Clean up on Chapter 6, some wonderful hints of the things to come, and lets pause and remember today.

   Hi Guys!

   Well, it's a Friday night, I'm sitting with the little one watching Cars, so I thought I'd make a bit of post - and why not? It's not like it costs me anything but time to blog (or those ads to the right are making me money - I'll take your silence as thanks for cutting out all the dating sites because frankly they annoy the pants off me too!).

   So, anyway, a chapter update. And yes, bit slow these few weeks as I'm only part way through chapter six (and a delicate little romantic motion - that I actually have to change a little to make it that one bit more hot).

   But it's not doom and gloom, because I in my slip towards "writer's block" I realised that I was stopping because scenes weren't enough to pique my interest, breaking the flow, and I had to rethink things. So I did, and maybe there's a bit of time to get back tonight - alright you twisted my arm, back to the works, but after I have the very happy update that...

   The reason I lost momentum with the Novel Formerly Known as Prince A Flight Away was because I started it wrong. Well, not the prologue where on the blog, that's staying for impact. But trying to start Mark Cray's piloting career getting his private pilot's license was just breaking my bank, and breaking the sort-of action movie flow I was going for.

   But being set in the US, you'll need to wait until I show off my home city of Sydney first (and its diverse suburbs) before I take a flight up to Washington state - was that another hint? You bet it was! And while I'm speaking of hints, I'm going to leave you the cryptic three dimensional conundrum below for the adventure to come:

   And there you have it. Cars is almost over, little one's going to bed, and I'm going to pollute my ears with some nineties Eurodance

   But before I go, it's a bit hard not to forget that if we fast forward about an hour or so, and go back 14 years, today is a pretty sad day. I know I pursue some dark subject matters, if only for entertainment, but I don't forget the impact that real tragedy has on people's lives, even to complete strangers on the other side of the world who found out the next day that evil stalked our world again.

   We know what this day means, and how it affects us in small ways, and for those who lost their loved ones in three buildings and four aircraft, either the innocent victims or the brave few who stayed until the end to get whoever they could out. Let's not forget any of them today, or any day into the unknown future.

   In memory of the many this September 11, and may we never face horrible, pointless, tragic death, anywhere in our world, in public or in private.


   T. M. Shannon

CHAPTER 6 KIDS! And I'm also hanging out for Fallout 4

   Hi guys!

   Yes, that is an exclamation mark you saw there, because, like other great day with the comrades as you sail into history (even though nations involved will assure you nothing ever happened), I HIT CHAPTER 6 LIST NIGHT!

   Cue those fireworks!

   My new work is going gangbusters, and I will be working overtime tonight, tomorrow, the next day (but I will have to fire the gaming PC up for a warm up soon) to get through the first act in short order, and then we might talk some titles.

   In fact, the creative juices are running so well I've realised why I couldn't get started with the Novel Formerly Known As A Flight Away - set up is all wrong. Granted, I'll get back to that adventure, it just needs more of an initial flow and to get further along into its story; but retain the initial part of the first chapter at Karen's garden - yep, a clue! In other news, look out Washington State, I'm going to make you a home away from home (and going to have to visit a certain town).

   But anyway, back to proper matters. Yep, I put $20 down on the up and coming Fallout 4. A late convert to the series, but always intrigued by the joyous wonder that is Vault Boy, I've been making some progress in New Vegas and liking it so far - but damned if I don't care about the Legion, NCR and Mr House is no longer a hassle.

   So come November I'll be back to another side of the wasteland making like its Mad Max without the cars, because I'm not going to buy the game that looks like Fallout With Cars (and doesn't have Vault Boy, 50's paranoia, and some awesome old songs!)

  Sadly I'll be out of the country on launch day (in that great tradition, I'll be GTT!), but a nice happy belated birthday, because that particular present will be a 13 hour flight back to Sydney. Oh well, I'll power up the week after.

   Anyways, I'm back to the writing, and hoping the cold I've come down with goes away real quick (my brain hurts!), and for your clue of my present work, I'll give the Number of the Day (sorry, 4 yo son, there's a bit of Sesame Street in my daily TV diet), which is 3. Letter to follow.

   Catch up sooner than soon, and as always, have a good one!
   T. M. Shannon

Back Like That Thing You Do When You've Been Away From Your Blog For A While

   Hi guys!

   Long time no type (and for you no read), when I was last here Leonard Nimoy was beamed up and since then the closest I've been to Star Trek is Nostalgia Critic's Star Trek Month on YouTube. Oh well, him and Angry Joe took the mickey out of Wrath of Khan so still fun.

   And I bought a new gaming computer (Fallout 4 pre-ordered; Witcher 3 came,  looked great, story was crap and overblown and does NOT suit open world gameplay - need a Thieves Guild, Mages Guild, Fighters Guild and an Assassins Guild for that!)

   Speaking of YouTube, I've been using this site on this wonderful child of the nineties we call the world wide web to listen to those other wonderful children of the nineties, a whole bunch of Eurodance classics. My ears are throbbing from 20 year old beats, and its no mistake I'm bringing this up, because while I like my hardstyle, this trip back to 90's club mayhem is keeping me writing my new book.

