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
Monday, 2 March 2015
Wednesday, 25 February 2015
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
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
Friday, 9 May 2014
Hi guys,
Yes, it's been a while, and yes I've been distracted plenty. No, it doesn't help it that I'm either slaying demons in Diablo 3 or stealing dragon's souls in Skyrim (jumping onto Youtube to watch Cops: Skyrim, ERock's cover of Skyrim theme, or the next Epic Trailer and Honest Rap Battle of History... hang on......)
Anyway, it's been another uneventful Star Wars Day (belated May the Fourth to you all), namely because the darling other half and the little one are all the way over in Texas for a wedding and there's no Culvers, Samuel Adams and decent TexMex herein Oz... and don't even ask about IHOP. So its just me, the laptop, DI's hardstyle channel and nothing else to do but get on with FSJ.
Seriously, has been a drag lately and I feel like I'm letting myself down a bit, but I'm getting on with Dresden making his way to Caral-Hilde (at last, I hear you say). I will admit it's a struggle to get on with it, what with the story already written and now me ripping out the dross to get to the heart of the story The next big decision is how long until you see the first battle scene, and how swiftly I can bring the narrative to the what I intended.
On the plus side, its a matter of getting there in fewer books, not adding a second part to book four and book five for the sake of it. Oh well, enough of my ranting (and the Hardstyle channel for a bit), I'm going back into Talbdadas.
BTW sorry about the ads. Yes, I know I'm selling out, but at least I've cut out the dating sites for you!
As always, Have a good one!
T. M. Shannon
Yes, it's been a while, and yes I've been distracted plenty. No, it doesn't help it that I'm either slaying demons in Diablo 3 or stealing dragon's souls in Skyrim (jumping onto Youtube to watch Cops: Skyrim, ERock's cover of Skyrim theme, or the next Epic Trailer and Honest Rap Battle of History... hang on......)
Anyway, it's been another uneventful Star Wars Day (belated May the Fourth to you all), namely because the darling other half and the little one are all the way over in Texas for a wedding and there's no Culvers, Samuel Adams and decent TexMex herein Oz... and don't even ask about IHOP. So its just me, the laptop, DI's hardstyle channel and nothing else to do but get on with FSJ.
Seriously, has been a drag lately and I feel like I'm letting myself down a bit, but I'm getting on with Dresden making his way to Caral-Hilde (at last, I hear you say). I will admit it's a struggle to get on with it, what with the story already written and now me ripping out the dross to get to the heart of the story The next big decision is how long until you see the first battle scene, and how swiftly I can bring the narrative to the what I intended.
On the plus side, its a matter of getting there in fewer books, not adding a second part to book four and book five for the sake of it. Oh well, enough of my ranting (and the Hardstyle channel for a bit), I'm going back into Talbdadas.
BTW sorry about the ads. Yes, I know I'm selling out, but at least I've cut out the dating sites for you!
As always, Have a good one!
T. M. Shannon
Friday, 21 February 2014
A competition entry, a couple more chapters, and a bit of a hassle...
Hi guys,
It's been a while between blogs. In fact, long enough for me to find my childhood movie memories destroyed by the remake of Robocop, and subsequent longing for the original - and a wanting a 6000 SUX. But enough of that and my YouTube journeys (School of Thrones is AWESOME), I have some news to share.
Firstly, FSJ is coming along OK, I've fixed up several chapters and have moved onto the second Act. Short of spoiling the story, Dresden is about to leave Kirim and head to Caral-Hilde. While I'm there on the Hero of Talbadas tangent, it is my great pleasure to announce that The Torment, The Shadow, The Heart has been entered in the 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award!
That's right afficionados and detractors alike, I've entered my book in a contest! I'm hoping this is a step up in the world, and that TSH will pass the first round! So fingers crossed guys, could be big times ahead for twists in fantasy cliches, great dialogue and epic fight scenes!
Which brings me to my last point, especially the ideal of fighting all the odds. It's not something I actively broadcast, needless to say there are few health issues that isolate an individual like depressions.
That's right, I mentioned the D-word.
I'm not going to sit you through the particulars of the rough ride that has been my life. But when you're deeply sad most mornings, worried about how soon it'll be until people find out I'm nuts, worried I might be demented, and not being able to have a full night's sleep. But if you want a feel for it, its imbedded in my current works.
