A Life of Choice: The Retail Years

My new writing year saw me focusing on a hard-copy edit of MacLennan. This new story features a male vigilante-style character loosely based on the lead in my short story, Resettlement, which appears in my anthology, Shadow: and Other Stories. It was fellow author, Barbara Speake who suggested that the theme of the Resettlement story would work well in a longer form.

I expected that the initial manuscript of 118k words would be reduced during a thorough edit, but more than one scene developed which caused the word count to rise to 120k. In the next full edit which will take place in February, I’ll continue to develop, but cut where needed, simultaneously killing my ‘darlings’.

During the edit, I amended the opening chapter, which I believe is now more effective. The new version is available here on my blog if you’d like to select Chapter 1 – The Invisible Man.

As mentioned in a previous blog post, Helen, initially a minor player, has now earned her place in a future story and will feature in her own book, Codename: Larkspur.

What else have I got lined up to work on this year?

Selena: Sea Nymph has been a work in progress over the past couple of years, and I’ll continue the job this year. I don’t rush a story, so like some others before it, this one may continue to simmer on the back-burner as I continue with other projects.

As a non-swimmer and, therefore, someone who’s never been keen on waterspouts or travel by boat, I will be literally out of my depth in some parts of the story. In my favour, many years ago I attended a two-week swimming course, so I’m not without experience when it comes to spending time underwater. My imagination, coupled with a lifelong interest in natural history and a nod to conservation, will play their parts in the storytelling.

As is my habit with my Work in Progress files, I’ll work on A Life of Choice: The Retail Years when the other two stories are resting between drafts. This story stems from the idea that we relate anecdotes and say things like, ‘I could write a book about it.’ It was as recently as November 2024 when I decided I’d aim to do that. I chose the title to fit with A Life of Choice, my five-book series loosely based on my military career. As with my military memoirs, I’ll be in no rush with this story, but I foresee it as a single volume in a different format to the series. When I eventually have something to offer for feedback, I’ll post a chapter here on my blog.

I will, as usual, offer my services as a beta-reader to fellow authors whenever time and my productivity allow.

I sincerely thank my regular readers for choosing and supporting my brand. If you’re new to my writing, I hope you’ll soon become one of my valued readers.

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I started this year by returning to Selena: Sea Nymph, which I still find a challenge, which is just as it should be. I am, however, already ten chapters (30k words) in with McLennan, my next thriller.

To date, I’ve never considered myself to be affected by ‘Writer’s Block’ because, for many years, I’ve maintained multiple projects. I always have a primary Work in Progress and at least one (but usually two) other writing projects.

Some authors say they can’t move from one story to another, but I rest my work often and for long enough to make this possible and desirable. When I ‘rest’ my work it can be for two weeks or more. Apart from reading and reviewing, I might draw, paint, bake, complete a domestic project (like building a new garden gate or bird table), or head off with our caravan. Whatever else I do, there is always the need to write.

Within weeks of this new year beginning, I was making a list of possible content for A Life of Choice: The Retail Years,* which is a follow-up to my popular A Life of Choice series.

As recently as this week, while revising poems in my Natural History volume, I considered it might be worthwhile to produce a paperback edition. Poetry: Volume 3 – Natural History contains 45 poems, so I believe it would need to be increased to at least 60 or 70 poems to work as a paperback.

The new verses are underway, and when they’re ready, I’ll add them to the digital edition and also create the paperback. Apart from my Light at The End books, my natural history writing is possibly the only genre I’d recommend for those under 18.

However things work out, I’m confident that this year, I’ll produce at least one new title and possibly a second.

I sincerely thank my regular readers for taking an interest and supporting my brand. If you’re new to my writing, I hope you’ll soon become one of my valued readers. Thank you for checking out my blog.

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*A Life of Choice: The Retail Years. The Foreword and first chapter, 1. One Door Closes are available in my Work in Progress menu.