Mister Arioch: Blog

Chapter 21 of "Listening to Jack" has been submitted for posting. Yes, I'm as stunned as you are. I can't think of the last time I only took two weeks to get a new chapter of this story ready for publication. The next chapter should be along soon as well, but probably not quite as quickly.

In Chapter 21, Emily learns some news that's surprising to her, but probably not all that surprising to regular readers of this ongoing story. How does it affect her "conditioning"? You'll have to read and find out.

Question: I got three separate emails this weekend wanting to know if I was planning anymore stories in the "Jack Universe". Which was something I'd vaguely considered before, but with the end of the original story approaching, it's an idea I'm considering more and more.

I'd want to finish the main original story before starting something else in this "universe". That said, if I did write something else in this setting, is there anything in particular people would be interested in reading about? Maybe something from Chelsea's or Charlotte's perspective? Samantha's trip to Seattle? Or just something with new characters in a new place, where someone's gotten a hold of Jack's special technology?

I'm not promising that I'll turn all suggestions into a story. But if one matches up with something I'm thinking about (or hadn't considered and like), I'll give that idea priority in my writing.

I'm currently starting some early work on a story similar to "Listening to Jack" - yet another multi-part extravaganza called "Children of the Code".

If you're interested in being a beta reader for this, please drop me a line.

Listening to Jack, Chapter 20 - it's up.

I'll be the first to admit that it's a sprawling monstrosity, something that I spent way too much time writing (and rewriting). It provides badly should be broken down into two smaller chapters, if not three. But I never got it to work broken down like that, at least not in a way that I thought was satisfactory. I can't say the single giant chapter is something I'm entirely satisfied with either ... but it works, and it's done.

So here it is. For better or for worse. Writing on the next two chapters is going well, and I hope to have them done soon.

I also hit a point with this chapter to where I realized that I'll probably never be entirely happy with it. And if I didn't finish and post it soon, it was never going to be finished, and neither would the rest of the story.

For the few fans I actually have (and thanks for your comments, I do read them, even if I don't always manage to respond to them), you'll probably be gratified to read this.

"Listening to Jack". Chapter 20.

DONE.

It's in the hands of my editor, and will be up by this weekend. Be prepared. It's huge.

I think I'm the only author in the world who writes slower than George R.R. Martin. My apologies for that.

I hope it's worth the wait.