Oct 20, 2014

Writing, writing, writing!



I haven't blogged in awhile, namely because I have been buried under heaps o' words. I used to blog all the time. I wish I still had time to blog more often, but it seems that after writing or editing all day, I'm pretty worn out of words and mostly just want to sink into my couch and either play video games or read. I also don't use Twitter, Google+, or Facebook nearly as often as I used to for the same reasons. It's funny, because those are the very things that can really aid a writer in getting her words out there, but if I have to choose, I must choose writing books over blogs and posts. 


Prior to the days of the Internet, there was never an issue. I'd spend hours at my computer pounding away, deleting, banging my head on the screen, and delighting in finding inspiration... Or sometimes I'd walk down to this idyllic lake near Boston College, lay out a blanket, have a little picnic, and daydream while fighting geese away from my snacks. Minutes turned into hours, days slipped by. Sometimes I'd have a script or a poem or a short story, sometimes I'd have a bunch of false starts, but I'd always have words and pretty much nowhere to share them.


And while the Internet technically existed back then, it didn't exist in the form it does now, or even the form it did 10 years ago when I'd create Tripod pages to post my ramblings. Then Blogger and MySpace were born and I had new avenues to share my thoughts with even more audiences. I posted all the time back then! Every event I attended turned into a blog or a book review or just a bunch of rants and raves over some injustice I stumbled upon. However, I didn't seem to be writing as much for myself. It seemed I was solely writing for an audience, to get "hits" on my blog counter. Oversharing in the name of art all for the sake of vanity. Then Facebook and Twitter were born and oversharing became the name of the game, whether you were a writer or not. But the funny thing is, the more avenues there are to express yourself, the wider the audience, the less I feel compelled to share. Sure, I'll repost that funny cat video or that Guardians of Galaxy Which Character Are You? quiz and I'll check in periodically to Foursquare or snap a pic on Instagram, but I'm not really blogging about events anymore or even my real life day-to-day like I used to. I wonder why?


Then there was a backlash to Facebook (when isn't there?) and Ello was born (wasn't there also Diaspora?). I joined. I'll always give something new on the Internet a go, but I can't help feeling a little bored by it all... I remember how I used to love to spend hours down the rabbit holes of Tumblr or Pinterest. And, sure, every now and then I'll swing by my old digital haunts and check out some new posts, but on a deeper level I just don't care anymore. I scroll lazily through Facebook or Instagram posts, like a couple, comment on a few, then I might remember that Twitter and G+ exist and give those a whirl, but I do so with my mind only half paying attention and with a feeling of "I'd rather be doing something else." It's almost as if I only check my feeds out of some sort of obligation or duty. 


And I long for the days before the Internet...


For the days of never knowing what everyone is doing all the time. For the days of never comparing life's milestones or vacation destinations. For running into an old friend and catching up rather than having someone get angry at me for not liking every post or picture. For having days slip by while I'm writing without having everyone worried that something might have happened to me because I didn't comment on the latest celebrity death or car chase.


And I wonder if I should delete my Facebook account. Go off the grid. And I fantasize about giant solar flares taking out the Internet.


But then I remember that as a writer I live a pretty solitary life and it's great to connect with people every so often online and feel like I have a weekly social life, not to mention my family who live thousands of miles away. And I remember that as a writer, the Internet is one of, if not the best ways to get our words out there into the world without jumping through all the hoops of traditional publishing. Without Skype and Google Docs and Amazon, Scarlett, who lives in France, and I wouldn't be able to conjure up dark tales of witchcraft and the occult and share it with all of you.


And, thus, I get to the point of this post...







Saurimonde II, our follow-up to Saurimonde, is now available on Amazon.


Here's our book blurb:



After becoming suddenly human again, the tragically lovely Saurimonde, and her handsome consort, Sordel, realize their overwhelming attraction for each other despite the unnatural way in which they met. All goes well until Saurimonde discovers the terrible truth about Sordel's birth, which causes him to fall prey to his now demonized aunt, the wise-woman Elazki, as circumstances conspire to make Saurimonde believe Sordel has left her for another woman.

With the aid of a not so innocent priest the wise woman spends her nights converting the young women of the village for their own nefarious plans. Will Saurimonde be able to overcome the demons and find Sordel in time to save him from a malefic fate? Or will she succumb to the answering of an ancient rite, a Beltane bacchanal, which promises to leave none of them alive?


Next up for Scarlett is a fantastical new tale filled with "old world magic and erotic overtones," while I'll be delving into the world of science fiction with my decade old story idea about aliens and spaceships called Xodus. It's a long time coming. I was raised on Doctor Who, Star Trek, and Star Wars, so scifi is in my blood. 


And now I have to go meet Scarlett on Skype to prepare for our first stop on our promotional tour, which just so happens to be occurring on Facebook, of course.


Perhaps, the Internet isn't so bad after all...