Writing In The Darkness

One year ago this week, I resurrected this blog to share the final chapters of The Venice Scene after my split with Lit. Then I embarked on this rewrite and publishing of Joe's story to Wattpad. That project is complete. One month from now, the final chapter of VIP Rewards reaches beyond the previous punk timeline. 

It was my intention to publish White Wedding next, but that was derailed by personal issues and a long writing drought. I had a less-than-productive summer as I lost my mojo for a couple of months. In late August, after a good week of writing, my baby brother died young and unexpectedly. I mentioned his passing in my Doomsday Heart blog post. There's no need to revisit that here

Two months and a trip to Georgia for his memorial service later, I'm still feeling the grief hangover.  That trip was rough, but also sweet, as I met his southern military family, who were warm, welcoming, and supportive to a stranger. In many ways, they knew my brother better than I. We grieved together, and also laughed. Glen was a goober, a grown child, loved by many in LaGrange, Georgia.

My brother, 13 years younger than I, served 21 years in the US Army, mostly stationed in the south at Fort Benning, Fort Stewart, and Fort Campbell, as well as tours in Kosovo and Korea, peacekeeping, and two tours in Iraq. His full military service, 21-gun salute, taps, and having his flag presented to me, on my lap... I have no words.

(Exhales audibly)

That was nearly a month ago, and while I still have the hangover, I've mostly moved on. When I sat down to write, White Wedding was not happening. I had four chapters done and old work to rewrite, but I was not in the mood for that project. My dark mood led me elsewhere.

I have mentioned my vigilante action/crime novel, Sacred Heart. It's a dark near-future tale, with lots of violence and a significant body count. It is political, which can be a minefield. I had to write like a highwire artist, doing a both-sides-are-responsible balancing act where characters on the right and left debate the decay of society and who's to blame. We are to blame, all of us!

I don't know why, but crawling into that dark hole to rewrite that brutalist story was comforting, while I was already in a bad place. Writing in the darkness was oddly soothing. That novel is one light pass from being ready to publish.

After that, I jumped into my next detective novel. I had previously done a great deal of research into the international diamond trade, writing notes and preparing for Kat and Vivian's next big case. I am currently writing chapter 15 of Sunset Private Eyes. The last few weeks have been productive, sometimes a chapter per day, despite the dark cloud.

I cannot predict where my head will be in December. As I write this blog, it appears I'll be publishing a crime novel next. Sacred Heart is ready. After that, in 2026, Sunset Private Eyes, followed by White Wedding... if I get back in the mood for Joe and Tina's drama.

The future is unwritten.