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I know it's been a minute. Had many supporters contact me personally, inquiring about... well, the consensus was: "Dude, what the fuck?"
Yes, I am alive. My health is better. And I am still writing, editing, revising, and publishing. I've been up to my ass in alligators lately with multiple projects. Truth is, there's a lot more to being a writer/author/novelist than simply writing a book. That's the easy part, and honestly, if I'd known then what I know now, I probably would've tossed my laptop overboard and saved myself thousands of $.
And if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle.
Bottom line is there is no way I will be able to get through all the messages and DMs folks have been leaving me here. But I will try to give you a concise update on where I am and what I am doing. Basically, I've published several of my books. And I F'd it all up in the process, and have spent the last year trying to fix the mess I have made of everything. I have been revising them with the help of developmental editors, copy editors, beta readers, and formatting specialists. I paid for new cover art and multiple promotional/marketing campaigns, and worked on getting physical copies out at local venues. I am pleased to say that my debut novel Below The Belt has finally completed the last hurdle in the revision process and is now available on Bookapy (or Z Books).
Okay, what about The Boy Scout? I took a lengthy hiatus from that project; more for my mental health than anything. Reality started hitting too close to home in those pages, and I actually became a little depressed about it. I started asking, 'Jesus Christ! What else are they gonna rip out of this book and make real?" We bombed the crap out of Iran... Don't look now, but Venezuela just showed up in the news too... Fuck me blind if this lunatic actually orders a nuclear strike on US soil!
Anyway, I owe y'all an apology for leaving you hanging there. I am going to finish Boy Scout next. BUT... I won't be submitting any more chapters until it is finished. It's not fair to the readers, and it takes a lot of pressure off me. All I can promise is — sometime next year.
I am also working on a new book called Black Ice that is turning out to be a powerful thriller involving an ex-French Foreign Legion clandestine operator (IOW 'assassin'). Again, I won't submit it here until it is finished.
That's all for now. Forgive me if I don't get to your questions promptly. I appreciate your remarks and comments, even the negative ones.
One last thing. Some will notice the name J V Osborne popping up. That is me; my real name. All of my published works will be under that name. Just to add another layer of confusion to the mix, as if Dyspneic and Rottweiler weren't bad enough.
Cheers
To get back into The Boy Scout, I've had to go back and review where it stands and go over a ton of notes for the next and final part. I have written many scenes that have yet to be adopted into the fold, one of them appearing in the next chapter (14), which I am writing as fast as my little fingers can type. As the story progresses, the 'blast radius' expands globally. So each chapter will share multiple theaters. The trick is to do this in a way that keeps the primary focus inside CONUS, yet reflects how external forces influence and impact that front.
There are only two chapters left in Part Two, and I will work through the night to try and get 14 finished and ready to post.
Cheers,
Rotty
Hey y’all! It’s been a minute. A couple of months ago, I posted that I was stepping away from the forum to concentrate on multiple projects, shelving my WIP, The Boy Scout, for a bit. So much has happened (and continues), but I’m back and plan to finish this bugger. What’s new?
I’ve been revising my debut book, Below The Belt, after a developmental edit in February. I just finished the second draft before sending it to my Betas. Next is copyediting, formatting, and (re)publication. I made significant changes and added nearly 8,000 words. It’s now 107K, and the.pdf is 366 pages! I redesigned the cover, added new supporting characters, and changed the byline to J.V. Osborne (my real name).
In fact, all of my books will be changed to reflect this rebranding, and my pen name will be eliminated to align with my new online presence. This will be a perpetual endeavor with the help of friends and PAs. The impact on my SOL platform remains to be seen, but I don’t expect disruption.
Previously, I wrote and submitted TBS a chapter at a time, allowing me to make corrections and adjustments as the story progressed. Now, I am inclined to finish it so readers aren’t left waiting for another installment. What are your thoughts? I project it will be done by Labor Day. The final part will involve incorporating numerous extensive scenes that have already been written and filling in the gaps.
I will try to go through all the dms and respond when I can. Thanks.
John
I am taking a break from posting to focus on other things. Nothing dramatic or health-related; I am doing great. I just have a lot of pressing tasks that I cannot afford to put off. With better weather, I can care for them: fixing my roof, paving my driveway, adding solar panels for backup power, establishing my chicken coop, upgrading my rainwater collection system, reorganizing the garden, etc. It's a lot of little things, but they add up, and they all need doing. This is not to say I will no longer be writing--far from it. That will continue, as will the revision of Below The Belt, but without the subtle pressure of deadlines and expectations. I imagine I will be back at it by June. Until then, stay frosty, my friends. Rotty
I had a successful (repeat) nerve ablation to my mid-lower back last Friday and I am feeling 1000% better! Thank you to everyone who messaged me kind words and thoughts. Looking forward to getting back at it and pounding out some more chapters to The Boy Scout. Rotty
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