TechnicDragon: Blog

I got news today that will cause major delays in my planning of book 6. I have at least, come up with the name for the new book: Free Magus.

I found out earlier this evening that my ex-wife, who left me with our two children in 2003, is having surgery in the next month or so. Worse, she has so many medical issues that ... well, frankly, she didn't sound too good over the phone. After the surgery, she's going to be moving in with her Mother out in Virginia both to recover and to continue to treat her other ailments. There is even the possibility that she has one or two forms of cancer. I believe she agreed to the move (because she can be very stubborn) only so the kids won't watch her deteriorate further.

For those who don't know, she and the twins (boy/girl - they turn 18 this December) currently live in Wichita Falls, Texas. They moved there because she believed Wichita's High Schools offered the level and sophisticated curriculum the kids needed. Both of the kids are very smart - taking more after their mother than me - though both suffer from their own problems. Morgan (our son) is a high-functioning Autistic. My ex noticed certain behavior patterns when he was a toddler and used her connections as a pharmacy tech in hospitals to figure out the best things to do. I don't believe he would be as well adjusted as he is if she hadn't acted as early as she did. Brenna (our daughter) suffers from Bi-Polar Depression. She's attempted twice, but neither instance required more than some band-aides to stop the bleeding. She has an emotional-support dog, Lillith, and works at a pet clinic, bathing people's dogs. She even went so far as to move into a room at the back of the clinic so she wouldn't feel like her mother's slave for the last few months. When she found out what her mother was suffering from, though, she got scared. Now, knowing her mom is moving to Virginia and I'm going to be handling the responsibilities, she plans to move back into the apartment.

I'm moving to Wichita Falls. The twins won't be transferred to a new school - which is good for both of them scholastically, and to maintain the day-to-day for Morgan. The twins are in their Senior year of high school. I don't know what will happen after they graduate. We may move back to East Texas, or simply stay in Wichita Falls.

In the past, I have always been reluctant to do any writing when my kids were visiting. Mostly because I was spending every minute I could with them. I can only hope to get into a good routine where I'm writing again soon, but I'm not going to hold my breath. It could be a while before I'm able to post anything again simply because I don't have anything to post. Have no fears though. I do not intend to leave the series hanging in limbo as it currently is. As a matter of fact, I have plans already for at least seven more books after Free Magus. So, it will come. It may take a while, but it will come.

Thank you for reading,

TD

As the blog title says, planning has started, but the plot is thin. The core plot is simple and straight-forward, though the answer won't be. To be honest, I want to share the sample description I've come up with, but at the same time, I don't want to ruin the surprise either.

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Oh! To Hell with it! Here's the rough description:

Seth wakes up in a magical paradise. The weather is perfect, the people are beautiful, and sex is the primary activity everyone engages in. Seth wants to go home, but with gorgeous women throwing themselves at him at every turn, Magi willing to train him in the use of Magics unimagined and forbidden by the Council, and everyone - both Magi and mundane - believes he is home, how can he find his way?

There you go. That's all I have at the moment. I only have one character planned currently, with only a vague idea on what he is like and what he really wants. I have to put together this paradise and populate it. Beyond that, I have no idea what will happen.

Maybe what I need is some help in the way of tying off any loose threads I've left thru the series. Maybe Seth will find answers to some of the questions nobody else has been able to answer so far? I could use some help on this. If anyone has a question, send it. I'll attempt to incorporate it into this story. If nothing else, your questions will remind me of ideas I've had in the past I've yet to explore.

Thank you!

TD

I've missed my intended deadline of Sept 1st, but rest assured, the rest of the story will be posted this weekend! That is Chapters 31 through 44 are coming. I'm currently working on chapter 44, which is the epilogue. So, hold on to yer hats, folks, it's about to get crazy!

--- Scratch that....

The new chapters have been submitted for posting!

I want to apologize to everyone for my posting delays. I've said it several times but the remaining chapters all tie together for the ending and I would rather not spoil what is to come. I am working on chapter 41 with only two more to follow. For a long time now I've been trying to figure out a particular detail in this chapter but this morning while reading an article about cliches in fantasy and how to avoid them, I had an epiphany. All at once I've realized that it's not the detail in the chapter holding me up, instead it is the realization that I don't know what the next story will be about. I really don't. Worse, as I write this, I also realize I can't describe the different ideas for stories I could write because several would give away details that have yet to be posted in Orphan Magus. However, now that I know what my real problem is, I can move forward and finish Orphan Magus. Then I can fully focus on the real problem and maybe even ask you, my readers, which way the story should go next.

Yeah. That's the ticket!

I believe I mentioned this previously. My family is about to move. The state is buying land for a new bypass and they're going to take a bit over half our property which will also take part of the house. So, they have to help us find and move into another house. Fortunately, we already know what house we want to move into, we just need their approval.

Anyway, complications aside, they're coming out this week to talk to us about how much money they're going to offer. If everything goes smoothly, we could be moved in the next couple of weeks.

For the story, I am currently working on Chapter 38. The outline only suggests 5 more after that to complete the whole thing! I would post more of the chapters I've already completed but all of them work together to wrap up many of the stories various plots. If I'm steadfast, I may be able to write up drafts for all the chapters before the move. That way, I'll only need to refine them and post everything soon after.

Keeping my fingers crossed!