Weekly Update - 7/12/23

All sorts of fun things to talk about this week. First and foremost, the next thing coming is a Brewster's Brood chapter, but it's probably going to be tomorrow. I'm doing some foundational work with the story, sort of mapping where I think things are going for the next bit, which means a lot of writing and rewriting, building stuff up, tearing it back down, then rebuilding it all over again. I knew the whole thing was an audacious idea when I started it, so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised when it comes back to bite me in the ass every now and again.

But I do have a new thing to talk about, and it's going to have a slightly different release model. I've been commissioned to write "Neon Stonehenge," the first of Andy's Druid Gunslinger novels, as mentioned last week, and we're going to try something new in how it gets rolled out. I'm going to post Chapter 1 today for tier 3s and up, and then, next month after I've sent Chapter 2 to the commissioner for their review, I'll post Chapter 1 to everyone on my Patreon (with updates and revisions, obviously).  

I want the people who are supporting me at higher levels to feel like they're getting something extra for their money, and so any time I can throw something up into those higher tiers, I will. Now, let me reiterate -- all of Neon Stonehenge will eventually be coming out for everyone. It's going to start like this, then a month later to all patrons, and then six months later on the public sites. 

The story's set in San Francisco in 2005, and as long as someone's sponsoring them, I'll be working on them. I want those who are heavily invested in sponsoring my work to be able to sort of spot if I've said or done anything that conflicts with what Andy's presented about the Druid Gunslinger series so far. I'm hoping to have the logo to unveil when the first chapter hits all patrons. Urban fantasy noir is a blast to write, and I feel like I nailed Dale's voice right off the bat. It doesn't start at the beginning of Dale's career, though, as I think is fitting for the character. 

I started mapping out the course of all 9 of Andy's Druid Gunslinger books, realizing some of them would be set before the first one -- a sort of fluid continuity is something that my favorite author Steven Brust does with his Vlad series. There will be a new channel up on the Discord, but if you're a tier 1-2 subscriber, you may want to avoid looking at it until Chapter 1 hits for you next month.

There are two days left in the first "What Am I Writing?" for the month, scheduled to get posted on 7/18, and it's quite the squeaker, Before The Storm one vote ahead of Morgana's Gift which is in turn one vote ahead of CARP. One vote goes a LONG way, and if you're Tier 4 or higher, be sure to cast your vote!

I'm not sure what I'm writing for Friday/Saturday yet. (Let's be honest, it's going to likely be Saturday or even Sunday at this point, but maybe I'll get lucky.) There's a chance I might just kick QT2:12 up to this weekend, but if I don't, it'll be where it is on the schedule that follows. The current schedule for the rest of the month looks like 7/18 - You Decide!, 7/21 - Breakpoint, 7/24 - QT2:12, 7/28 - You Decide 2!, with all sorts of commissions (QT: Aisling's Antics, A Pack Of His Own, Devil's Details, Fertile Grove) dropped off somewhere along the way.

The signed copy pile is getting small, so if you're thinking about it, your chances are dwindling. I just got back from the Post Office - I typically do mailouts on Wednesday. So if you're on the fence, hesitate too long and you might not have a chance to get one. 

In terms of what's coming to public sites this next month, here's what that schedule looks like: 7/15 - CARP 3, 7/22 - A Pack Of His Own 2, 7/29 - QT2:3, 8/5 - QT2:4, 8/12 - MG 15.

Finally, BT dropped a new album yesterday called "The Secret Language of Trees," which you can listen to in its entirety over his label's YouTube Channel here. 

Anyway, that's where we are and I hope you're all taking care of yourselves. I'm gonna go see Tom Cruise jump off a motorbike that's jumping off a mountain in the next few days, because I love the Mission: Impossible movies, as over the top as they continue to get, and to duck out of the heatwave coming into the Bay, because, yeah, fuck that...