People Insist on Texting Me Instead of Calling

As I look around my writer’s room, I see a familiar friend, I am beginning to despise. I reach for my associate/nemesis and wonder, “How could something so useful become so despicable?”  Then, it hits me, I want to use my cell phone to make calls; however, people insist on sending me text messages. Having to type a message in order to communicate is abhorrent to me. It takes forever to finish a conversation; one that could be completed in short order talking with the person instead of sending portions of the message through typing.

Although I realize texting has its place, it is in no way a means to an end. I, also, do not want to use my phone to access the internet, play video games, or strain my eyes attempting to watch a movie. I guess I’m just the exception to the rule. I often ask my wife, “Why don’t you just call them and get it over with instead of wearing out your thumbs over an extended period?”

Being the sweet person she is, I’ll get an answer such as, “Hush.”

Down-trodden and put in my place, I turn to my computer and begin to type on my present task, be it novel, short story or blog.

Then, I think, hmm, Perhaps I jumped the gun, ragging on the typed word as I did. It seems as though I have written myself into dire straits overthinking the practice of texting . . . Nah, my way of thinking is always correct. If you don’t believe me, just ask me.

For now, have a great week and may God shine his light upon you and yours.

“Deadly Reign,” the Third Novel in the Rising Tide Series

Deadly Reign is the third novel in the Rising Tide series. It was one of the most comfortable books I’ve had the pleasure to pen, as it wrote itself. I was fortunate just to go along for the ride. I’ll cut to the chase and share an excerpt:

“I see your men are back,” Ben said.

“Bearing gifts, no less,” Orac added.

“What have we here?” Ben asked, moving closer to the provisions.

“Warmth,” Caleb replied.

“Warmth?” Ben asked.

“What’s all the fuss?” Eve asked, emerging from her sleeping quarters.

“That’s what I’m trying to find out,” Ben replied.

“Hides,” Pete exclaimed, holding up a large pelt.

“Nice,” Eve said, as she brushed her hand through the fur.

“I bet you don’t use these very often,” Ben said.

“This is the first time we have needed such things,” Caleb replied.

 “I’m glad you had the foresight to store the essentials,” Ben said.

“We store nothing,” Caleb said. “Thalyn and Korell hunted these creatures, removed the skins and then cured the hides for our use.”

“That’s impossible,” Pete said. “You can’t get fresh animal hides to this point in twenty-four hours.”

“Thalyn,” Ben said, “how did you accomplish the impossible?”

“Such things take time,” Thalyn replied. “We have been away fifty-three risings of the Great Light.”

Ben thought for a moment. “That’s almost two months,” he said, refusing to believe his own words.

“My brother and I have explained to you how time passes for each of us,” Caleb said.

“Well, yeah,” Ben said, “but how can it be different when we’re together doing the same thing?”

“When we are in the presence of any of The Three,” Caleb said, “time passes at the same rate. If we are apart from The Three, time moves at a different rate. So inversely, in fact, that soon after you leave this place we will cease to be.”

I hope you enjoyed this small sample of Deadly Reign. Take good care, have a wonderful week, and enjoy God’s bountiful blessing’s!

After the First Draft of, “Eden’s Wake,” I Took a Much-Needed Rest.

After the first draft of, “Eden’s Wake,” was complete, I took a much-needed rest before delving into the world of rewrites. Happy with the initial manuscript, I set it aside to work on another project.

Taking a month or so to clear my head with another set of characters and situations, I felt ready to return to “Eden’s Wake,” and begin the first round of edits.

“Eden’s Wake,” being the second novel in the “Rising Tide” series, had me jonesing to get back to work.

I read the entire book, finding holes in my original evaluation of the first draft.

This began the process of rewriting; however, I was pleased to see improvement with each stroke of my virtual pen.  I took periodic breaks to clear my head, before returning to the steadily improving, “Eden’s Wake.”

During this period I completed, “Deadly Reign,” the third book in the “Rising Tide” series. I decided to embark on a set of  final rewrites, knowing this would prepare, “Eden’s Wake” for the publishing process, and more importantly be the perfect follow-up to, “Rising Tide.”

After an extended, but much needed amount of time, “Eden’s Wake” was published, taking its place on the shelf as the second book in the series.  I’m including  a short excerpt featuring Ben Adams.

“FIRE!” Ben hissed.

Three arrows left less than a second apart. The first struck its target and shattered. Projectile two touched the same point, bouncing away, but leaving a second chink in the overseer’s armor. Number three mimicked the trajectory of the first two sinking deep into the neck of the Overseer.

The creature jerked, sank to the ground, and shook violently. It shriveled into a black wrinkled mass that bubbled and exuded wisps of smoke as it spread in a puddle onto the cave floor.

On my next post, I’ll continue with an overview of the, “Rising Tide” series, moving into the third novel, “Deadly Reign.”

Have a wonderful week and may God bless you and yours!