This is where I’ll keep a running commentary on all my works in progress. As I’m just starting my journey, right now we’re at a pretty basic level of news: January 2025
My Urban Fantasy series Hound of the Gods is going well! Book one is War Dog. This series currently has 6 books planned consisting of two trilogy arcs that connect heavily to each other but should be able to be read as stand alone trilogies . I’m about done with the traditional chase for an agent and publisher. I’ve even actually talked to industry professionals and it’s a little grim for books like mine – in that I’m pretty much the opposite of the best selling terms like “Spicy”, “Cozy”, or “Female protag” (even though I DO have a female protag for the series, she’s introduced in book one as a supporting character).
So I’ve decided to give the first book away for free. I’m thinking I’ll serialize it on this website and maybe a place like Wattpad or Royal Road. I’ll drop a chapter a week while simultaneously offering it for sale at a very low price through your typical retailers for those that get into the story and don’t want to wait for the end.
The Second Book tentatively titled The Hands that Feed, has received a plot treatment (I don’t outline) and a full chapter synopsis treatment. I have mapped out both subplots, and added them to the chapter synopsis treatment. I’ve also written the first 11 chapters. I am over 60 K words into the book now and it’s coming along. I’m loving where this book is going, but revisions on book two will be extensive compared to book one. Book one was my first novel and I edited often as I wrote. This time I give myself notes for cool ideas and re-writes but don’t let myself stop, so the second draft will be – I repeat – EXTENSIVE.
Writing doesn’t happen in a vacuum, so there’s all sorts of stuff riding alongside and screwing up the flow. Most people call it life, I guess…I call it annoying. I have settled into my overnight work schedule in the real world, and am slowly getting back to writing consistently. God, to be part of that 1% of writers who get to WRITE for a living…one can only dream.
Hey! Did I mention that I’ve got three short stories published this year? Go see my library page to read about them or buy them. They are all from the cooperative self publishing experiment called Coffee and Dreams. I stepped back from the series of anthologies to focus on getting my second novel done, so I’m not sure if it’s a going concern anymore, but I can promise you that if a volume five comes out, I’ll buy it. They are fun stories.
Anyway, the last little bit of news is that I’m also planning on writing two novels simultaneously after The Hands That Feed is finished and released. I’ll write the third story in that series at the same time I write a full length novel of the Donaldverse. The Donaldverse was created when I wrote the Short Story, Café Muse for that aforementioned anthology (you can read it in Volume 2). It’s gonna be a lot of fun. Hang on!
Daniel Nick
