Read My Lips - the blog

The long and winding tale

I completed about 30 pages of the first draft of Book 2 today. Moona has almost completed the next to last nitpicking of Book 1, and we'll soon discuss all her suggestions, add the agreed changes to those changes made subsequent to the printing of that copy, such changes that were made following my viewing of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy which served to alter the story slightly, hopefully enhancing the climax. For the cover, I am thinking of an extreme close up of Alura looking up into the star-filled night time sky, which is likewise mirrored in her eyes.

Moona's daughter is still supposedly "on board" for the line drawing I expect to use as internal illustrations. But, as always, what will be, will be. I am still hoping to have Book One available for sale by Memorial Day.

For my more deserving fans, I'll give you a sample* of what weird stuff popped out of my mind -- in the extended entry:

In the Why the Hell Not Dept: OTBTJTB™

*It's early in the creation of this book and this portion lacks any sort of editing.

Eff/13 milled about the forest, digging among the roots, seeking succulent tubers when he his large ears detected footsteps softly crunching through the fallen leaves of the forest floor. The sun was low and there was just enough light left to make out the trunks of the trees through the ever present fog. Eff/13, hoping it was a bear, backed up against a tree, tensed, and remained utterly silent.

The sound of the leaves crunching grew closer and he watched darkening mist for signs of the approaching entity. He eye caught a hint of bright red that moved quickly behind the trunk of a tree. It was again lost in the fog as it came out the other side. Eff/13 moved forward, seeking to stalk this enemy and dispatch it with haste.

He moved from behind another tree to catch a sight of bright red moving into the clearing, just ahead. He dove in an effort to tackle the fiery red invader. Another creature stepped into the space between himself and the bright red entity just as he launched, and Eff/13 flew into the lower extremities of this unknown creature with enough force that they both bowled over the crimson creature, and the three of them became entangled in a pile in the midst of the clearing.

"Who are you?" the wolfish creature said as he sought to extract himself from the pile. "You just messed up my plan to snatch a goody filled basket and to play with the mind of a senile old bat."

"I am surely appreciative of your assistance, Mister," said the other creature. "This werewolf almost snuck up on me, this time. It was a bit careless of me to be getting back so late."

"Is your name Isilda?" Eff/13 asked, as the trio had finally untangled and simultaneously rose to their feet.

"Yes," she replied. "Do I know you?"

"No, your granny was looking for you. I'm Eff/13."

"You're an Elee, right?" she asked.

"Look here, Little Miss Red Riding Hood," the wolfish fellow said, "I've got more important things to do than sit around here while you make the acquaintance this Bozo, so I'm off. See you around, Doll." He disappeared into the fog.

"Friend of yours?" Eff/13 asked.

"That guy? Nope. Just a pest, always stalking around, trying to get into my goody basket. I'm glad you were around because I would really have hated to lose this load. Mrs. Pemblebrook sent along a whole zucchini cake. I just love zucchini cake."

"Me too!" the young Elee said.

"Well then, let's get on inside and I'll cut you off a big hunk," she said, climbing the steps to the porch and turning the doorknob.

"I'm right behind you, Red."

Posted by Tiger at May 11, 2005 05:57 PM