Young Bucks, Dollars and Sense.

As I am writing through the next Jim Harper Fantasy Western, Sky Rift, I realize that I am going to make decisions that I cannot undo. For instance, were I to give Jim a scar, I would need to take said scar into account anytime I am "looking" at him in the book. If I were to give him a gatling gun for an arm, washing the dishes could get frustrating. Well, folks, I am about to pull that trigger. I am about to lay down a whole system of technology, and I am not really sure how I feel about it. It's a massive commitment.

I am looking for a name for this technology, and the closest that I've come is Soul Tech. Yep, sounds stupid, but what was meant to be a temporary name has grown dear to my heart. But, it isn't within the framework of the story/world.  So, I am looking for a name for this system of antiquated tech.

I have not officially started the audio work yet for the audio book... And I realize that I probably won't get to due to a short week. I am heading to sunny California. Research, you know...

Thanks to all who have written a review for Brimstone Deep. Much love!

I Like People

I hope I am good student.

I feel as though I miss people on a fairly basic level. Try as I might to pay attention, my brain chases rabbits through the details of a person's story, often times missing the underlying heart of the matter. Sometimes it is because I feel that I already know what they are going to say and they tell it too slowly. Agonizingly. Other times, because they tell it so briefly or without emphasis on anything I care about, I attache little emotional value to it. Also, I have an 'emotional detachment defense mechanism' that is initiated when someone is too sad or comes across as too emotionally needy. This EDDM has really come in handy at times. But, because I deal with actual people with real feelings, this EDDM should be used sparingly, so that I can respond with honor and compassion for their needs. Why bring this up?

In writing, I realize that an engrossing story is driven by people, their decisions, and other people's reaction to and proactivity regarding those decisions. To write people, I need to read people, so to speak. Emotionally, I need to find the place where I can just let people be people and see their intrinsic value in who they are despite their offensive choices. And stay connected. In writing, I need to write people with an effect to keep them in the story.

So we'll see. Is the heinous bad guy worth redeeming? Is the boring milquetoast character at very least a part of an interesting story? Is a hero allowed to fail and fail and fail and still allowed to be the hero?

Whatever.

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A Silver Bullet to Put Down Wild Ideas

Hollywood does weird western and steampunk poorly. I love the genre's, but the best things that we have are Wild, Wild West and Cowboys and Aliens. The Lone Ranger, I thought, was going to change that. But, alas, it was for not.

It was the last one that I want to discuss, however. It was the Lone Ranger (not the movie), that really fueled the steam engine between my ears regarding an American west milieu. A thought nagged at me about 10 years ago.
Why would the Lone Ranger use silver bullets, if not for werewolves? 
After that, it was all I could do to keep from building that world. Unfortunately, I had overlooked the whole Copyright infringement thing. But, instead of burying my ideas in a shallow, unmarked slush pile, I reinvented the whole idea, and viola! Brimstone Deep was born. Obviously, this short story is not the whole story. But, I certainly wanted to gauge the reaction and interest that many might have to the western fantasy with yours truly at the helm. There have been enough encouraging words that I getting ready to release more from that world. Tentatively, the book will be called SkyGate SkyRift.

Anyway, I am going to write a workable script for Brimstone Deep and see if it might be possible to market it, as I do have a few avenues through which I can.

I feel like I've stretched my fingers now. Back to writing!