Back in the day when I thought this blog was a good idea my cunning plan was to keep a few friends, perhaps two, up to date on how I was traveling with my fantasy novel; Mironmure. It was never intended to be a public access blog. But what is the point? Even today I ask the same question.

The only outcome from the once grand proposal was a name for the blog. As for the book, well its still a work in progress as it has been for about 10 years. Mostly 10 years of rewriting the rewritten and then burning the results and starting again. So far so good as I have nothing to show I therefore have nothing to complain about. Even the map; there is always a map in fantasy novels, right? Even the map has been drawn and redrawn at least 30 times. This is more likely due to the fact that I like to draw maps rather than having a real need to reinvent my fantasy world.

The map is currently in what I have demanded is the final edition. I am at the inking stage and appointing place names, which is one of the most enjoyable bits about writing a fantasy novel. Keeping to the original concept of the blog I will post it when completed. As for the books content I am not sure its a good idea to post bits and pieces, so no posts with spoilers. What I will post about is the struggle, the uncertainty, the frustrations and stuff-ups. Plus the research and the process of writing from a complete novice’s point of view.

At the time of writing this blog post all I have is a vague overall concept of the main plot and a list of characters and place names. No doubt these will change once I get into the writing. Stay turned for something more substantial and interesting on Mironmure although I am not in a rush for this book. I intend to spend some time working on this novel as there is a lot of back ground work that needs to be done before I get too far into the writing.

Now, to the other work in progress which is about half way through chapter 3. No title as yet although I did have one when I started, but as usual I dumped it because it was a little off. It is a crime novel with an artist as the main character rather than a drunken, divorced, middle aged cop who bucks the system. My hero’s a successful abstract artist. His preferred drink is water, he is single and rides a bicycle (he does drive but dislikes cars). He is socially inept and a bit of a recluse. He also has some personal ‘issues’ and a few secrets he wants to keep hidden. That is enough gossip for the moment.

In the meantime I am working on some short stories which is rather strange because I never could get into short stories until I read some. Derrr! Really, all it takes is to read some and I thought, these are cool. I should try some of these, and so I am trying some of them. All crap at the moment so no showing here yet although ‘The Opening’ got through the radar somehow. By the way the Robert in ‘The Opening’ is the same Robert in my novel. Therefore you could think that it is likely that Robert will appear in some more short stories as a way of introducing him. You could think that way and maybe I will think that way. Maybe.