December

It's been a busy month, with much going on. Things I wanted to blog about got put off, so I'll summarize them now.

First, I'm feeling so much better now that I'm no longer at work. I needed the time off, and it's been good for me.

Second, I did another signing on December 11. Unfortunately, when Violet and I arrived at the store, they told me they had received no copies of Epoch in spite of having ordered it a month previously. Luckily they had twenty copies of Attack of the Intergalactic Soul Hunters on hand, so I was able to sign and sell most of those. We made a good day out of it, but I couldn't help but feel a little burned by my publisher. I'd told them about the signing as well, and had even requested some posters to plug the upcoming EVIL? No posters I can understand, but no books?!? That's just bad business.

The next day was my birthday party. Violet and I went for a lovely meal at the Willow, and many of our good friends turned up to celebrate with us. The food was great, and Violet made an almond cheesecake for dessert that was just fantastic! It was a very happy time.

The rest of the month was spent preparing for Christmas and getting my creativity back. I'm happy to say that I finished editing and rewriting Cupidity, and I sent it off to my agent early last week. I've also leapt right back into Kids Who Know, and it is going along great. I am happily in my element once again.

With January comes the search for a new job. I've had time to think about what I want, but all I've really done is figure out what I don't want. I don't want any more corporate stuff. I'm going to look into part time work, and see how things go.

Happy Holidays, everyone, and all the best for the New Year.

PS - I'm having problems with blogger right now and can't post pictures. I'll add some as soon as I can. Until then, you'll just have to use your imaginations.

Evil? Teaser

Over at Worlds of Tim, I've put up a description of my new novel, Evil? I'm curious to see what the reaction to that will be, since I don't hide the potentially controversial subject matter. What is that potentially controversial subjectmatter? Why not click here and find out? Please do, I'd like to know how I've presented it to potential buyers in the YA age range, and their parents. Comments would be greatly appreciated.

Also, for those of you who enjoy my tract review blog, Biblical Proportions, I am once again going after the granddaddy of all tract makers, Jack T. Chick. Head on over to Biblical Proportions and see what I mean.


TO DO List:

Plug other blogs... Done.

Cover Art!!!

Behold the art for my new novel...











Isn't it awesome? I'm one happy author.

New Site Coming

Sometimes I'm slow about doing things. I finally took down the link for the Epoch website, because the site has been gone for two months. It served its purpose, but the time has come for a new site.

Rather than have a different site for each book, my wife Violet and I decided I would be better off with a site that encompasses all of my stuff. It will be found at www.timothycarterworld.com, and will work in conjunction with my other blog, Worlds of Tim.

When can you expect to see this new site? Soon, I hope. Violet is designing it, and I need to come up with all the content. With a little luck and a lot of hard work, Timothy Carter's World will be ready for the new year.

Sick... of Work

Long time readers of my blog know how much I love to complain about my jobs. Some have been worse than others, but none of them have been the type of thing I really want to be doing with my life. Lately it's taken a toll on my health - I had my first cold in a long time this week, and have had to take four days off work. Sad thing is, I was kind of hoping something like that might happen to me. When you're wishing for ill-health to get you a couple of days off, it's time to leave.

Luckily, my contract expires at the end of this month. My plan is to take December off to research the kind of things I like doing, what I'm good at, and what's out there, so that when I job-search again I can look for the right job for me instead of just whatever office job happens to be available.

Is my current job That Bad? Yes and no. My co-workers are very friendly and nice when they're not feeling swamped with work, and my boss has been pretty reasonable. I haven't had to write a report justifying my worth to the company, I haven't been taken to task for not 'hitting the targets', I haven't been told that I was a few minutes late getting back from lunch and am I planning to make up the time? I don't feel like I'm being watched, and I can take breaks when I need to take them. As workplaces go, I could do a lot worse. But...

The workload has tripled since I started, and all of it is boring as hell. When there were three of us doing it, we were just barely scraping by. Now there's only two of us, and the work just keeps on coming. When I leave, there will be only one person doing that job. Several projects (like rearranging the filing room) have been put on hold because we simply don't have the time to get to them. And it's not just us - everyone there is overworked and stressed out. Some of them thrive on it, but not me. I have no desire to burn out in a corporate environment like that.

I'll be back at work tomorrow, and then I'll have three more weeks. I think I'll make it, but only just. I need a job that I actually look forward to. December is when I start to look.

Sequels?

Yesterday was a rare lazy day for me, which to me is the best kind of Saturday. I caught Halloween: Resurrection on TV, and found it to be a pleasant waste of time. And, as it is the eighth film in the Halloween movie franchise, it got me thinking about the possibility of doing a sequel.

