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Wibbly-Wobbly, Timey-Wimey (An Emo Post)

Two weeks have passed and it feels like I’ve been in the States for aeons. I’ve been through a book signing where no siblings could or wouldn’t attend, some sort of pseudo-relationship and pseudo-breakup, and once again learned how completely batshit (pardon the language) crazy people can be. Names from the past return rather suddenly, and I’m not sure how to respond, and people I thought I was very connected to and sharing good, human bonds with turn out to be the kind that do a complete 180, or in other cases, belittle your friends and throw wine in your face. It makes me miss solid people like Megan and Henry.

Anyway, enough of the self-pity rant; I’ve got wine and pills and s’more episodes of Broadchurch to watch. Writers are supposed to write, though, so I figured putting down my thoughts, however public, would be something of a benediction or at least fodder for some book later to come. (My god, the story of my life is going to get me a movie somewhere, I promise. I’m going to call it ‘Mending Fences.’)

Drama aside, I plan on using all the weird energy around me to disconnect and focus on Apprentice, save for the odd book signing, the next of which is occurring in a pub! YAY BOOZE. Over half the first draft is done on the sequel, so hopefully within the next month, provided I focus (stay away, FFXIV…) all should be well and good book-wise.

Now all I need to do is start collecting pumpkins and figure out Halloween plans!

Back! Bold! My God, Let Me Sleep

Woaaaaah. In the jet-setting days of my youth, I used to bounce around the globe like a bad check and never suffer any overdraft fees. My body now? It’s screaming SCREEEEEW YOUUUUUUU FOR FLYING.

Work on Apprentice is slow, subsequently, though I’m excited to say I’ve worked a short story I had written about one character’s history into its own chapter, which effectively increased my word count to over my halfway mark. WOOTSAUCLES.

I had the benefit of going to one of Philly’s top 50 restaurants last night, although suffering from jet lag and not having unpacked yet, I’m not sure my tummy was physically or mentally ready for an 824802802-course tasting menu. Of course, by American standards, every course in a tasting menu is the size of my head, so needless to say, I couldn’t eat the TWO DESSERTS IT CAME WITH.

I did have espresso with TWO SUGARS (gasp), so yeah. One month and counting without a proper night’s sleep. Also, I have consumption.

zzz

PS — book signing on Saturday! DON’T FORGET; I’m giving kisses, pictures, and puppies.

Don’t Sleep Where You Weave

Consider this my PSA for the week. I’ve recently started playing Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, and when I do get to play (read the internets if you want to hear about launch issues) I’ve been running around collecting various jobs and the like. Last night I became a level six Weaver.

FFXIV maintains a lovely site for the players and displays profiles of what your character is up to. Well, I was tired and logged out in a STUPID OUTFIT. *sigh* Now the world can see what a numpty poor Nivvy looks like. :/  (Check here if you want to see, too.)

In further news, or rather, moving on to proper news, after the big compilation last week and my birthday, I’ll be honest and say not much work was made on Apprentice. But that’s all right! That’s what server maintenance in FFXIV is for! Right? …right? Right… *sigh*

Also, less than a week left in Blighty, so if anyone wants to see me and grab one of the few books I have left (I think like two or three paperbacks?) let me know ASAP; I’m getting pretty booked up (no pun intended — promise)!

I am looking forward to getting home to the States, though I imagine that will wear off quickly. Happy birthday to me, because I’M GETTING MY MOTORCYCLE LICENSE. Booyaka.

xoxo

High-Waisted Jeans and Compilations

As the title suggests, yes: I’m wearing high-waisted jeans. These are, however, helpful in sculpting an absolute perfectly-shaped bum, so I am willing to suffer a little for the sake of selling more books (pics to come, I promise). In any case, when in London…

The weather has been beautiful, and despite my gamboling about the parks and imbibing all of Blighty’s ale, I actually have been productive. I’m wrapping up chapter nine of Librarian‘s sequel, Apprentice (webpage to come soon, too), and as the conclusion of chapter eight ends on quite a revelation about the NATURE OF THINGS, I figured now was a good time as any to start looking for beta-readers.

So if you read my blog and have read the first book, you know the deal. Hit me up, and I’ll send you the rough first draft of the chapters 1-8.

