Would you allow me some silliness? I don't know about you, but I could use it. Let's jump right in with a poem or rap of sorts, one so bad that my wife told me not to share it. Lucky for you, I heard that as a challenge. How many rhyming words can I squeeze into a mound of ridiculousness?
Holy smokes, it's no joke, folks. I'm a worn out bloke riding a bike with broken spokes, in desperate need of some Coke (Coca cola, of course), existing on only egg yolks and the occasional acupuncture poke. I'm writing while listening to folk… music, worried I might go broke, but still, I have that fire deep inside that continues to be stoked, so that's what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna keep writing for you until I croak. And then I'm gonna take a long soak… in dirt.
Yep… that's about where I am right now, and upon self-editing this newsletter, she's right, I definitely shouldn't share. I can just feel people mashing the unsubscribe button. But… what do you do?
I've just wrapped up the second round of developmental edits for An Echo in Time--only one more to go--and all I have left in me is a brutally bad rap poem--if you'd even allow me to call it that.
Half of this last project takes place in 1881 Winchester, England, which I guess makes me a historical fiction writer now. Though it whooped my arse, I'm very proud of how it turned out. It might be my best yet.
I have some great news coming, but I can't quite share yet. I'll say this… new projects are underway. In fact, I'm fully diving into a new one today, and it's like nothing I've tackled before. I say that I'm worn out, but I can't get enough of this stuff.
Since I think you appreciate the inner workings of a mad writer, you might get a laugh out of the following. I'm sure you're familiar with method acting, the idea of an actor truly becoming a character, even off camera. I'm no stranger to method writing, having often spoken with a British accent for the last year, but I'm taking it one step deeper for this upcoming book, which I'll tell you more about soon.
For now, I'll say that I have one foot in the seventies, and I'm starting a mustache, letting my hair grow out, and changing my attire. (Hint: there will be Hawaiian shirts with several of the top buttons undone.) I've asked my wife and friends to call me by my character's name. Poor Mikella, putting up with this absurdity for at least the next six months. She deserves a medal. But I will say this new man she's married to is rather charming.
Between that and the poem I shouldn't have shared with you, it's getting weird in here. Just the way I like it…
Let's see, what else. I have a three-day window before I get my last round of edits, which means I can finally practice a little self care. I'm definitely going to make some time to play a lot of banjo and electric guitar, another reason my patient wife is a saint. My friend Linda in Marin sent me
this article about water sommeliers this morning, and I'm eager to learn more. In fact, I'll probably watch
this Netflix show today, which sheds even more light on the topic of the importance of the water we drink. It makes me think Red Mountain needs a water sommelier. And I'm excited to jump back into reading other peoples' works too.
I'm halfway through the tome that is
The Covenant of Water, and though it's often the most beautiful writing I've come upon in years, I also pause occasionally to consider how it didn't need to be so long. My editor, Tiffany Yates Martin, would have eaten his lunch! This morning, I found myself a little bored reading, which is dangerous. I'm a big proponent of not forcing yourself to continue with a book. That being said, there have been a lot of moments, lines, and passages that have knocked the wind of me. I'd be lucky to write one sentence worthy of his worst. His
Cutting for Stone is one of my all-time faves, and he's no doubt a global treasure.
Thank you for your support of
The Stars Don't Lie. It's been hovering high in the charts. I so appreciate your kind notes and reviews.
Okay, I'll be back with some good news soon. I can't wait to tell you about my new character. I might even share a selfie. But that means you have to address me by his name as well.
