The plan was to knock out an outline and the beginning of a (rough, rough, rough) rough draft of Portals - Book 3 by the end of April. I expected to have a polished manuscript by August or September.
And, like most well-intentioned plans, it's not going as I anticipated.
Things began smoothly enough; I had the framework in place and to the "halfway point" by the end of February. Then, things came to an abrupt halt at the beginning of March. The coronavirus not only seriously shifted things at work and home, but those times I normally set aside to write were suddenly usurped by cleaning, homeschooling, and the pursuit of hand sanitizer. Writing, it seemed, would have to take a back seat for the time being.
I'm not complaining. Things could be worse. Much worse.
At this moment, everyone in my household is healthy. I'm still employed and considered "essential" in my duties as a part-time paint monkey. I found some hand sanitizer.
Let me tell you that writing when your brain is full of anxiety, stress, and ideals of the "worst-case scenario" is nearly impossible. Restlessness takes up a lot of room in one's brain. Imagine, if you will, an office. It's a nice office, with plenty of pens and pencils. Your printer is full of paper and ink. There's oodles of sunlight and the temperature is perfect. Now, picture in your mind that someone bursts into your beautiful office and pulls the cord of a large, inflatable raft. You can't puncture it - you can only allow the air out by the tiniest of valves. Slowly.
There's not much space left to be able to get into the zone to create worlds and move characters about with any iota of efficiency.
So! I'm going to have to extend my personal deadline by a bit. My earliest estimate will be somewhere between Halloween and Thanksgiving, though if I allow a bit more breathing room, it'll be Christmas. If I had the luxury of being able to write full-time, that would be magnificent. But, I'm not there ... yet.
For now, you'll find that all three of my e-books are 99 cents for the foreseeable future. If you're stuck at home and need something to read, it shouldn't break the bank. You need your extra money for hand sanitizer.
Above all, stay home if you are able. Wash your hands. Don't touch your face. Check in on your loved ones as often as you can. Wear a mask if you must leave the house. (That includes the manly-men who think they don't need to. Yes, you do. You're not less of a man for wearing a mask. Quite the opposite, in fact.)
Thank you, oh best beloved, for being patient. <3