I used to love writing series, but my luck with them has not been all that good. Three small press magazines that printed short story follow-ups to previous works of mine ceased printing, two before the entire series could be told. Then there's Attack of the Intergalactic Soul Hunters, my first published novel and the first book in the Soul Hunters series. I'd written the second book by the time the first one was in print, and was halfway through the third one when the second book (and thus the continuing series) was rejected.

The world seems to want only stand-alones from me, and for the most part I've tried to oblige. Epoch and the upcoming Evil? were written without followups in mind (though the possibility isn't exactly ruled out), and my latest project, Apoca-Lynn, follows suit. And yet, I would love it if I could bring some characters back for a bit more fun.

I'm already more or less committed to one; my friend Monica (Burningeffigy Press) wants some more Section K stories. The plan is to release a few chapbooks featuring the main characters to attract new readers to the first book, then follow that with a full sequel. The second book would be shorter, and thus easier to publish on a small-press scale. I've got some fun ideas, and anticipate having some good fun with this. The concept of Section K is wide open for more stories, and in fact it practically begs for them.

However, Section K is a book for grownups, and the main bulk of my writing projects focus on the young adult market. I've had a few people asking me what happens after the end of Epoch, and I've actually got some ideas that might lead to an interesting second book. Should I go for that, or work on another stand-alone?

In the end, the decision to do a sequel will be determined by the story. Will it excite and entertain me enough to get me through the time it will take to write it? That, more than anything else, determines what I will write.

EVIL?

I have a special announcement to make...

The title for my upcoming book is:

EVIL?

Formerly named The Right Hand of Evil, it now has a title more in keeping with what the publisher (Flux) wants. Not exactly what I would have chosen, but I'm happy with it. It still gets at what the story is about, and it's another short 'E' title like Epoch. They tell me they even want to do a similar cover design.

While I'm happy with the change, it means I don't get to use my original tagline for the book...

This Summer, Things Are Gonna Get Out Of Hand!

No problem, I'll come up with something else soon enough. In the meantime, it's time to start creating buzz! Tell all your friends and family, EVIL? by Timothy Carter is coming!

I'm Back! Did You Miss Me?

Wow, it's been a busy few months! I'd been putting in 10-hour days at work during August, then using my weekends to rewrite The Right Hand of Evil. Needless to say, I'm pretty tired.

Work has eased up a bit, and I no longer have to put in long hours. They've also extended my contract until the end of November, so I don't need to worry about finding new work for a while. Hopefully this means I can blog a bit more often.

I also finished my rewrite of The Right Hand of Evil and submitted it just in time for the contractual deadline. Whew! Hopefully this new draft will meet with approval, though there are bound to be a few necessary changes between now and when the book comes out. More on this as it develops.

Surviving Work

I haven't had much of a chance to post lately. Work has kept me busy during the day, and my free time has been spent rewriting The Right Hand of Evil. I'm a lot closer to that goal now, and plan to have the new draft finished by the end of this week. It will be good to have that done.

Work has been all right. Two weeks of it were spent shadowing and being trained by the person I'm replacing - she's on holiday for four weeks, as of last Tuesday. It came as no surprise to learn the job involves more than enough work for two people. Typical corporate attitude, I'm afraid. She handled it by coming in early and working through her lunch break, and occasionally coming in on the weekend to catch up. She wasn't paid extra for any of this - she did it because it was necessary to get everything done.

Now it's my turn. It's been a stressful week, but I made it through. Just three more weeks to go. I try not to let the workload get to me, but sometimes it does. It is hard to stay positive.

I am, however, getting lots of writing done. In addition to the Right Hand rewrite, my new novel Apoca-Lynn is coming along nicely. I used up a notebook last week finishing Chapter 16, and have started Chapter 17 in a new notebook. It's a good feeling, using up a notebook. Makes me feel a great sense of accomplishment.

Off To Work!

I just got back from visiting my parents at a cottage this weekend to find out I have a job. At last! One of my temp agencies finally came through.

It's been a frustrating time. For the last three months I've been offered lots of jobs, only to have them evaporate into the ether before I could start them! Sometimes, it was because the employer changed their mind for some reason. Most of the time, however, it was due to competition. The market for office work has become a lot more competitive lately, with employers asking to see profiles on several temps and then choosing from the pile. Before, an agency would call me and say, a job came in and you're starting tomorrow. Now, they'll say they've put my name forward and wish me luck. A sign of the time, perhaps?

