What's next in 2018

This is a short update as I've had the past week off and am now staving off a cold.

In terms of creative growth, 2017 was a fantastic year for me. A-Sides and B-Sides did better than expected in terms of people actually bothering to purchase and read it.

Tonight someone I've known for a while was nice enough to respond to the stories I've written as he's finished them in real time, which is amazing. I sincerely believe most writers including myself don't chase fame or fortune but only an audience, and to know people are actually reading things mean a lot.

One person in particular, is the lead singer and guitarist in one of the bands whose title I used to create one of the the stories I wrote in A-Sides and B-Sides. This person read it back in September and then asked if I would be willing to write a novel based on one of their albums.

I took them up on that offer, and spent six or seven weeks writing nonstop, every day, seven days a week (despite having a day job) as if I were in a fever dream.Then I spent some time editing it and spell checking and everything else you're supposed to do. The process was draining, both emotionally and mentally. At one point, I was so consumed with it, I thought I was having a breakdown and was physically sick. My significant other insisted I take a weekend off. I'm glad I did as it gave me the strength to finish it.

I am lucky in that one of the people who designed the cover to A-Sides and B-Sides will also create the cover for this book which will technically be the first novel I've completed. We actually brainstormed the idea for the cover over Thanksgiving.

While I don't want to mention the band at this point, not until the book is out, I am happy to know that some of the members have read it cover-to-cover and are happy with the result.

While the book is based on an album it has very little to do with music (except perhaps the 'plot' derived from the album which is ironic considering the album has a lot of instrumentals on it.)

I never thought I'd complete a book of short stories and a novel in one year. I really hope next year will be as productive. Considering I have at least two novels in the works, I have a good feeling it will be. The next two novels will be more music centric. One in particular is much more humorous, and I'm glad of that. I have no trouble reaching in to darkness to create something but man it takes a lot out of you.

Hope you've had a great year and here's to a spectacular 2018.

Just in case you're stumbling upon this blog, I should let you know that
A-Sides and B-Sides is available on iBook as well as Amazon and also Kobo and Nook. You can preview a nice chunk of it, too. Hope you'll consider buying if you like what you see. Here's what the cover looks like.