John Darkscar: Blog

To my long-suffering readers, I have the pleasure of announcing a new (relatively short) story in the Powder City universe, God's Forge . This one just forced itself into existence, perhaps prompted by some unexpected changes in a very longstanding friendship/relationship.

It's not exactly like my other stories, in that it deals with some rather intense ideas about fate, life, and our purposes in it. The story is currently being written, but is complete in my head. Look for it in around a week or so.

As far as the others go- "Blackmail" has one more chapter completed, and another nearly done, while "Whitewater" has one nearly done, and another plotted out. I promise to get them up ASAP.

Thanks for staying on for the (very slow) ride.

Well, I've finally managed to write a few more chapters to inflict upon my long-suffering (yet unaccountably loyal) readers! I have a few more that are conceptually ready, but untyped.

I have no idea whatsoever when I might find time to work on them. There is still much turmoil in real life, with my Mom's passing last winter, my wife's continuing medical problems and current hospitalization, and outpatient surgery for me scheduled for Monday.

I'm actually having good luck in the plotting, just haven't had the will power to apply ass to seat and fingers to keyboard.

Anyhow- a happy late Spring to you all!

Merry Christmas to the Authors and readers here at SOL! May the Joy of the season be yours!

I've noticed a number of author's blogs recently talking about low scores. While I haven't posted much at all recently, I did notice that the latest chapters added to "Blackmail" engendered some low scoring, enough to move the total down about 0.04.

Now, the story doesn't have all that many votes to begin with, so I realize that a couple of low scores will move the average more than a couple low scores would move the average for one of Lazlo's stories. On the other hand, the people that bothered to drop me a note didn't express criticisms of the story.

I guess the question is- are people giving low scores generally across the site, and we as authors should expect that, or is there some dissatisfaction with the way the story is going (aside from VERY slowly, OK?)?

All that said, I write for the fun of it. I don't write to try to get high scores, I just want to try to spin a tale that people will have fun reading. I DO read and answer all mail, and I DO take the criticisms that I receive seriously. I DON'T normally make changes to the plot or characters to try to please people, but I will try to fix obvious errors in continuity or plot.

My typing is not perfect, and at present I'm not using an editor, so there will be mistakes in spelling and punctuation. I know that this drives some people up the wall, and I apologize, but I'm NOT going to spend the little time I have to write going back over what I've already posted and making dozens of little fiddling corrections.

Again- to all readers. If you assign a low score to my writing, that's up to you. I like to see high scores, but I'm not going to break out the cyanide and noose if I don't get them.

I would like it if you'd take the time to drop me a short note of explanation, so that I can take your views into consideration as I move forward. If you like the story, or what I'm doing, I'd like to hear that, too.

I DO read all my mail and reply to it- it may take a while, as I'm pretty busy.

Finally, I extend sincere thanks to those readers who put up with my sporadic postings and keep on reading. I truly appreciate you.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all and may the Holidays be good to you.

Well, Constant Readers, I finally managed a new chapter for "Blackmail". Things are heating up a bit, and I hope you enjoy it.

I have the broad outline for the next chapter all blocked out, and have actually gotten a bit of it committed to pixels. It will move things forward in the story a good bit. I have no idea at all when I will get it posted. Hopefully quicker than this last one.

Real life is still pretty busy. My business is quite slow this year after a good year last year. Finances are tight in the booming Obamaconomy.

Thanks to all of you that have stuck it out this far! Even bigger thanks to those who took the time to write. I try to check the email for this pen name regularly and answer folks.

Happy Fall, and Halloween to you! Good health and best wishes too!