Anyway, now I actually do have something. I'll be working for ING, scanning files for two months, and I start this morning. So I'd better get off the computer and get on a bus! Later, all!

Time To Get Serious About Rewriting

Sometimes I really excel at procrastination. I've been unemployed for three months now, which should have been plenty of time to get lots of writing projects done, yet I have to kick my own buttocks to finish up on two major rewriting projects.

Specifically, they are the rewriting of The Right Hand of Evil, based on the new synopsis I sold to Flux, and Cupidity, my new novel that's just about ready for the world. Things were going great until I got to the part of both books that required real work. You know, not just changing around a few sentences but stuff where a substantial change in the story is necessary. I know what needs to be done, and I'm at the spots in both books where the major change has to break off from the written text, but I'm reluctant to actually go in and do it. It just seems daunting.

It's not that I'm reluctant to cut my glorious words. Well, okay, maybe a little, especially where a good gag is involved. Still, the real problem for me is thinking about breaking into the text and taking it in the new direction while still coming back together with the rest of the book that still works. If that makes any sense.

Anyway, it's something I have to do. And it will get done, of that I have no doubt. I just have to get on with it.

TransFormerCon!

I had a really fun weekend at my favourite convention - TransFormerCon! Every year, enthusiasts of the 80's toy line gather at the Doubletree International Plaza to sell off their collections, buy new additions to those collections, and just hang around like-minded people who can't get enough of those Robots In Disguise.

I've rented a table at the last four cons, and don't have much of a collection left. Okay, I still have about 50 Transformers, most of them standing on my new computer desk. They are cool toys. Yes, I'm a geek, but I'm a happy geek.

I also sold five copies of Epoch, and two copies of Section K! Plus, I was interviewed by a photographer from the Etobicoke Guardian. That was fun. I gave her a copy of Epoch and asked her to pass it along to their book reviewer, so hopefully I'll get another review out of this.

I sold a lot of toys, but didn't make all that much money. All my really valuable items I sold off in the last three years. Still, I earned enough to rent a table at Polaris 22, a sci-fi convention happening 3 weeks from now. And I got a few toys. I had to. But I showed a lot more restraint this year than last year.

Fun stuff.

I'm On The IMD!

My friend Mike emailed me recently to tell me I'm on the Internet Movie Database. It seems my work on The Dumb Bunnies has been recognized there, so they have a page dedicated to me! You can check it out by clicking here. Interesting that I'm Timothy Carter II. I wonder who #1 is?

Ten years ago I wrote two episodes of the cartoon The Dumb Bunnies for Nelvana. At the time I thought I had a brilliant future as a screenwriter ahead of me. Unfortunately that didn't work out, but now I have a brilliant novel career ahead of me, so I'm not too downhearted. My IMD page lists my episodes as unknown, but I can give you the titles here: Can It and Smile Trial.

I've Been Productive!

The quest for a job continues at a slow pace. I had a 3-day job last week, followed by a promising interview, but I am still waiting for news.

However, I have not been lazy with my time off. This weekend I finished an edit of Cupidity, and feel very happy about it. I'm still not ready to show it to people - I've made a bunch of notes for myself for more things I must change - but it is one big step forward.

I've also started rewriting The Right Hand of Evil. The first half of the book will require minimal changes, but the latter half will require a lot of hard work. The contract for this book just came in from my agent, so things are plowing ahead there. Very exciting!

Currently, I'm on Chapter 11 of my new novel, Apoca-Lynn. That one is going very well, and I am confident it will make an enjoyable read.

It will almost be a shame if I get a job now - all my writing projects will suffer!

Right Hand Accepted!

Big news! BIG NEWS!!!!

This week, my agent told me that Flux have accepted my novel The Right Hand of Evil, to be published sometime in the next 18 months (late 2009 or early 2010). We were both stunned - it seemed as if they wanted to hold off on offering a contract for a bit, but then they suddenly changed their minds!

I have a fifth novel coming out! Fantastic! Needless to say, I'm excited and happy.

The only downside is that they don't want to use my title. They'd rather another Epoch-like one-word title. I'm a bit disappointed, because I really liked my title and thought it was perfect for the book. Still, that's the nature of the business. I'm sure they'll come up with something good. I'll continue to refer to the book as Right Hand until the new title is revealed.

Title aside, however, this is still a huge leap forward for my writing career. Yay! Double Yay!! Triple Yay!!!

AnimeNorth 2008 (and Indy Jones)

My weekend at AnimeNorth was a complete success! I sold 12 copies of Epoch, 10 copies of Section K, and my last 4 copies of Attack of the Intergalactic Soul Hunters. I could not be happier with those results.

