Update 4/16

1. Well, I’ve survived editing the first two Greenland Diaries books (Days 1 – 100 and Days 101 – 140). They had many errors, but now they’re much better. Book two, or The Greenland Diaries: Days 101 – 140 is now available via Kindle, Amazon Paperback, and of course through my Square Store if you’re interested. I’m happy that I went back and fixed each book. When I self-published both of them I was so entranced with the opportunity to get my stories out there that I overlooked the details. Now, I feel better for having revisited them, and know in the future to budget my time and practice a little more patience with the revision process.
2. To expand on my emotions from number one, I wanted to say that I think this is a trap a lot of beginning writers and artists fall into when they discover accessible technology to get their voices out there. You go from struggling with rejection and literal epochs between when you get things published/released to, “I can put out a book anytime I want.” That type of freedom is awesome, but for someone like me who has consistently put his dreams on hold, I had a lot of impatience, so I hurried my stories out there without giving them the proper love and attention. Now I’m paying the price. Heed my call! Learn from my mistakes. The devil is in the details. This. That. The other thing.
3. I decided to wait a day on these musings because I wanted to react a little bit to the first episode of the last season of Game of Thrones. NO SPOILERS HERE. I typically don’t talk about what actually happens, and more about how the overall narrative jars me psychologically. Yeah, that is pretty common with Game of Thrones. I’m excited to see how it concludes, but I have to admit I’ll be sad about how the characters have become almost a part of my pop culture family, and they most likely will all die. Brutal. Anyways, I’m just going to miss the show. So seeing Winterfell and the other settings is almost nostalgic. This is what a good story does. It makes you emotionally invested.
4. My next major project for me to focus on is the film I’ve written that is in preproduction called “Oir” which doesn’t have a release date, but I think we’ll start shooting in the fall at the latest. It is a horror movie, with some fantasy elements to it. I guess because of my classical literature training I would call it Magical Realism, but that term might be a little too generous. Working on film is awesome. I’ll be working on “Oir” and also participating in the 48 Hour Film Project here in Minneapolis. Film. Is. Awesome.
5. That image of the black hole really moved me. I felt things. Suffering from depression my entire life, I have always wanted there to be a symbol in the natural world that I can relate to. When I finally saw that authentic picture of the living void, that faraway abyss guzzling stardust, well, I felt a kinship to my own sadness spinning at the center of my soul. I know many people suffer from depression, but to see a scientific phenomenon representing the very feeling in my heart when this illness takes me over was wonderful. It made me feel like the universe itself understands me. More on this subject another time.

Jottings:

• Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is wonderfully whimsical and weird. Anime has just gotten better the longer the genre has existed.
• Toejam and Earl is now out for the Switch. I remember playing that game on the Sega Genesis 20 years ago. It was incredibly difficult, but the setting completely represented the 90’s style cartoon vibe. I can’t wait.
• I’ve said it so many times before, but I can’t get over how Rugrats is such a great show for kids and parents alike. It portrays the innocence of children with the cluelessness of parenting to perfection. I was woefully underprepared for fatherhood, so watching this show helps with my own insecurities.
• Life is beautiful. Have a great week!

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Monday Musings 4/1

The fan on my laptop stopped working, so everything has been delayed. Couple that with the ventilation system in my house flooding, the twins getting Croup and both going to the emergency room, my ulcer, a mouse, and well, it has been a hard week.

1. I’m not sure if you’ve checked-out the newly revised GD 1 – 100, but it is for sale on Kindle, paperback, and from me. Still waiting on the author copies from the publisher. They should be here soon. It was a ton of work, but I’m happy I went back to it. Now I’m in Days 101 – 140, which is cleaner than the first book, but still needs help. Really wish I had saved this story for traditional publication and not self-published it, but I’m not really a patient person. That is a quality I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older.
2. Final Fantasy VII is out on Switch now. I did get it. Two years ago when I started writing fulltime as a “gig” I had no money for Christmas Presents, so I sold all my classic video games which included the Playstation version of FF7. I have regretted doing this not because I played it all the time, but because of the memories associated with it. Back in 1997 when it came out, I was in seventh grade at the time, which was horrible. I was bullied constantly. Anyways, I invested in a N64, despite being a diehard Squaresoft fan, so when FF7 came out on Playstation I didn’t have the right system for it. I ended up pooling my Christmas and birthday money, along with selling a few of my N64 games under the table to kids at school (shhh, my parents still don’t know I did that), so I could buy a Playstation and FF7. My grandfather took me to Best Buy the day after Christmas. He then took me to Funcoland (yup, it was still around) to buy it. The game encouraged me to be a storyteller. I don’t know what my narrative voice would be without it. I’m glad they released it on the Switch.
3. In the midst of Greenland Diaries: Days 101 – 140. Editing is hard. I have to do it in small amounts or else I get bored and miss stuff. I’m pleased with the suspense I’ve built with the monsters. I just finished the entry where they fight the Red Unnamed on the street. It is a great battle scene. I’m still happy with it seven years after I wrote it. Hard to believe I’ve been writing for that long now. I’ve always been a writer, but I didn’t really classify myself as one, mostly because I had NOTHING published. In 2012 that started to change, along with the rest of my life. For the better thankfully.
4. It does not look like the sequel to Beware the Ills will be happening this year, or anytime soon I’m sorry to say. I need time to work on the story, and between edits for the Greenland Diaries series, the film I’m working on, plus the daily complexity of life, well, I just don’t have time. I will be releasing a collection in the fall of all my favorite short stories, plus new tales never shared before. That’ll be coming out in Fall 2019 at Crypticon, Minnesota. I’ve wanted to put all my favorites together for a while now, plus add some new fiction I had squirreled away. I’ve always felt a little guilty about making people purchase so many short story collections. Now you’ll have a complete omnibus of awesomeness.
5. I will be doing my first appearance of the spring. In April, I’ll be participating in Books and Beer again, and they’ll be at Sociable Cider Werks. It takes place on April 27^th. Click HERE for more information. These are awesome events, mostly because of the delicious alcohol floating around. The people and the books are good too. I’ve been doing these for a few years now on and off. They’re always a good time.

Jottings:

• The forums got the release date on Baki Season Two wrong. I thought you could believe everything you read on the internet? I’m so disappointed.
• The new cover of Greenland Diaries: Days 101 – 140 is going to be great. Can’t wait to reveal it.
• Watched Get Shorty the television series on Netflix. Loved it. Everyone enjoys movies, even organized crime.
• I’ve also started watching The IT Crowd. I’m sort of late to the party, but that is hilarious as well.
• Slowly making my way through Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology. I love the book, and his voice, but I’ve read these myths so many times. Fimbul overload.
• The twins are going to be four soon. School in the fall probably. Wow. Where has the time gone?
• One of my stepsons is in a Lego Robotics Club. I’m super excited for his first event.
• Sephiroth is still a great villain.
• One Punch Man season premiere in just a few days.
• Have a great and safe week everyone!