Raven's View

OK - highspeed connected, PC up and running, bed set up, and I've found enough clothes and kitchen stuff to survive for now. I'm sorting as I unpack, into either keep, charity, or trash. Yes - I should have done it last time but, well, I didn't. New place is nice, bigger than the old one yet less storage space - especially in the kitchen. But, the kitchen is huge, so I'll be getting some sort of microwave stand and/or kitchen island. Eventually. 

I did a short story today for last week's Flash Fiction Friday prompt. It's been a great site, but is unfortunately closing down. I loved the variety of prompts it had, and will miss it. I've started into my editing again for my novel too, and have a reading from it June 17th.

Status since last week:

• editing - just started up again today. Reviewing where I'm at so I can do a timeline (tomorrow?) for this phase, and set a target for publishing.
• writing - did another Flash. 
• other - finished packing, moved, unpacked a bit, went to band practice. 

This is for the final prompt on the site Flash Fiction Friday. From the site:

Through many countries and over many seas
I have come, Brother, to these melancholy rites,
to show this final honour to the dead,
and speak (to what purpose?) to your silent ashes,
since now fate takes you, even you, from me.
Oh, Brother, ripped away from me so cruelly,
now at least take these last offerings, blessed
by the tradition of our parents, gifts to the dead.
Accept, by custom, what a brother’s tears drown,
and, for eternity, Brother, ‘Hail and Farewell’. 

 The challenge asked for a story with a goodbye, in a crime fiction genre, 1300 words or less. I did another 'chunk' from an idea for a novel about a portal to another world. I've been using some flash fiction's to explore this story idea - they are great for that. Mine is just under 1200 words.

I thought I'd better make a quick update, before I pack up my PC. I haven't been on here for a while, as I've been busy packing up my apartment, and trying to squeeze in a bit of editing in the gaps. I won't be back here until after I move this Sunday.

On my novel, Kirk's Landing, I have been incorporating suggestions from my publisher and a Beta reader in with my own notes. Likely only another week's worth to do - once I unpack a bit and can focus. 

I'll also be part of a reading for my novel on June 17th, myself and several other authors. No published book by then, but will hopefully be only a few weeks after that. I'll be promoting the event more once I get settled in, but here's a link. 

I finally found a new apartment. It's in this same area, within my price range, meeting all my must-have's and most of the maybe's. It's on the main floor of a duplex, with a quiet landlady upstairs, a bright nook in the back to write in, and a shady back yard to think in. Take possession next week, so I can do a leisurely move between now and the end of the month. That's a load of stress gone.

Now, instead of checking ads and visiting apartments, I have to start packing boxes. Or perhaps taping up the ones I never really unpacked. 

I have been doing some editing every day, though, just to keep on a roll. This is to incorporate some of the changes a beta reader has added, along with my own notes of course. Then - to another beta reader - or two - before sending to my publisher/editor. The initial schedule had been a June launch in time for the summer reading season, but I'll have to see how the whole packing/moving/unpacking goes. 

I'll take a stab at my ROW80 objectives this session, but to be honest, not as much progress as planned: 

• Publishing - I'm editing stadily, although sometimes sparesly. 
• Writing - none - miss it but no time really right now. 
• Book Clubs - we just did Sarah's Key - an OK book. Most of the group shared the same opinion - Sarah's story well done and very interesting, but Julia's? We didn't really care what happened to her. 
• Other - looking for an apartment - and finding one.

Upcoming - get some boxes. Pack my stuff, move my stuff, then unpack my stuff. When I need a break - edit. When I need a break from that - go for a walk and grab a coffee or a pint.