   Just not A Flight Away, which is never going to happen. Well, it will under its proper title (under wraps just for now). I was going to have this whole trick shot and make it look like I was under legal threat from the law firm I have created for that work (which if you'd never seen Robocop you woudn't get the joke anyway).

   So for now, the journey of Mark Cray is being delayed due to poor weather and other fanciful developments (waiting for a race to finish, nothing special), and I'm now back behind the keyboard for something completely different.

   Strangely, I had an idea for a romance. Funny, huh? Epic sword fights, plane accidents and the propensity to have a book where people run around with guns... and I've promptly thrown that all to the wind and getting down for some semi-traditional boy meets girl, but none of this relentless pursuit of target mess like the T-800 looking for Sarah Connor.

   And strangely (IMHO of course), so far its good, and to a degree where parts of the story are very far advanced and just need to be written down. I'll probably end up a bit haphazard about it, but its coming together so far, and so far it's a surprising journey that I want to finish. I suppose it will help setting it in Sydney so for my overseas readers you'll get a taste of Worlds Best City Ever, home to Best Olympic Games Ever, and Most Awesome New Years Eve fireworks.

   Don't believe me? Just check out last year!

   But enough bragging, I'm sure you think the same of your cities (but we still own NYE). I'm going back to Word and if I'm not singing Haddaway, Snap!, 2 Unlimited, DJ Bobo, Real McCoy, Culture Beat or La Bouche for my next blog there'll be something wrong with me.


   Long live the 90's, and as always have a good one!

   T. M. Shannon

Sample My Work, and "Live long and prosper."

   Hi guys,

   Well I promised, and have delivered: A Flight Away (working title) is officially born, and you can now sample the prologue right here on this blog.


   As I said before, this will be the start of something big. And of course, while my readers are certainly aware of subject matters I'm not afraid to cross, to new readers, I do give warning:

   While there is no specific violence, the subject matter beginning A Flight Away is very strong and emotionally moving, and may be distressing to some. I assure readers, as I also vouch for a number of scenes in The Torment, The Shadow, The Heart, I found myself crying a number of times in writing this.

   Rest assured this is only a beginning, but you will know Mark Cray's burden (henceforth copyrighted). How well will he cope with this? I don't expect to be saying any time soon!

   And what will become "as always," A Flight Away will be dedicated to my niece, Carla Elise Whitton, who I promised my sister and brother-in-law I'd never forget.


   And in other, bigger news this weekend, we bid farewell to actor Leonard Nimoy - synonymous with his most memorable (and certainly most logical) role as Mr. Spock. We haven't lost so much as had an opportunity to enjoy his talent throughout the years, and for that we should truly say thanks. There are only two lines best suited for this moment, both from Wrath of Khan, but we know well the setting in which those lines were said, and what makes those lines so poignant.

   I'll stick with a simple farewell, and thanks for the enduring memories.


   Until next I write (and maybe you read),


   Have a good one!
   T. M. Shannon

There has been an awakening in the Force... and no I'm not starting on the Braveheart lightsabre

    It has been a long time between Star Wars movies... well the ones that matter, and okay Episode 3. And while I'm "gee-ing" up for the ultimate party in December (at least I hope, could be a 2016 release of Ep. VII here in Australia), its not the only awakening of one particular force that I'm looking forward to.

   I've just looked, and I last blogged in May last year. Since then I've left a job invoicing/reporting on behalf of insurance firms and moved onto invoicing for a commercial plumbing company - suppliers and clients. The little one has been developing well, getting wordier and finally crossing the one metre (3'4", give or take, in the old measure) mark.  And, well...

   I'm baa-aaack!

   I have just begun a new novel, and am editing the prologue as we speak. And while you think I might be forgetting The Fear, The Sundering, The Journey, rest assured I'll continue Halm Dresden's story in the future. This time, though, I'm taking a trip into the real world, and am stepping into new territory with a more natural main character (not so much autobiographical and sharing fewer passions) - and an actual, real-world location.

   I will keep a great many facts secret, and you will have to read. But once I'm done with my prologue edits, you can enjoy the first facet of what is shaping up to be emotionally-shaped dramatic journey, the story of a man (and pilot) resolving his own faults, the stress and pain of tragedy, and moving on from stagnation to pursue his dream of flying a 747. Exploring concepts such as interpersonal failings, the harm we cause each other, affairs of the heart, it will be a journey through grief, shame, fear, and redemption.

   It's my hope that the tentatively-titled A Flight Away, will better shape my future writing career (not that I will ever give up the sword)...and leave readers more than surprised. It's going to be great.

   Because though prologue shapes the journey of the integral character, some journeys have twists and unintended destinations. Trust me when I say, it's going to be great...

   Peace, love and mungbeans people. Okay skip the legumes, but the below is always for the ages...

   Have a good one,
   T. M. Shannon