And to think I didn't believe I'd sell well at an event entirely dedicated to Japanese animation! I was one of very few authors there, so I had very little competition for the novel buyers. I almost didn't get a table, though - there was a bit of a mix-up at the last minute, and they weren't sure where to put me. I had to carry my box of books around with me while I tried to sort it all out - very tiring!

I did four panels, all of them related to writing. They were all well-attended, and my fellow panelists were good speakers. I felt like I really contributed something useful, and that felt great.

The convention itself was quite interesting and fun. At least half the attendees were in costume, and most of those costumes were very elaborate and detailed.

It was a lot of fun, but I was exhausted by the end of it and glad to get back home. I was also glad to be carrying considerably fewer books back with me!

On Monday afternoon I took myself to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Loved it! Very cool movie.

INDIANA JONES!!! and AnimeNorth

I am so happy and excited that a new Indiana Jones movie has finally been made! He's one of my heroes - as a kid I made whips by tying rubber bands together, just so I could be like him. Plus, I love the hat. I feel very Indiana Jonesey in my own Tilley Fedora.

Sad thing is, I probably won't have a chance to see it this weekend, because I will be attending AnimeNorth. This is a convention that deals specifically with Anime - Japanese animation - and I've got myself onto four panels. What do I know about Japanese animation? Not a whole lot, actually. I hadn't thought AnimeNorth would be a good place for me to promote myself, because my work doesn't really relate itself to Japanese animated stuff. However, the organizers of the convention talked to me at this year's Ad Astra, and they convinced me my work would appeal to their crowd. They also offered me a free table if I became a panelist, so how could I refuse? The panels I'm on deal with writing, so I won't be getting out of my depth.

As soon as it's over, however, it's off to the nearest multiplex for me! Da dada da, da da da...

Worlds Of Tim

I've been chatting a lot with my agent recently, and he told me some unpleasant truths. Flux is still interested in publishing my novel The Right Hand of Evil, but they are concerned I do not have enough marketing efforts in place to successfully promote my work. If we can show Flux that we can get the word out about my current and new projects, then they will be willing to go ahead.

Step one is the targeting of librarians and library blogs, as I've already posted about. Step two is the creation of a new blog. My agent felt that my current blog wasn't user friendly enough for people who have read - or are thinking about reading - my books. The black background is off-putting, and my posts center around my life as a writer rather than the works themselves. Rather than change the current blog to meet his suggested specifications, I decided to create a new one. I call it Worlds Of Tim, and it will focus on my work rather than me.

I've already written an introductory post, and I imagine I'll play around with the look a bit (I need to add a photo, for one thing). Do any of you have any suggestions for things you'd like me to put there? Please leave a comment, as I would love your support.

Once again, the blog is called Worlds Of Tim. I hope you will all check it out on a regular basis.

You Have To Pay Writers, People!

My unemployment has stretched to a month(again). I am registered with a half-dozen agencies, all of whom are saying this is a "slow period". I'm also checking out Craigslist for jobs, and in my search under jobs for writers I keep finding posts like this:

Seeking someone to write a 20-40 page business plan to pitch new startup for financing contest. Would like to speak with you over the phone to describe the company and how it works. Call/email with any questions that might come up. Draft Deadline of Monday, May 5th, 2008. Please send in another business plan you've created or part of for reference. Thanks a bunch!

Compensation: no pay


They want an entire business plan written up, but they aren't willing to pay for it! Can they be for real? I'm afraid so.

I have a great idea for a slapstick sit-com, and am seeking someone who is comfortable defying politically correct norms. Targets will include every sect, race, creed and religion. More on that after you send me a bio of you, and why I should work with you. Equipped with the perfect looking pitch, and first few episodes, I can get the door open to the exec-producer's office. Hey, I'm an emerging artist looking for any sort of written material to use in my press kits as promotion. Anything from a write-up introducing readers to my unique style, or a review of some of my songs, or a heads up for my CD release. Of course you will be credited. Let me know.

Compensation: no pay


This guy wants all kinds of written material, but all he's offering is a credit. He even wants writers to tell him why he should work with them! And he's offering no money! Now check out this one:

Are you a student/ aspiring writer that wants a great feature film idea to write as a full screen play ? I have a great short story that you can write into a feature length screen play! Reply to this ad. NO PAY but definitely can and will work very hard to sell it in hollywood.... email ( reply ) and we can discuss details!


