I’m sitting here on the sofa in my….ahem…loungewear surrounded by copious amounts of crisps and Diet Coke. The house is quiet as Fionnuala and the hatchlings are visiting my beloved mother-in-law. It’s a tight agenda today as the big Ireland v England match kicks off at 3 p.m. That’s less than five hours away and I’ve so much to squeeze into that ever decreasing window of time.
I’ve e-mails to send to reviewers and columnists, pitching the book in the hope one of them will pick up on it. I was hoping to get out for a run as for once it’s not raining cats and dogs. There are a few household chores to attend to and, last and probably least, the daily blog has to be posted. Which is all the better for, in recent days, the creative juices have started to flow again.
For several months now I’ve been finding excuses not to grab the thistle and start work on Book 2. I was mentally drained as it’s been such hard work pushing the first book through the promoting and publishing phases. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again and again; writing the book is the easy part, getting it to the final printed, polished article is where the hard work really starts.
There have been numerous other distractions as well. Some think us authors spend our days reclining on chaise longues sipping camomile tea while languidly dictating to our rather brilliant personal assistants. I do have a rather brilliant personal assistant. She’s called my wife, Fionnuala. But if I dared to lounge languidly in her presence I’d get quite rightly told to grow up and stop acting the clown.
There are bills to pay, hatchlings to raise and a day job to hold down. I squeeze writing in where and when I can. On the train as I commute to and from work, in bed if I wake up in the dead of night. I get ideas for characters and scenes when I’m out running and have to hope my less than perfect memory retains the necessary details until I get home and scribble them down somewhere.
Yet somehow, amidst the chaos, I’ve started to write Book 2. Or rather, Book 2 has started to write itself. I often feel as if I’m just the conduit transcribing the words of another. Almost 3000 words in two days, no less. It’s a tough target but I’d like to have the first draft completed by the end of the year with the intention of publishing in 2020. I’ve set aside all my other projects for now and am placing all my literary eggs in the Kirkwood Scott basket.
‘Bomb Girl’ is therefore being shelved for now. But worry not as the adventures of Ariana Hennessy will be back. Who knows, she may even crop up in a Kirkwood Scott story as I’ve always envisioned both tales belonging to the same story arc. At the minute I want to focus on completing the Skelly trilogy and then seeing where the characters take me. Those that are still alive that is….he sniggered malevolently.
It’s good to get these thoughts down. In doing so I’m committing to deadlines and projects that otherwise I’d allow to meander and drift. By holding myself accountable to the WordPress community I know I’ll put the work in, plus it’s a diary of the process I can look back on in years to come when I’m too old and crumbly to remember any of this. As ever, thank you for putting up with my ramblings. Your support of my writing is always much appreciated.
Black Thoughts 
You’re a very busy man, so I’ll not take up too much of your time… 🙂 Good luck with Book 2 and let’s hope it’s a great game later – and there’s no long term injuries to either squad before the World Cup.
LikeLike
Most definitely. Thank you 😊
LikeLike
I’ve reviewed your first wee book on my blog (scheduled post, due out 1st Sept – I’m getting ahead of myself!!) A little hint: I enjoyed it a lot.
LikeLike
I’m really pleased to hear that. Can’t wait to read it. Thank you very much 😊
LikeLike
Encouraging! Thanks for sharing . All the best with the process.
LikeLike
You’re welcome. Thank you 😊
LikeLike
I’ve been reading a lot of the elegant stylist Robert B. Parker lately. He created this whole little story universe whose gravitational pull was Boston and its ex-urbs. He had several series and the characters wend in and out and some even get their own spin off series. But the writing, plotting and characterisation in all is near as damn near flawless. His novels run 189 pages.
Letting your characters play with each other over different books can be a really excellent device for building loyal readership. And it mimics life, where people – whether in social or work circles – overlap and create little human venn diagrams of interaction.
3000 words in two days…respect!
LikeLike
Thank you very much. Yes, I think I could see my writing go down a similar path 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
All the best for ur book.2 dear
LikeLike
Thank you 😊
LikeLike
Hello! What are your plans on international publishing? I’d offer you my professional translation services into German if that was of interest? I translate a lot of marketing stuff and questionnaires (yawwwwnnnn) and would love to translate a book. An actual story, an actual plot. Love your work and your blog 🙂
Sent from my iPhone
>
LikeLike
Thank you. I’m not sure. There would have to be a market for it before I would consider going down that road.
LikeLike
I enjoy reading your ramblings!! 😉
LikeLike
I enjoy that you enjoy reading them 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whether it’s with my blog or other writing, it definitely gets done in those “in-between” moments.
LikeLike
Yes, we grab a few moments whenever we can. I love reading your blog 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really? Thank you for saying, that is so encouraging to hear. I enjoy reading about your writing process and also your Irish daily life.
LikeLike
Thank you. Equally good to hear 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
All the best for your hardwork and book 2! Don’t forget to take a rest
Best regards
LikeLike
Thank you. I’ll try 🐄
LikeLike
Life is very good😊
LikeLike
Thank you Dwight 🙂
LikeLike
I always return to your blog. There’s always something interesting to read. And you post daily, so yours is a good one to follow for consistent content. Mine, not so much, ha ha 🙂 Enjoy your down time, Stephen 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you. I’m glad you keep returning. That means a lot 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well done Stephen, what a great start 😊
LikeLike
Thank you. How are you getting along with Book 1?
LikeLike
Keep up the good work.
LikeLike
Thank you Karla 🙂
LikeLike