The health problems didn't help, but my next story has taken much longer than I thought. That being said, it's moving along.
Divided into four 'books', the first is ready for editing. The second is on hold due to technical difficulties and it's what's eaten up the most time. I've moved on to the third for now; the fourth is sketched out. The total length is already up to 40K words and I'm guessing it will finish around 70K.
Unfortunately, my major content editor has dropped out of sight and the volunteers I've emailed haven't responded. Two people have offered to look it over, so I'll see if they're up to the task. I also need to find a math and physics advisor to get me over the hump in book two.
I wish I could give a posting date, but I need to get a lot closer. This one will be posted daily to help readers stay with the flow.
I'm amazed to see people are still finding and reading my stories, and am gratified by the reward. Some are even voting.
Thanks to all, and I hope to have more to offer soon.
I haven't died yet, although I came close.
I suffered a heart attack in August of 2011. Luckily, I figured out what was happening, and was on the E.R. table when the lights went out. I'm told I was jolted three times over fifteen minutes before I was stable. I received one stent, and was released three days later with four scripts, and no detectable loss of heart function. That's dodging the bullet.
Please take a lesson from my near-miss. I never felt any excruciating pain, no pain shooting down the left arm, or hours of 'heartburn' that I ignored.
I was hit by a wave of severe nausea from nowhere, followed by sweat literally dripping off my forehead. [I don't mean Joe Biden's literally, either.] Even in the ambulance, I only had moderate pain in the center of my chest. Don't wait for that pain you read about!
Women have different symptoms including 'I just don't feel right'.
Please read up for your families' sake. My wife could see everything being done to me in the E.R. and has zero sense of humor on the subject anymore.
I have a very short, humorous [humourous for you Brits] tale set for Tuesday posting. It's completely unlike 'Rejuvenated'.
I've said I don't write genres, but this one will look like it. That's as close as I intend to come.
I hope you'll enjoy this one as well.
I've already received a number of comments regarding the way 'Rejuvenated' ended. I've responded to those who left their email addresses; this is for those who chose to comment anonymously.
First of all, it is far from a shaggy dog story. I had been writing the story for several weeks before I conceived the ending. I chose to end the story with David being true to his nature. The story is about balance, the scarcity of second chances, seizing opportunities, and personal growth.
Secondly, there are two ways to end a story. One is closed. The characters' lives are briefly laid out to their dying day and all elements are neatly tied up. The other is open. This allows a reader to use his or her imagination to take the arc of the story and continue it onward. Look at the ending of the film version of Mary Poppins or of the Sound of Music. The stories would have been diminished had the writer tried to advance the story further.
I felt that this was the optimal point to end telling David and Abby's story. The family was together again and the future had infinite possibilities. I could only have tarnished it by continuing. I apologize to any who felt disappointed, but I have to follow my instincts.