He won't pay you, but he'll work very hard to sell it, he really will! What is wrong with these people? Unfortunately, there are a lot of unscrupulous people out there willing to prey on aspiring writers. They figure these writers will do anything for free, just to acquire a credit and 'get their name out there'. The thing is, if they aren't offering any compensation, they probably aren't the types you want to admit you worked for.

I AM AN INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR\PRODUCER LOOKING FOR A WRITER TO WRITE A 30MINUTES SHORT FILM FOR A STORY THAT I HAVE DEVELOP AND LOOKING FORWARD TO GET IT SHOT IN JUNE OF 2008 . THE SHORT FILM WILL BE SCREENING WORLD WIDE AT ALL THE BIG NAME FILM FESTIVAL. WRITER MUST BE ABLE TO WRITE COMEDY AND DRAMA. PLEASE CONTACT ONLY IF YOU SERIOUS ABOUT THE CRAFT. NO CLOWN ALLOWED THANK YOU.

Compensation: no pay


No clown allowed?!? You're offering no payment for a script you have to have before June, but you don't want any clowns contacting you? How arrogant can you get? You're the clown, buddy!

A quick note to anyone out there in need of writing services... YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR IT!!!

Keeping The Epoch Train Going

My agent and I have been after my contacts at Flux, trying to get them to accept The Right Hand of Evil. They are still not giving us a definitive yes or no on that, but they have expressed concern regarding Epoch.

It seems that, in spite of the terrific sales reported here two posts ago, Epoch still isn't being put on permanent reorder from most major bookstores. Some aren't reordering it at all. I know, I'm having trouble swallowing that one, too!

And then there's libraries - far too few of them have Epoch on their shelves. Violet and I got very excited when we found a library in New Zealand that had three copies in stock (two of which were checked out!), but that just isn't enough.

Therefore, more promotion is required. We need more people ordering (and buying) copies! My agent discussed matters with the Flux people, and they think I need to market myself more online. That means getting more people to visit my blog, writing more blog posts promoting Epoch, and getting going with Facebook and Myspace as well.

So now I'm entering a new phase of book promotion. Wish me luck! And, if you are reading this, tell someone how cool Epoch is, would you? Thanks!

May The 4th...

...be with you!

4386!!!

That's the total number of Epoch copies that have sold between July and December of 2007 according to my royalty statement. Yaaay! That's a much bigger number than I'd expected, so I am very happy. If I can keep the momentum going, they may just have to order a reprint!

Attack of the Intergalactic Soul Hunters continues to drop off, however. In that same time period, only 17 copies sold. And seven were returned. That's not very good at all, but I'm at least glad copies are still selling.

My writing has picked up; I no longer feel blocked. I'm concentrating on two projects: Kids Who Know, and Apoca-Lynn. I'm not going to make any prediction about when I might complete either project. Right now, I'm just glad I feel like doing them.

I Will Do Better

Today I feel a lot more like my old self. I slept in a bit, played a PS2 game (Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick), had hot dogs for lunch and watched an episode of Doctor Who. I'm feeling ready to get back in the game and do some serious writing!

And maybe I'll do a little rewriting while I'm at it. I typed up my synopsis for Cupidity, and realized it's been about two months since I finished Cupidity and The 5 Demons You Meet In Hell. Both are more than due for a read-through, followed by a solid rewrite to get them to the stage where I can show them to people. I'd hope that, when I get the good news about The Right Hand of Evil, I could prepare 5 Demons to be the book that follows it. That would be sweet.

I feel like I've been stuck in a river heading toward a waterfall these last few months. No, work wasn't that bad, I just felt bad while I was there. Basically, I'm tired of office jobs, where I'm expected to produce a certain amount of tedious work on an hourly basis. I want a job where I'm not expected to be a machine. I had that for a while at the Manulife mailroom - if I can get something like that again, I'll be financially secure and relatively happy.

In the meantime, I'll keep writing. My time being blocked ends now.

The Writing Hasn't Been Good Lately...

It seems every year I go through a period where I just don't feel like writing anymore. Usually this phase hits right after I've completed a novel, and am searching around for what to write next. It usually lasts a couple of weeks, and then I get started on something that works for me and I'm off again.

Not lately. Since finishing Cupidity I've tried to start 3 projects and continue working on a fourth, but it's been slow going. I went back to Kids Who Know and got a chapter done, but then I hit a wall. I started two new novels, both of which I was sure would get me going, but I hit walls after the first chapter. I even tried to start a play, only to put it aside. I've gone back to one of the new novels - a new teen comedy called Apoca-Lynn - and I've cranked out a bit more, but it is slow going.

