Hi Folks!
Happy spooky time! The fall and Halloween are some of my favorite times of the year. The crisp air, sometimes tinged with woodsmoke and the rustle of leaves beneath a Colorado blue sky? It doesn’t get better than that! There’s been a lot going on in the Mattiverse, but not nearly enough on the writing front. Some updates:
The personal front:
At the end of August I underwent a “Reduction in Force” from my employer of 24 years. I’m not going to go into detail other than to say it’s so far been a positive move for me. A great deal of the stress I carried came from the way that role functioned within the companies framework and the fact that I hadn’t taken an extended break in too long a time. All work and no play didn’t make Matt a dull boy, but it did make him a tired one. While there are certainly new challenges dealing with the tail end of a case of burnout along with needing to expand a “very particular set of skills”, it’s also given me time to look at my opportunities with fresh but still tired eyes. It’s an ongoing process and I expect it will take some time to sort out.
On the writing front:
NEW RELEASE:
On October 13th I was fortunate to have a story included in THIRTEEN STORIES of HORROR – an Anthology edited by Nick Steverson and Marisa Wolf. I joined an all-star cast to help your spooky season along and send a shiver down your spine. If you love horror you are sure to find a new favorite from the offerings inside. Published by Three Ravens Publishing!
In my story I’ll take you back to London of 1888, into the streets, and the mind of a killer. But there is another story you’ve never heard, so as the fog rises, let me reintroduce you – to a Legend.
They Called Him Jack
Thirteen tales of Horror, perfect for a dark and stormy Friday the 13th…or a sunny Tuesday afternoon.
From science fiction to classic European horror, interwoven with layers of creep factor, gore, and mystery that will keep you turning the page…and looking over your shoulder.
So, light the candles, stir the cauldron, and check your ammo count, because things are about to get dark!
Warbirds
Work is still moving ahead. I’ve added a bunch of bits to the outline and have been writing scenes sporadically. Part of the delay is life-event related and part has been an overhaul in my writing process that I’m hoping will pay steady dividends down the road. This includes some pre-outlining on the third book – Birds of a Feather. I’ve been experimenting with looking at the outlining process from more of a series based point of view.
Concept work
I currently have two series concepts I’m working on. One for an alt-history/horror series and another for Military Sci-fi. It’s too early to go into much detail, but there’s plenty on the drawing board. Both of these are minimum 3-5 books and possibly much more.
Pro-crast-i-tasking
Today I completed a major revision on the website for the Book Shop. Check it out and let me know what you think!
Soon I will be taking another look at mail lists. The current mailer I use could do better notifying me when I have new sign-ups. That could be a limitation in the product or a problem in the way I have it set up – either way it’s in need of improvement. Fortunately most of my followers are with me across multiple platforms for which I’m very grateful – you folks rock! I’m also revisiting all of my writer-tech decisions with an eye toward integrations and ease of use. The goal is to streamline the admin tasks as much as possible.
That’s the not-so-quick and dirty. Thanks for being part of the madness!
As always, KEEP READING!