Update

It's been a few months since I've updated this blog. I'll try to be better. I've got several more character sketches that I want to post. Maybe I can get to them in the coming weeks.

But I do have some news to report. It's not necessarily good news for folks ready for the first book to come out, but it is news.

Short version: I still have to wait an indefinite amount of time before my cover artist can get started on my commission.

But I'm okay with that. I had told him in December that I wanted to have books in my hand ready to sell by the end of May. He responded that he could meet that but that he would have to change his planned approach.

I thought about it, but I told him not to do that. I wanted him to take the time and do it right, to do it in a way that he could be proud of. His original plan was (is) to do a large oil painting, a piece that could be a featured item in his gallery and generate sales of prints strictly on its own strengths.

I decided I'd rather wait a few more months and have that remain the approach he took. And he was very happy to hear me say that.

One reason he remains very busy in his schedule is that he is involved in the production of a major Hollywood movie (starring Nicholas Cage). He is providing artwork that will actually be seen in the movie, this isn't just developmental stuff. In addition to this, his schedule with Marvel Comics remains busy.

The best thing about all this delay is that it will cut down tremendously on the amount of time that will pass between the publication of the first and second books. I have found it a lot more difficult to get into a good writing groove with the second book than I ever did with the first one. I trust I can work through it and eventually start cranking out pages at a good rate.

And, speaking of writing the second book, I just spent a week on the road doing some work in Florida. I managed to knock out about 4,000 words on the second book, including a very important scene that will basically drive the rest of the series.

So good news: progress is being made on the second book and when my cover is done for the first one it is going to be awesome.