I'm not sure of the cause, but there are numerous culprits. Work was one, financial stress another. Plus, my depression was pretty bad for a few weeks there. Usually, though, writing helps me through all of that. Now it's all I can do just to get a few sentences down.

This is hard for me to deal with, but I must. Writing is my life, and I want it back. And, I need to know how to get the excitement for writing back so I can inspire other writers with it. So many times I've told other aspiring writers to write every day, and the inspiration will come. Why can't I follow my own advice?

Fired? Not Exactly...

Yes, I have gone and lost another job! I've been working for the last three months at TD Waterhouse, doing my usual data entry work and trying not to let the boredom kill me. Last week I found out they were replacing the temp and contract staff with other TD workers, and yesterday was my last day. So I wasn't 'fired' exactly, but the result is the same.

It was a sad parting - some of the people there were really nice, and a few even bought books from me! They got me a card and a Tim Hortons gift certificate, and seemed genuinely sad to see me go. I wasn't quite so sad - I'll miss a lot of the people, but the job just wasn't right for me. I am not an office person. Not at all.

And so, the hunt for work begins again.

Right Hand Clapping

Over the last few weeks I've been in contact with Andrew, the acquisitions editor for Flux/Llewellyn, discussing my new novel The Right Hand of Evil. He suggested some changes, I agreed and rewrote the synopsis, and he's happy with what I came up with. This week he'll take it to an acquisitions meeting and pitch it to the rest of the company; if all goes well, I could have another deal lined up!

Wish me luck and success, please!

Ad Astra 2008

Ahh, it's good to blog again. Very busy time, lately. Plus, Violet needs the computer more and more now as her third and final year at George Brown draws to a close at the end of this month. Hard to believe that time is nearly here.

And hard to believe Ad Astra has come and gone. It wasn't nearly such a big event for me this year as it was last year. Violet and I moved the weekend before, and that consumed much of my non-working time. When I finally got around to applying for panels, I was told they were all full up.

Still, I went and made the most of it. My friend Jeff came with me to help run the table on behalf of Burningeffigy Press, and we did our very best. Sadly, our very best barely covered the cost of the table. I sold four Section K's, five Epoch's and a couple of Intergalactic Soul Hunters. Not nearly as impressive as last year's figures. I think attendance was down - there definitely seemed to be more people this year.

Burningeffigy did even worse. Jeff had brought a bag full of chapbooks published by the press, including one that was up for a Bram Stoker award that very night. The chapbooks (mostly horror) were priced between $5 - $8, but we only sold about five, maybe six. Ironically, the chapbook that sold the most was Jeff's book, Guilt Pasta, which had no SF/Fantasy or Horror content!

We did have fun, though. We got to talk to lots of people, and a few came back after buying a book from me and told me they were really into it! That's just gravy to a writer. I shook hands with some other authors (like the brilliant James Alan Gardner, author of Expendable and Vigilant, among others), and I even received an invitation to attend Anime North this May.

All in all, it wasn't a very profitable weekend, but it was successful. I look forward to next year's convention.

Beware Virus Guy!

Over at Biblical Proportions, I've had someone try to give me a virus three times. I haven't been able to find anywhere on Blogger to report the guy, so I'm posting this message to warn readers to stay away from him.

You can identify Virus Guy by the comments he leaves. He'll say Click Here or Here, or some variation on that theme, with each 'here' being a link. If you click on either link, or on his name (he's used several, the latest being Salar), you'll be taken to a website that warns you that you have a virus and must install virus protection software. The site gives you the option to download the software or decline, but no matter what you choose it will start to download to your computer.

I was almost fooled by this; I'd like to say it was my brilliance and Internet savvy that saved the day, but in truth it was my wife Violet. However, I was at least smart enough to go and ask Violet if she wanted this helpful software loaded onto her computer. She knew it for what it was right away.

I've been deleting Virus Guy's comments from Biblical Proportions, but he's bound to try again. Keep an eye out for those comments and don't go anywhere near them! And if any of you know how I can report him to Blogger, please let me know.

We're Here!

The move went very smoothly. I'm very grateful to my parents and friends for all their hard work helping Violet and I to leave the Danforth behind and say hello to North York. A few boxes have been unpacked, and furniture has been moved around, and the place is starting to feel like home.

Karma was a little traumatized at first - a new place, and all these strange people stomping around carrying heavy things! He's back to his old self now, though, and having a marvelous time exploring his new domain. I think he's going to be very happy here. And I'm pretty sure we will be, too.

