Selena: Sea Nymph

As I’ve said before, Selena: Sea Nymph is my first foray into the paranormal and fantasy arena. I have intentionally avoided reading mermaid or similar stories because I’d prefer my creative notions are not influenced by other authors.

In a relatively short time, I’ve revised the original blurb and the introductory chapter. My Work in Progress for this tale now boasts the new blurb and the first five chapters. I have enabled ‘comments’ for the blurb and all of the chapters, a decision not made lightly.

If you’d like to read and comment it is not a prerequisite that you either read or write sci-fi, fantasy or paranormal. You can use the links from this post, or select chapters from the Work in Progress menu.

Why am I taking such a step so early with this story?

There are authors who are comfortable writing one genre, their work is well-received, and therefore this produces a win-win situation.

I thrive on pushing myself, stretching the boundaries of my creativity. On many occasions, for me, a single image will inspire a new short story or novel, and so it joins my shortlist.

I’m hoping that any responses to these early chapters are encouraging, but we shall see.

***

Chapter 1 – Realisation

Chapter 2 – Friendship or Alliance?

Chapter 3 – Negotiations

Chapter 4 – Friends or Foes?

Chapter 5 – Dangerous Assumptions

“It’s a Work in Progress,” a person says, but what do they mean?

For the handyman, it might be the new light fitting, which is presently hanging, disconnected from a wall.

For the gardener, it might be the new vegetable patch which is presently an oblong of overturned earth in a corner.

It is many things to different people, but none, in my opinion can utilise that phrase quite like an author. Of course, I’m biased—I’m an author, so the manipulation of words and the reader’s thought process are my craft. Let’s look at my ‘Work in Progress’.

Codename: Foxglove. This is presently in excess of 60k words and going well. It is a crime thriller which will see the conclusion of the Beyond The Law trilogy and spinoffs.

Crusader. Another crime thriller, introducing a new protagonist who starts the story as a police detective. The first chapter is written and the second is a group of passages which are not yet joined.

Constance. This is where artistic licence comes in. Unusually, this will be a sequel to a story not yet written. It is to be the follow-up to Crusader. In this case I have passages ready to create the first chapter.

Selena: Sea Nymph. My first attempt at sci-if/paranormal/fantasy, and therefore, I’m pleased that the first chapter is presently in three passages. They’re not yet set in the best sequence and that can prove challenging.

Enough? Not by a long way. I may have ceased producing erotica in my name, but I’ll continue with the genre using a pen name. There are six titles in the wings. A novel, an anthology and four novellas.

Why have so much on the go?

Two words—stress reduction.

When an idea comes to mind, I’m sure many authors continue with their latest story, (the primary Work in Progress), but at the back of their mind they might have the occasional distracting thought about another idea.

It was when this first happened to me several years ago that I sat with a coffee staring at my machine contemplating how to conquer the irritation. “Start them as they come to mind,” I told myself aloud. I never have ‘writer’s block’, and knowing that I have a wide range of projects ready to be addressed isn’t frustrating—I relax in the knowledge that I can go from one ‘world’ to the next on a day to day basis if I wish.

And now, dear reader, you know why I believe that authors can stretch that phrase better than most … after all, whatever the project, it is still a Work in Progress.

Thank you for taking the time to check out my thought. Comments are welcome.

Tom