Insanity! Or, the blog post every mother fears

Friday is when it went down.

When one gazes into the abyss, they (or “he”) says the abyss gazes back. In my case, I forgot my glasses, squinted a bit at the churning blackness, and decided, “what the heck.” The abyss looked on in amazement as I swan dived right in. That’s right, I quit my job to write novels full time.

I grant that it sounds like a fiscally idiotic move, and were I to rely solely on advances and royalties to survive, I would be forced to agree with you as I shopped for the cheapest ramen noodle brand. In this day and age, however, few writers can depend on writing monies to pay rent, so most have a little action going on the side. Me too! I will continue to be in the web design mix as a consultant, doing sales and project management with the network of folks I have built up over the last three years. I have a few other irons in the fire which should provide various meager streams of revenue.

So fear not for me!

In fact, my move has been lauded by those directly in the line of fire: my bosses, my parents, my editor. I think a sign of maturity is to identify a feasible path to walk towards one’s dream. Since this is the first sign of maturity I have displayed since hair grew in special places, I am encouraged.

So, novelists write novels. What do I have on the burner?

The Bloodbaths, the first book of the Aqua Pura Trilogy, comes out October 6 on Subatomic Books, the small press I have sold several books. I would have liked more time to promote it, but these days only major publications need a ton of lead time. The small fry jump right in. Needless to say, I have exercised my web design muscle to build websites for the trilogy, to redesign this blog, and provide Subatomic with some web work, in the hopes that a professional presentation will help accelerate sales.

In March 2008, Subatomic will publish The Inspector, which is my first book. We’re going through the editing process right now, and I hope to get a genuine Richard Powers painting for the cover!

The Secret World Chronicle continues to draw attention. We’re about to launch Book Two: The Hunt. I dig it even more than Book One. The members of the ensemble cast have a chance to shine.

Also on the stove is a book of humor under a pseudonym, the sequel to The Bloodbaths, and the start of a new series featuring a post-collapse Siberian cowgirl. Stay tuned, gentle reader!