infantry platoon on a rescue mission to Tycho-3. Wearing state-of-the-art ATLAS powered armor, Sandhurst’s unit faced down a relentless, wasp-like enemy who tore through them and left Sandhurst for dead.

Rescued by ground forces, Sandhurst gets reassigned as humanity races to war against aliens they call Buzzers.

To fight the Buzzers, humanity turns to the modernized Centurion main battle-tank. Sandhurst must quickly learn the lexicon of “shoot, move, communicate” and lead his fast, self-sustained, and very lethal armored forces.

When the Buzzers appear again to threaten colonized worlds, Sandhurst’s regiment moves forward to hold the planet Heske by force. But they aren’t alone. The orbital carrier Yorktown and its space-capable wing dominate the skies while tanks take the fight and put Steel on Target!

What I’m Working On
Well, after a three month break from novel writing, it’s back to the Four Horsemen Universe. I’m not going to spoil much on this yet. However, there are multiple stories in one of the featured books below that will impact the storyline I’m about to embark on.

The Peacemaker Guild is under threat from all sides. Deposed and disgraced Crusaders have turned into rogue militias and they’re capturing Peacemakers. Except there’s no opportunity to ransom and recover them. No trace of them has been found and the only link to those behind these atrocities is the next target. Without resources and running out of time, the guild’s only hope is a most unlikely lost soul.

I’m expecting to turn in BEGGAR by the end of the year. More to follow. We Ride!

Process #004 – The first steps

So, it’s time to take the idea to the page. For me, this happens when I have both an idea of the character and what the end of the story will be. As for the end, that’s self-explanatory in a way. If I know how I want the story to end, that gives me a natural beginning point as far away from that point as possible. How do I define that point? For me, it’s through character development.

If I have a character being successful at, say, becoming an armor officer proficient in fighting tanks and leading soldiers, I’m going to place them as far away from that as I can at the beginning. Like I teach in my writing classes, a common example almost everyone is familiar with is Luke Skywalker. At the end of Star Wars, he’s a celebrated pilot and the hero of the Rebellion. At the beginning? He’s a farm boy who wants to go to the Imperial flight academy. His journey from one to the other gives the story its narrative strength. I used a similar construct with my novel Runs In The Family (which you should totally check out if you’re not familiar with it).

Once I know the end, and I have a vague idea of a character, I can start. For Runs In The Family, I had the initial idea for Mairin Shields very early in the process. I wrote the following in a notebook: A young wallflower must become the warrior her ancestor should’ve been. From there, I fleshed out the story. It’s a powerful thing – character growth and change.

Maybe we should talk about that next month?

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