Tag Archives: writing

Coming soon, another book review

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I’m going to move away from my truck project, which is coming together nicely, and I’m going to talk a little about something else. A few months ago, I volunteered to beta-read a book which I began, but I unfortunately had my notes on my computer which died on me. The best I could do was give him a general critique about his book.

Now I’m back to reading the finished book, and so far I’m digging it. I’m planning on posting a review of the book, The Ship by Allan Krummenacker early next month, probably the first Monday, which  would be July 7th, and my first book review since my March 17th review of The Trinity by Daelynn Quinn.

The fact that I’m doing another review isn’t all that unexpected. My plan was not to abandon reviewing altogether, but rather I wanted to devote my energies elsewhere for a while. So I’m back for a one-off review, except I have another review in the pipeline, set for the middle of next month as well. That book is the sequel to March Island by Oliver Chase, which I reviewed late last year, and which I believe is the last book to the Hirebomber Series. More on this as I find out.

It feels good to be back reading again. I still have a few book I want to read for myself, but my project has been taking up all my time, though I’m now reaching the end. It may be time for a new project. I’m not sure if I’m going to actually start reviewing again on a consistent basis again, or if this is just an anomaly.

I’m saying this because I’m curious whether it’s worth doing again. I feel that I didn’t get enough of a bump in readership as I would have liked, and I’m not sure it was appreciated by the authors I reviewed. So I’m putting it to a vote, What should I do?

In the meantime…

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I hate having ideas with no way to do anything about them. I miss having a computer where I can type until I’ve run out of things to say, to create on a page a world that exist solely in the depths of my mind. Plus, keeping up my blog has been difficult.

I have no timetable as to when I will be able buy myself a new laptop, but I fear it will be quite a long time. I’m nearing the completion of my project, cleaning up a 93 Chevy pickup. When I’m done, I should have the money to begin saving up to buy my new toy, but one thing at a time.

In the meantime, I’ve resorted to using pen and paper to get my ideas downs. It’s not as quick, and many times more illegible than using a keyboard. As bad as it is, it’s better than nothing. At least it affords me the luxury of moving ideas out of my head and onto a more permanent format. It’s just so freaking slow!

I’m also glad that I have access to the important files of my now deceased computation machine. Thank you DropBox! All my works in progress are safe, ready for me to get busy on them all over again. I’m raring to go.

Patience is required of me. I will get things lined up all over again, and I will get back on track, though I’ve bitching about if for three years and it hasn’t happened yet. Just smile and it’ll get better.

Or maybe people have been lying to me about that…

Just checking in

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I miss my laptop. It’s been more than a week since it died and it hasn’t been easy, though I’m not really having that hard a time. Does that even make sense? I hope it does in spite of the obvious contradiction in the statement.

Not much has happened lately. Since I have no computer, I have no way to write. Some may wonder why I don’t try to write with a pen and paper, but it’s not my process. I could try but I know I would not get far. Besides, I can’t read my own handwriting. Sad, isn’t it?

I have a couple of books that need to be read. The first is Susan Cain’s book, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. The second is by James Rollins, The Blood Gospel. I’ve started on  Quiet, I just haven’t gotten too far. I need to sit and read.

What I have been doing during my writing break is work on my truck. I hope to start putting it back together on Friday, my next day off. So much to do, and so little money, but it’s coming together. I’m thinking that once I’m done, I’ll start looking for a job.

I know I’ve said this before, but being without a vehicle of my own limits my freedoms to such a degree that I’ve been limited to this small area. I hope to be able to become a little more aggressive once my truck is complete. Then will come my own place to live, and later a new car.

But one step at a time. Seriously though, I need to get a computer soon. I’m borrowing my father’s tablet, and though it comes with a snap on keyboard, I hate it, not least because it isn’t mine. Also, I keep making typing mistakes that I would not do on a real keyboard. It’s better than nothing, so I need to breath and get on with it.