Moving Day

Today, Violet and I move from our apartment of almost 3 years into her mother's condo. Almost everything is packed, the elevators are booked, the movers are... us (no way we'd trust another moving company after last time). Actually, we have a lot of friends pitching in, and my parents came up from Ottawa to assist us as well. It's a big operation that will begin in just under two hours from now.

That's today. Tomorrow will be all about painting. Our landlords told us we'd have to repaint the apartment back to the drab beige it was when we first moved in, so that will keep us busy for a full day.

I will miss this place. It's not the best neighbourhood, but it had a lot of things nearby that made it really convenient. Access to the subway and GO Transit, stores within walking distance, and a Tim Horton's, too! And I will miss the view. We can see the lake from this place, but the condo is on the second floor with a view of the building's driveway and parking lot. Still, the condo is much bigger, and it has a washer, dryer and dishwasher!

Karma has been having a great time jumping in and out of boxes while we're packing. We're sure he'll love the condo and its greater floorspace, too.

2400!!!

I should have posted this news earlier, but I've been lazy getting onto Blogger lately. I spoke with the editor at Flux about a book I'd sent them, then asked if they had an update on how Epoch was doing. According to him, we've sold 2,400 copies of Epoch in the United States! The people at Flux are very happy with those numbers, and think that a reprint at some point is not out of the question. Very exciting news!

Also, the book he are looking at currently is The Right Hand of Evil. He made a few suggestions to make the book stronger, and I've already sent him a revised synopsis. If all goes well, Right Hand could be the next project of mine they take.

Happy happy happy!

Finished 2!!!

Today, just before starting work, I finally finished writing the first draft of Cupidity. Wow, I can't believe it's done! I've been working on that book for about two years, give or take a month. Some books are like that; I'll put them aside for a while, then feel a pull to get back into them. Cupidity got written in stages, or acts. Each time I put it aside, I'd reached a big plot point or a nice to-be-continued spot.

I never gave up on it, though - I always planned to get back to it and finish it off. It's a story I had to tell, and I'm glad to have told it. Give it a few months and I'll start the editing/rewriting. Most likely, though, I'll get to The 5 Demons You Meet In Hell first.

Hah. I put the notebook containing the last few chapters down on my desk, and Karma leaped up and batted it off. Everybody's a critic, even kittens!

Finished!!!

Big news! Big news! Yesterday afternoon, during my lunch break, I finished writing the first draft of The 5 Demons You Meet In Hell. Finally! It feels good to finally have that one in the can.

Of course, it's not finished-finished, if you know what I mean. I still have a few chapters left to type up (I do my 1st drafts longhand in a notebook), and then I'll have to rewrite and edit it. Nevertheless, the basic story is down, and I'm pretty happy with it.

One change I've already made is to the title. It used to be The 25 Demons You Meet In Hell, but I realized I didn't need that many demons. I like the new title better, because that makes it a much closer spoof title to Mitch Ablom's The 5 People You Meet In Heaven. Right away, you'll know you're in for something metaphysical yet funny. I like that kind of story.

I'm still writing Cupidity; I'm on chapter 27, and I estimate there will be 30 chapters when I reach the end. I should have that one done by early March.

Back To Normal: Part II

Life is returning to a state of normalcy once again. Violet is bravely coping with her loss, and is back at school and working hard. It was her birthday last Friday, and I successfully threw her a surprise party at The Willow, our favourite restaurant. A good crowd of our friends turned up, and made for a very fun evening. It was the first surprise party Violet has ever had, which is pretty neat considering she threw me my first ever surprise party back when we were dating.

My new job has been going well. I'm getting used to the system and making fewer mistakes, and my co-workers are starting to accept me as one of them. The work itself can get pretty dull sometimes, but I'm managing to cope.

Sadly, I have not finished off either of my two major novel projects. It seems I'm not much of a deadline kind of guy. I don't want to set another I-should-be-done-by date, but I think two more weeks should do it.

Karma has taken to waking me in the middle of the night, wanting affection. He climbs up onto my chest, then he turns around and waits for an ear scratching. My reward is that he'll snuggle up with me afterward. I just love the guy.

Farewell, My Mommy-In-Law

Last Tuesday, at approximately five in the afternoon, my wife Violet's mother Gizella Horvath passed away. She was 63.

She'd been in and out of hospital many times over the last few months, but on Christmas Eve she went to stay. Her condition stabilized but never improved, and on the Friday before last it took a turn for the worst. From what I understand, she had a bad heart. That led to many health problems, the final one being kidney failure.

Sadly, she'd just been discharged from her hospital and sent to a nursing home. She didn't even have the chance to sign in before being rushed to the nearest hospital to that home, where she was put on a respirator. She slipped into a coma, and it was clear she was never going to recover. She was taken off the respirator, and passed away minutes later.