I'm not asking for sympathy here, just stating the facts that I fight nearly every day, with only the grim determination to pass every day I come across. That said, I'm looking forward to counting my +1s for my YouTube comments, getting some more writing done again, and possibly fighting dragons in Skyrim (if I can stop driving trucks across Europe!).
So rather than keeping on a low note, I'll let you go on the same old high note. Thus,
Have a good one!
T. M. Shannon
It's been a while between blogs. In fact, long enough for me to find my childhood movie memories destroyed by the remake of Robocop, and subsequent longing for the original - and a wanting a 6000 SUX. But enough of that and my YouTube journeys (School of Thrones is AWESOME), I have some news to share.
Firstly, FSJ is coming along OK, I've fixed up several chapters and have moved onto the second Act. Short of spoiling the story, Dresden is about to leave Kirim and head to Caral-Hilde. While I'm there on the Hero of Talbadas tangent, it is my great pleasure to announce that The Torment, The Shadow, The Heart has been entered in the 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award!
That's right afficionados and detractors alike, I've entered my book in a contest! I'm hoping this is a step up in the world, and that TSH will pass the first round! So fingers crossed guys, could be big times ahead for twists in fantasy cliches, great dialogue and epic fight scenes!
Which brings me to my last point, especially the ideal of fighting all the odds. It's not something I actively broadcast, needless to say there are few health issues that isolate an individual like depressions.
That's right, I mentioned the D-word.
I'm not going to sit you through the particulars of the rough ride that has been my life. But when you're deeply sad most mornings, worried about how soon it'll be until people find out I'm nuts, worried I might be demented, and not being able to have a full night's sleep. But if you want a feel for it, its imbedded in my current works.
I'm not asking for sympathy here, just stating the facts that I fight nearly every day, with only the grim determination to pass every day I come across. That said, I'm looking forward to counting my +1s for my YouTube comments, getting some more writing done again, and possibly fighting dragons in Skyrim (if I can stop driving trucks across Europe!).
So rather than keeping on a low note, I'll let you go on the same old high note. Thus,
Have a good one!
T. M. Shannon
Friday, 24 January 2014
From the verge of Australia Day, and greetings from Talbadas
Hi guys,
Well, it has been a while, but at long last I've gotten the ball rolling with FSJ, and provided I can keep up momentum (and my ear drums can hold out against the hard style onslaught) hopefully I can be getting Halm Dresden out of Kirim and into the Talbadic Legions.
This being a public holiday (to commemorate the day the Governor Philip planted the Union Jack at Sydney Cove) and a long weekend, that means an extra day of writing, provided I don't go out and buy Euro Truck Simulator 2 (sad I know, but is one of the most addictive games I've played this side of Skyrim).
It has been a rough patch since releasing TSH last year, and the issues I had with my previous employment. Lets just say that we all have rough patches, and some have rougher patches than others. But things are slowly coming back together... I even have the urge to blog again, though might be a while before I actually get down with a History of Talbadas blog.
Anyway, that's it from my end, just a short and sweet one to wish you all a good weekend - be it a long weekend, a normal weekend, or if you should be out earning your living this weekend.
As always, have a good one!
T. M.
Well, it has been a while, but at long last I've gotten the ball rolling with FSJ, and provided I can keep up momentum (and my ear drums can hold out against the hard style onslaught) hopefully I can be getting Halm Dresden out of Kirim and into the Talbadic Legions.
This being a public holiday (to commemorate the day the Governor Philip planted the Union Jack at Sydney Cove) and a long weekend, that means an extra day of writing, provided I don't go out and buy Euro Truck Simulator 2 (sad I know, but is one of the most addictive games I've played this side of Skyrim).
It has been a rough patch since releasing TSH last year, and the issues I had with my previous employment. Lets just say that we all have rough patches, and some have rougher patches than others. But things are slowly coming back together... I even have the urge to blog again, though might be a while before I actually get down with a History of Talbadas blog.
Anyway, that's it from my end, just a short and sweet one to wish you all a good weekend - be it a long weekend, a normal weekend, or if you should be out earning your living this weekend.
As always, have a good one!
T. M.
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