I know I haven’t said anything profound, but I just want to check in. I’m still alive and planning world domina…er…finishing one of my books. As soon as I can get a new laptop, I’ll be back and better than ever.

R.I.P. my little laptop

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Would it be too much to ask for a funeral? Who died, you ask? Not who, but what. My laptop finally gave up the ghost this past week, and I’m having a hard time adjusting to being computerless.

I still have access to the ol’ interwebs via my Kindle, but it’s not quite the same, nor can I really type on such a small tablet. I haven’t been able to post all week, and I’m experiencing something akin to withdrawals. Who am I kidding? I’m having withdrawals and drying out sucks.

I’m able to borrow my brother’s computer from time to time, but it’s not the same. It’s not familiar It’s not mine. I need my own laptop and I have plans to replace it. Too bad it’s not high on my list of items to get. There are other things more pressing at the moment.

The truck I’m working on is nearing completion, so that’s where my focus is concentrated, and where all my money is going. I’m sure some of you may be saying to let the truck go and get a computer first, but having my own vehicle again is the only thing I care about. It’s even more important than my writing, and that’s saying something.

It’s a necessity to get a working vehicle again so that I can begin looking for another job. Having my own set of wheels opens up my possibilities whereas I’m pretty much at the mercy of others at the moment. That truck represents my impending freedom, which I hope to regain shortly.

After that, I hope to start looking for jobs again. I feel like I’ve said this before, probably because I have. I’ve been limited geographically to where I can apply, and it’s not an area I want to work in. I want to get back home, back to North Texas, where I spent twelve years, before my life came tumbling down.

I guess I could list what all I lack to finish the truck, but it depresses me just  to think about how much it’s going to cost. A new windshield, the A/C compressor, condenser, hoses and dryer, There are a ton of little things that quickly add up, but I need to get them to make it roadworthy. Oh, I forgot to mention that I need new tires, too, and a battery!

After that’s done, I can start looking into getting a laptop. For the time being, I’ll be taking an unplanned hiatus from writing, but I’ll try to keep up my blog. It’s the only thing that keeps me somewhat sane. Wish me luck, and sending me some money couldn’t hurt, not that anyone will.

Busy April

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I’m about halfway through beta-reading this book and I’m beginning to stress. I have six days to get to the end of the book and report back to the author what my thoughts are regarding his novel. No pressure.

I envy those people with a critical eye for writing. You know the people, the ones who can pick at loose threads in a story, the eagle-eyed readers who can pick out spelling and grammatical errors with relative ease, the type of person I’m endeavoring to become.

Like most people, I’m more critical about myself than I am others. I question my word choices, the direction my plot is going, and countless other things. I’m embarrassed by every little error, fearing that someone out in the ether is ready to pounce and mock each and every mistake. It hasn’t happened yet, at least the mocking. I make way too many mistakes.

My priority for the last week of April is to concentrate fully on what I’m reading, and I’ll set aside my own works, which have temporarily stalled anyway. I can’t quite figure out how to resolve the dilemma I’ve created for my character, but more on that in a future post.

There’s my job I’m juggling at the moment, but how many of us are free of the employment obligation? I’m not going to pretend I’m the only one who has to work, but the commute, a two-hour round trip, is a killer.

What’s really taking a lot of time is my truck. For those of you who don’t know, which should be most of you, I’m trying to clean up an old 93 Chevy pick-up.

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Here’s the before picture from February.

We’ve been taking it apart, cleaning things up, pulling dents, etc. Rear brakes have been replaced, as has the exhaust. It’s been tuned up, and I need to replace the entire A/C system. To make it even more fun, I decided to paint it. Here are a few more pictures, just to give you an idea.

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So I’ve been busy, all the while I’m trying to improve my golf swing. That isn’t going all to well, but I can’t complain. I have a lot going on, but it feels good. Beats lying around all day doing nothing. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m sure I should be doing something at the moment, I just wish I knew what!