Kenn Ghannon: Blog

I have a tale of woe.

I've torn my rotator cuff and have been in physical therapy for about a month. No big deal, really, but sitting and typing - which is what I do for most of the day for my real job (the one that pays me) - means I haven't really been up to it after work. I was puttering around some on the weekends until...

About two weeks ago (or more) my computer - which I'd just freaking built - decided to stop working. Diagnosing, replacing and etc. were a pain - it was a custom built job and I've decided it is the LAST time I custom build anything ever again - so I've not been able to write in a few weeks (I have a work laptop but I think they'd frown on me typing erotica on that device - and I'm paranoid enough to think they'd know, somehow). Good news, I've repurposed an old laptop that I found - but it isn't the same (or as easy) typing on it. I think I should have my computer fixed by the end of the weekend but I won't know for sure until it happens.

So...the story is going to be delayed. I'm hoping for the end of June - but I do have vacation coming up and, while I will definitely write a bit during vacay, I will mostly be visiting relatives in faraway lands.

So, please be (more) patient (than you've already been). I'm going to target the middle to end of July now - and hope I can give you a pleasant surprise by getting it done earlier.

Kenn Ghannon

Story Update: I have not written a single word in three weeks.

I've wanted to write. I've plotted the whole Tome 2 story. Real Life™ keeps hopping up and biting me in the keister (a technical term).

My work has changed. We're dealing with market fluctuations and changing governmental landscapes and our company's profit margin has narrowed. In response, our jobs have morphed - same job, just harder to do it for a wide variety of reasons. It means my work/life balance has skewed heavily towards the 'work' side and by the time I actually do make it to the 'life' part - I don't even want to LOOK at a computer.

Then, there's my 'man-cave'. It's a disaster of epic proportions. A decade or so ago, we moved to a state where basements basically don't exist - so we had to change our 'storage' to above our garage. As time goes on (and kids get older) space has grown very tight. In response, my wife found several boxes of my books that suddenly needed to be stored in the man-cave rather than in storage. I had no where to put them - my shelving in my man-cave is FULL. So, I did what any self-respecting woodworking hobbyist would do - I decided to build me a new shelving system to store all the detritus.

That was a year ago. I'm still not done with the shelving units because...Life­™. However, I've prioritized them because I JUST CAN'T STAND IT ANY MORE! I have my crap EVERYWHERE - on my desk, in piles on the floor...you name it. I'm not the neatest person in the world but when the clutter gets to be too much, I get a bit nuts.

Then, there's taxes. Two of my daughters are now 'grown' (one is away at college, one commutes) but I somehow got stuck doing their taxes. I honestly don't mind - but getting necessary paperwork from them is worse than pulling teeth.

I know, I know...first world problems...

Anyway, three weeks...

I know I could have written over the past three weeks. Some of the above is just excuses, I know. The problem is...I'm not happy with the chapter I wrote last and I don't know how to fix it. I'm not even positive why I don't like it. Usually, the thing will percolate and a 'way out' will present itself - not this time. I may have to leave it and move on.

Anyway, that's been my slice of heaven. I'm going to have to step it up but I think I can still make the 'late May/early June' deadline I've set myself.

I hope all of you have been more productive than me.

KG

I have plans.
Seriously.
Quit laughing.

I have plans on what I want to write and the order of it all. I'm currently working on Runesward, Tome 2. That will debut at the end of May or early June, depending.

Next, I have plans to complete the sequel to 'Pretty CAPable' (currently titled, subject to change, 'Fairly CAPable'). I've already written over 30 chapters in it, so it just needs me to finish it. I'm considering a 'Part 3' (and possibly further) - I'm just not certain yet. I'm tentatively planning on having that done and begin posting by October.

Finally, I need to finish Ring of Command - including a potential re-write. I'm not happy with several parts so...it may or may not be re-written but I really want to finish it off.

As they say, though, man makes plans and...the gods laugh...

I can agree - when I'm not posting, my feedback becomes a trickle. My take is we have become so inured to constant advertisement and instant gratification, if my material isn't shown in the 'new stuff' list, we're forgotten. I don't mind - and it doesn't preclude me from writing. Actually, just the opposite - it means I need to write faster and post more - but it is the truth.

Now, why I have not been writing is something completely different. As most people know, in the corporate world the only thing constant is change. My job is going through a minor upheaval - not in personnel but rather in tools - and the ensuing chaos has meant my productivity has slowed. This means, I need to take more of my personal time - short term - to finish work. As I get used to the new tools and some of my new responsibilities - because, since we're all feeling the pinch, I've been asked to contribute in areas beyond my normal purview - things will improve. For example, rather than writing in Runesward, I'm currently writing a report due on Monday morning and, after I finish this one, another report due Monday afternoon. Real Life™ happens. :)

My current schedule should NOT affect Runesward Tome 2's debut - I'm still shooting for an end of May, early June release - because I knew this was coming and baked some time into the schedule (Scotty Montgomery rules). It is, however, what it is.

Thanks to everyone who has been patient and those who still write to me.

My previous post concerned 'nocking' vs. 'notching'. I received some feedback and I wanted to clear the air a bit. I wasn't whining. I'm actually really glad people felt comfortable enough bringing this to me. My blog was more to explain my thought processes behind using 'notching' to a wide audience - so people would know I'd heard their concerns and I hadn't just dismissed them.

I will NEVER take offense at someone critiquing my work (well, NEVER might be a stretch...). Even if you're critique is - this sucks! I'd prefer you tell me why you think it sucks so I can try to improve as a writer but...

All comments are welcome and I try to respond to every, single one that comes in. I don't always succeed - and I certainly don't succeed in a timely manner - but I try to respond each time.

Thank you for all of your help!
Kenn Ghannon