"I climb the great mountain, unsure of what sights I'll be met with on the other side. What meets me is overwhelming excitement when I see another mountain waiting to be scaled--a new adventure, another journey. Such is the dawn of a new year. But, before I go, let me rest here and drink my IPAs and champagne. Happy New Year, world!!!"
-Quote by no one
Welcome to 2024!
We did it, everyone! We made it one more trip around the sun. What better time to share an update about my ridiculous chronicles as a writer than now? Strap yourself in, quell that hangover with some electrolyte-rich beverages, and behold my blog post!
Perplexity.
Let's start with Perplexity, that cosmic horror isekai I first announced way back in 2020 or 2021 or something. No, this book is not some cryptid I'm ranting about, screaming, "I know what I saw!" on every social media outlet. It's real, and I'm making steady-ish progress with it, and I REALLY want to release it this year. However, I have my work cut out for me.
First, it still has a lot of writing left. Second, and more annoyingly, I've wrestled with writer's block for three years now. I'm pushing for the finish line, and right now, my aim is to just get the thing done. I have a very ambitious vision for Perplexity, so I'll struggle as much as necessary to make it a reality.
Lastly, I truly am having a blast with it. It's my horror debut, which is new ground for me on my quest to be a multi-genre creator. And, recently, it's taking a deliciously weird direction, so I'm excited to see what becomes of it when I finish.
In the meantime, here are some Perplexity character bios. Clicky to expandy.
Collaboration novel.
It's pretty much done. I think it'll be my next release. It's called Shrug, and it tackles heavy topics like sexual identity, self-harm, religion, mental illness, and addiction. It has a trigger warning, and if you're sensitive to those topics, viewer discretion is advised.
This story is very unique compared to my current lineup. I believe there's an interesting dynamic in the narrative, something I don't know if I ever would have thought of without my collab partner.
It's important to note that I'll be releasing it under a pen name, because it's a drastic departure from my established style and subject matter.
Stay tuned...
The Integrity of the Super Club.
I have big things planned for my rom-com kinda-litRPG series, and those plans are in motion! I've been working with the illustrator of the previous books, and I have some artwork for Volume 3 at this very moment.
This series is another ambitious project that grew out of my control, admittedly. It originally was supposed to be a single book, for crying out loud! I'm still committed to it, as it's my most popular and well-received story, and its manic energy is therapeutic for me to write. The whole reason why I started it was to take a break from my more serious stories and have fun with writing again, which is something I may always need from time to time.
Wasn't there another series...?
Well, well, well. That would be ANNO DOMINI ~Allium~.
Simply put, it's not a priority right now. I have an idea for a spin-off that will serve to revive it as both a standalone work and another entry point into the story for new readers. Aside from some unreleased artwork and a massive document of notes, I got nothin'.
Standalone books might be my next phase.
The story ideas never stop coming to me, and I'm so relieved that not all stories need to be a series. Many of my ideas work better in a one-and-done format, at least I think so at the moment.
Also, yes...I have artwork I've been keeping secret for these stories! This is why I believe a phase of standalone releases is inevitable.
The business end of telling stories.
With all the fun news out of the way, here's the other stuff!
*sick guitar riff*
There's still plenty to do with the business aspect of my writing, and it's partly to blame for my slower release rate. In order to appease the Gods of Taxes & Revenue, I've been moving things around as far as getting my LLC in order. I also plan to keep updating my website to make it more user friendly and better organized. My Instagram has recently been raised from its grave. Someday, I'd like to get a Patreon going, too. Have I mentioned marketing campaigns, running ads, and doing promotions?! It's a little overwhelming, but I'm a one-man circus, so all I can do is keep trying my best.
The end of a hiatus?
The bottom line: I want to keep some momentum going, starting with my recent release, Autumn Snacks: A Short Story Collection. It was a miniscule release, but it broke a nearly three-year dry spell.
So, without further ado, here's to another year of writing, reading, and being ourselves!
乾杯!!! (kanpai!!!)