While working on the revision of The Rose Guardian, I’ve been mucking around with a new painting. I think I will call this one finished. (One never knows about these things. I’ve looked at paintings years later and thought: Oh, I could have done that differently. But yes, for now it’s done. The painting is watercolour on an eighth sheet of d’Arches 300lb cold pressed paper, depicting a stormy dawn on the Isle of Skye. I’ve always been drawn…
Very excited to reveal the brilliant cover Jeff Minkevics has created for my forthcoming novella, Caliban. I think Jeff captured the essence of the story in his artistic concept, while also paying homage to the golden era of SF. At first Jeff wanted to give a tip of the hat to the great illustrative covers created by Doubleday artists, using a Puppet Masters feel, but when it was made apparent to Jeff that the main character…
Because some of you have been asking about my next novel release, thought it would be a good idea to update you on my progress. Caliban is slated for release December 1, 2017. However, because my cover art mad genius, Jeff Minkevics, has been inundated this year, the cover for the novella is delayed, and thus the release of Caliban may be delayed a month or two. Eric Demarais has done a fabulous job of the layout, and…
I am so very close to finishing the first draft of my new novel, The Rose Guardian. I know, I know, I keep saying this date, and then that date, and then another, but life and obligations continually suck away my creative energy. Between operating the publishing house, and attending to the glass business which keeps Gary and me afloat, there is little time left. But I am carving out hours here and there, stringing thoughts into…
Have been watching the long (three hours and 12 minutes) 1963 film version of Cleopatra, staring the scintillating and dynamic Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. According to the Wikipedia entry, the film was the only film to be the highest-grossing film of the year, yet still ran at a loss and nearly bankrupted 20th Century Fox. It won four Academy Awards, and was nominated for five more. Despite production and cast problems, it still holds…
Yes works in progress. That’s plural. Which is perhaps more a reflection of a scattered mind than an organized one, but there you have it. I sent Caliban to a colleague for editing. She came back with a ream of suggestions. So I am now in the process of yet another revision, with better focus on the problems in the novel and how to address those. Part of that process is letting go, of opening another door…
Seems to be I can only manage one post a month. My apologies, dear reader. Writing of The Rose Guardian continues slowly but positively. I’m so close to finishing the first draft, perhaps by close of year. I’m very happy with how the characters have developed, particularly Vi, my protagonist. It has been a challenge writing three separate stories, meshing them so the stories flow as a cohesive whole. Fine tuning of that will happen…
A novella on which I’ve been working for some 25 years may finally see the light in 2016. Or possibly early 2017. It is a speculative fiction piece, Caliban, which, among other things, examines reality. All sounds very erudite, doesn’t it? But it’s not. I hope you will find it a good read, and perhaps, after you’ve had time to think about it, discover there are depths. But your experience may vary. The official blurb? Thus: Tine desires…
There was a time I used to be able to sit myself in front of the computer and just let the fingers fly. Stories were easy. Writing was easy. Now I find it hard to steal time from a day to let that creativity bubble up and flow. It’s taken me nigh unto five years to get where I am with my current work in progress, The Rose Guardian. My dear cousin keeps nudging me. My dear…
At long last I’ve updated my website, made it more functional, and hopefully of more interest to my loyal readers. I hope to post more often here, share my writing progress with you. Yes, indeed, there is a very strong possibility there will be a new novel from me this year, Caliban, which is a speculative fiction which explores the concepts of beauty and reality through a thoroughly alien creature, Tine. Caliban is currently with my dear friend…