The funeral was last Saturday. Many people came, both family and friends - far more than Violet and her sister Georgina expected. My parents came up from Ottawa to cook meals and help with the driving. Georgina came up from Brockville to host the reception and help Violet deal with the estate. My dad and I served as pallbearers.

The first time she met me, I was in my underwear. Maybe sometime I'll explain the context. It didn't put her off me, however - she looked so delighted when Violet and I announced our engagement. She called me Timmy. I called her Mummy. She loved to cook, and took great joy in watching us eat. In that respect, I was the perfect son-in-law; I always asked for extra helpings.

Now that the funeral is over and the funeral home has been paid, we have a chance to miss her. I try to keep Violet in good spirits. Sometimes I am successful, sometimes not. Either way, she has me. I'll do all I can to help her through this.

Goodbye, Mummy. We miss you. I miss you.

New Reviews!

My publicist at Flux sent me this review by a kid last week. Here's my favourite bit:

"I know the plot sounds kind of weird and demony, but if you like weird demony stuff, like I do, then you will like this one."

Weird and demony. That's me!

Then there's this one I found while playing around with Google. My favourite line:

"It is certainly not subtle (the book oozes a smug, anti-Christian attitude) but Carter delivers the finale he promises: he really does close the book with the end of humanity."

More and more people are finding Epoch! Very exciting.

Back To Normal?

That certainly seems to be the way of it right now. I'm settling into my new job, no longer fearing they'll go muttluk on me (ie - fire me with little or no reason). The work is dull but not hard, and the people are friendly. There's also a Tim Horton's nearby, which is great for my tea refreshment needs (and before-work writing time). All in all, I can't complain.

Violet has returned to school, and is entering her last semester. We both have high hopes she will graduate with top marks and land a fantastic (and high-paying) graphic design job come the summer.

Karma is settling down a bit, but he's still very much a kitten. We aren't quite so worried about our personal possessions as we used to be, but every now and again I'll come home to see my notebooks and stuff all over the floor while Karma stares up at me innocently. He's started cuddling with me, so I don't hold the occasional act of destruction against him.

Writing has been going well, with progress made on both The 25 Demons You Meet In Hell and Cupidity. 25 Demons is up to 21 chapters, and Cupidity 26. Of course, those numbers don't mean anything in and of themselves, but trust me when I say it is good progress. I'm already plotting my next book, to be written simultaneously with the next arc of Kids Who Know. I just can't bear to work on only one project these days.

Data Entry

My new job at TD has started, and so far so good. Basically, I'm typing information from one computer screen into a database on another computer screen. It's fairly simple and repetitive, once you get the hang of it - and I'm still getting the hang of it. Unlike my last job, however, they're not expecting me to pick it all up in the first five minutes. The people there seem nice, and I get an hour for lunch plus breaks. Not bad at all.

My writing is going well. I finished chapter 19 of The 25 Demons You Meet In Hell today, and had some good ideas for chapter 20. I think there will be 25 chapters, but that's just a guess. Either way, I feel like the book is four-fifths finished. I think completing the first draft by the end of January is a very reasonable projection.

Karma is napping on the printer next to me. You wouldn't think that the plastic surface of a printer would be comfortable, but apparently it is.

Happy New Year!

Wow, 2007 went by in a flash, huh? At least, that's how it seems.

The new year is upon us, and tomorrow I start a new job. Today will be my last day off in a long while. You might think that I've used the time off to look back over 2007 and list my accomplishments, and contemplate making resolutions for 2008. You might think that, but you'd be wrong. I'm doing all that stuff right now, off the cuff, at the last minute. Here goes:

2007 Accomplishments

- was unemployed for almost half of it, but didn't starve to death.
- successfully finished and edited The Right Hand of Evil.
- rewrote Young Nostradamus
- launched two novels, Epoch and Section K
- launched two blogs, too!
- adopted a wonderful kitten, Karma
- fought depression, and felt positive 75% of the time.
- saw Transformers 5 times.

2007 Regrets

- didn't finish The 25 Demons You Meet In Hell or Cupidity.
- was pretty darned depressed and negative 25% of the time.
- didn't see Transformers 6 times.

2008 Resolutions

- I will write every day.
- I will stay positive 85% of the time.
- I will finish the aforementioned novels, and
- I will get back to Kids Who Know and finish it this year.
- I will sell another novel.
- I will stay employed.

That's all I've got. Not the most profound of stuff, but then neither am I. I'm just here to have fun. Happy New Year, all!