Friends and readers, I am off to Chattanooga, Tennessee today with friends for a Warhammer: The Horus Heresy tournament. (Let’s hope my dice won’t betray me.) That’s about a two-hour drive from where I live. I’ll have some pics and tales about that for you next time.
This weekend marks an anniversary of sorts for me. One year ago, my ex-wife and I separated for a month so that I could get some distance and some clarity on things. It was a tumultuous month. I slept on a pull-out sofa and an air mattress. I slept in an air stream at a hippy camp. And I slept in a tent at a campsite down in a ravine while it was oppressively hot. (That turned out to be a clothing optional camp 😳, but since I was the only idiot who wanted to camp there in the oppressive August heat, it wasn’t an issue.)
I also kept going to therapy. I did a lot of journaling and thinking. I got the clarity I needed. And then at the next couples session, I stood for my principals, and that was the end of a marriage. In spirit. The technical ending took nine months.
During that time, I spent more time by myself and without other people for the longest I have ever done. It was the start of an intensive healing process. And I’m glad to be a year away from it now. I’ve done a lot of healing, and I’m glad to be moving forward with optimism and my creative energy restored.
That’s also when I started writing The Crucified Owl, a story I will share with y’all soon. I think it’s a really good story, and I hope you’ll agree.
The Outworld Ranger
This week, I spent a lot of time painting miniatures and listening to Forbidden System and Rogue Starship, narrated by the amazing Peter Kenny. I’m listening to the books to help get me in the zone for writing new books, and also because I may have forgotten some details or plot threads. Do you know the color of Mitsuki’s skin? I had forgotten it entirely, though I’m sure I have it recorded in a bio somewhere. (I have started organizing such things, but it’s a process.)
There’s a lot of painting to be done. My gray plastic pile of shame, as gamers call it, is quite large, and some of those models needed painting for the tournament. I haven’t needed to buy miniatures for quite some time, and judging from the boxes in my closet, I won’t need any for a long while to come.
I’ve planned some chapters. I have ideas for a Mitsuki Reel story. Silky is whispering things in my ear. All is good.
If you haven’t read the books or know someone who would like them, there’s a box set currently available for $0.99.
Rogues & Shadows This Week
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get the posts for Gadda and Storm Phase up this week for several reasons. My apologies. Next week, you will get them.
Next Week…
Double posts for Storm Phase and the last chapters for Gadda Bisby’s Grail.
Best wishes and happy reading,
David Alastair Hayden
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