Anywho. Back to work (and wine). I’m getting ready for the production of an audiobook, so watch out! Soon you’ll be able to bitch about Lenna in your cars, trains, or as you drift to sleep at night with your device of choice in your ear.

Hunting for Dragons

Ah! It was so amazing to catch up with my former flatmate from Oxford, Megan! She’s my favorite dragon, and it’s gladdening to know that I can just pick up with her as though we’ve never stopped living together, even though it’s been… what, four years?

I had a very non-productive weekend (read: I did NO WORK ON APPRENTICE), but the market was lovely yesterday, and I had yet another delicious lunch. I WILL LOSE A STONE YET!

Heading back to Oxford this week, meeting up with some old friends, doing a SEKRIT SIGNING)… much excitement! I proooomise, however, to make sure I get some work done on Apprentice, as chapter eight is nearly finished and I’ll be proactively hunting for beta-readers.

Also, people are starting to finish up Librarian and the reviews are pretty nice! Check it out on Amazon!

Working Hard (Needz Visa)

Hello from Blighty!

I’m currently sitting in a local pub, drinking far too much beer and eating food less healthful than I should be. I justify this by walking over 5 miles a day, hitting up all the shops in London that I shouldn’t be blowing my royalties on.

That being said, I love pub writing, and I’ve now cleared that horrible hurdle of writer’s block that was chapter six of Apprentice. Clear sailing into chapter seven, and I’m pumping out about 3000 words a day so far (well, it’s only been two days, but stil…)!

Hopefully by the time I head back to the States (1) the first draft of Apprentice should be ready to be torn apart by my editor/beta-readers, and (2) the weather there should be less horrible.

Oh well, back to work! And to my UK fans, my short-run for signed copies of Librarian here are running out, so if you need one, make sure to track me down ASAP!

xoxo

Brian

GiveaYAY!

Get my cute pun? My Goodreads giveaway is over, so congratulations to the ten lucky winners across the US and UK! Your books are on their way!

I was told that a standard Goodreads giveaway gets about 800 entrants, but by midnight last night I had around 1400! That’s really promising!

Thanks for all the support, guys, and for those of you who will be receiving a copy in the mail in the next few days, I hope you enjoy Librarian!

Packages Out!

Almost a Pumpkin

The hour is nearly there! At midnight EDT, my Goodreads giveaway officially ends! Out of the 1000+ people who have entered, the lucky winner could be YOU and you could find yourself in possession of your very owned signed copy of Librarian! If you haven’t entered, you should do so ASAP, ’cause time is running out, and it’s a damn good book.

Due to family issues and misc. drama, not much work was made on Apprentice this week, but on Friday I’m going back to England for a month. Are you excited? I am! IT MEANS WRITING TIME WITH LOTS OF BEER!

On another happy note, my garden yielded its bounty unto me and I’m confit-ing the crap out of it. 🙂 Stay cool outside, kiddos (and read).

Confit Time

July, Come Back!

This month has practically FLOWN by, meaning my Goodreads giveaway only has a week or so left, so if you haven’t entered to win a signed copy of Librarian (paperback only), you should do so! Stat!

We’ve had some miserable weather, some family troubles, and in my own case, a bit of writer’s block this month, so I wish I could rewind and start it over on a better foot. Don’t worry, though, Apprentice is still on track; chapters 1-5 are already out to early beta-readers, and barring any more of this horrific slump I’m in I should be able to get a couple more chapters in before I head off to England.

Worry not, though: I’ll still be hard at work even though I’m technically on vacation (just most likely I’ll be working from a pub instead of my office).

Keep cool, kiddos!

x

Meltybao

Holy crapola, kids, this is quite a heatwave! I woke up this morning at 8 am and it was already 82 F. This week is supposed to be mega-hot-super-sassy-sauce, and it’s making me think of that hysterical Black Books episode when Manny turns into a neanderthal.  Well, those who get it, get it.

I’ll try to keep up my steady resolve, though! Yesterday I cranked out 3540 words on Apprentice, finishing up chapter five. That at least makes me feel a big better about the huge amounts of nothing I did over the weekend.

In further news, the Goodreads giveaway for Librarian is half over, so if you haven’t entered to win a free signed copy, you’d better sign up soon!