Deepy

Got back from a long day at Cub Scout camp with the son, but I still managed to sit down and write 1,133 words. I have surpassed my goal of 1,000 words a day every single day since I started on Deep Water, I believe. That be a good thing, laddy. Aye.

I have now written 22,001 words of the new novel. Lord-General Tallek just showed up in the valley of Ementus. Crap is 'bout to get real. Loremaster stories have been told, merchant's daughter has sneered and been rude, terrible sleepless night has transpired. All that remains now is for catastrophe to unfold in ever-increasing ways. Skinless dogs are only two chapters away, people, and isn't that what we're really waiting for?

Basket of Biskits

Writing like a freak. Do you hear me, Elbert? Writing like a freak. Already at 17,500 words. Loremaster Krantis is about to tell stories about the Enu who live in the sky. Also, it might be time to discuss water dreams and such. I mean, seriously, who wouldn't want to discuss water dreams? Loremasters love that sort of thing.

Waters Be Gettin' Deep

Working on the next novel like a fiend. Deep Water now stands at 14,300 words. So far, it's come fast and easy. Fortunately, it's a story that I've thought about and gone over in my head many times since I wrote the previous version of this novel back in 2001. Writhing lowlanders, metal men, water dreams, angry patriarchs, scary girls, that's what we've got so far. And soon there will be loremaster stories, massacres, escapes, skinless dogs and more. Thrilling stuff, folks.

How's About Another Book?

Finished some final work on The Klown Kroo. Nothing major. Corrected a few typos, rewrote some awkward sentences, added a few paragraphs here and there, eliminated redundancies. Most importantly, I added a thematically necessary paragraph to the epilogue. All in all, I think the manuscript is about as good as it's going to get and ready to be perused by an editor. I've queried quite a few publishers, so now it's just a waiting game to see who will respond.

In the meantime, I have continued writing Deep Water. I finished the first chapter and worked a little bit on the second. Already had the pleasure of writing a really disturbing dream sequence. The book stands at 5,369 words.

Queries and Queries. I mean Queries.

Queried more publishers. Heard back from one, but not sure if I want to send them the full manuscript or wait to hear from others. Publishing etiquette demands that while simultaneous queries are okay, simultaneous submission of manuscripts is not. I might wait to hear from one of the big boys. Here are the latest publishers to be queried:

TOR
Ace/Roc Science Fiction & Fantasy
Edge Publishing

Queries

The publishers I've queried about The Klown Kroo:

Silverthought
Knightwatch
All Things That Matter Press
Dark Quest Books
ChiZine Publishing

They are all smaller presses, but next I step it up a notch. I will be sending a query packet to Tor on Monday. Then Baen. Then we's go on from there.