In the spirit of talking more and writing less, there is a ten minute update on my YouTube channel for this week. I have to admit, I enjoy doing these short video clips, almost as much as I like sitting down and working on a new book. 

I do appreciate the opportunity to give a glimpse into the creative process and what the steps are. Publishing a book is more than writing a first draft and saying that it is good to go. Even in elementary school the teacher stressed the need for revision and proofreading. When I first got into independent publishing, I will admit I fell into some of those common pitfalls. A major one was trusting other people to make it perfect and as a result having a hands-off approach after the initial draft was sent off for review. That was a big mistake, but one I think I have learned from.

With ten years experience going it my own way, I am the first to stress the need for editing, proofreaders, copyeditors, and the like. I am also all for getting a professional to create the book cover among other aspects of the creation process.

In the independent world, you are the master, the director of your project, but there is something said for getting assistance along the way to get the best product out for the masses to read. 

This shouldn't come as a shocker or a surprise to those who have been following my podcast or this blog, but the book is done early. The Varissian Affair will be making it's way to the masses this week. On Tuesday,  eBook copies will be available on Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, Google Play, and Apple to name the major vendors. Paperback copies will only be available on Amazon. 

A book link with all available online retail vendors will be uploaded in the coming days.

The second book in the series will be ready by June as it goes through the editing process and the third book either late summer or early fall. In the meantime, I am turning my focus to my Secrets of Luza/Seli series. 

Thank you for your continued support. I hope you enjoy the new book.
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I hit a milestone yesterday by finishing the edits on The Varissian Affair. It took me several days to work through the notes and decide what I wanted to keep or use. The next phase is to get the paperback out for one more read and then the book will be ready for release. At this point I'll hit my goal of mid-April. I could push it and get the book out by the end of this month, but the plan from the beginning was always April 16th.

I'm excited for this book to come out. I haven't published anything new since the release of Valo and Lane. That was in the summer of 2018. Granted, there have been new editions of books since (mainly in late 2020 and early 2021) including From West Virginia with Love, but nothing created from scratch. 

Those that have been following this blog know that I have been busy since the fall on a variety of books. The Varissian Affair will mark the first of several new releases in 2021. The Thresher is ready for the copyeditor. Seli is too. Book three of the Marcus Files is in the draft phase as is book two of The Secrets of Luza. All is falling into place which is a good thing. 

If you haven't read the description for TVA, take a look under the book section. I will be setting up a preorder a few weeks before release for those that are interested. Should you be a fan of Star Trek Deep Space 9 especially, I think you would enjoy the storyline. 

Speaking of Lane, for a throwback Thursday, take a look at the cover creation phase. Lane went through several cover renditions. The one on the left was one of the earliest versions. It didn't resonate well with me or with my beta readers. There was a stronger connection with the second cover and it has remained that way three years later.  

As we transition from winter to spring, I can't help but reflect on loss. For over a year many have had to adapt their lives in unforeseen ways to deal with this pandemic. Some have lost family members, friends, and coworkers. Meanwhile others have had their lives uprooted in ways they had never imagined. Even as the pandemic continues to wage war, there is hope. Between the vaccines, more effective treatments in hospitals, and with people taking necessary precautions and safeguards we will mitigate further losses. 

While we come out of this dark season, the fact remains there will be other losses not only from Covid-19 but from our natural cycle of life. Knowing this, we need to take a step back and appreciate those important to us, the roles they play, and the love we share. The pandemic has taken many people too soon, but it's not the only culprit, the only player in this game. 

There is a temptation to pretend that life is back to normal, when that is so far from the truth. Pandemic or not, this is the time to continually reach out to our loved ones and be there for them even at a distance. Time is precious and regardless of world events, we need to cherish these moments and the little things, especially for those in our lives. 

When we don't take a step back and appreciate those who we connect with the most, we could find ourselves alone, in despair, and regretful. I'm not advocating immediate travel, but I'm suggesting if you haven't been reaching out, cultivating those bonds you do share, there is no time but the present.

Be safe, be well, and be love.