Coping With the Cold

Yeah, I know: it looks like I’m doing nothing, just some dawdler sitting outside, smoking a cigar.

I’m supposed to be writing a book, Ozias, Prince Enthroned. It’s the story of Ozias’ first year or two as king of Obann. Cold weather stopped me halfway through. I can’t write fiction indoors, too many distractions; but outside, in January, it’s just too cold, the ink won’t come out of the pen.

So what I’ve been doing is telling the story to myself, conjuring up one episode after another. I now know how the story ends, and several of the more important steps toward getting there. I hope to be ready to start writing them down, once Spring is here. I haven’t worked this way before, but it seems to be bearing fruit.

Meanwhile, two books await publication: Oceans of Time, and Ozias, Prince in Peril. My editor, Susan, has recovered from her illness and is back to work (thank you all for your prayers!). Soon we’ll need a cover by artist Kirk DouPonce. And then another cover. Maybe by then the weather will ease up and I can write down what I’ve envisioned for Prince Enthroned.

I’m looking forward to it.