All Cheap Things Must Come to an End

And all free things, too. This includes The Animal Guild, the first book in my series of the same name. The hundreds of downloads have shown me that readers love a bargain (who doesn’t?), and I am hopeful that some readers will love the characters and story enough to continue with the series. Many of you have, and I am humbly thankful. 

The price change will happen by March 1, so “get it while it’s hot.”

But here are two “bright sides” to this economical down(or up)turn: I will soon be offering The Animal Guild in print form for those who like physicality and riffling the pages of a book and gleefully pointing out typos that make all writers cringe. As I haven’t actually started this “hard copy” process, I’ve no clue when it will occur. But doubtless sooner than later.

And the second “bright side”: As many of you know, Monsters in the Territory, Book 2 in my series, has a cliff-hanger ending since it’s the first of a trilogy linked by one arcing plot. But you won’t be dangling off the cliff for much longer because The Marrhob War will be available soon. Look for it! Below is a clip from the cover and the teaser, so for those who haven’t read Monsters in the Territory and don’t want to know what happened in it, Spoiler Alert! 

All free and cheap things may come to an end, but all good things continue.

Teaser for The Marrhob War: 

Continuing the adventures that started in Monsters in the Territory, the animals of the 233rd guild are up against the most deadly enemy they have ever faced—the Marrhob. Will they be able to save Isias from being eaten by Rhob Bhorg? Will the Marrhob declare war on the animals and climb above ground to annihilate them? Or will Corto even believe that such creatures as the Marrhob can exist in the first place? Because if he doesn’t take them seriously, if he and Renard and Hercules can’t convince Bhorg that tolerance and friendship are possible between species, their world and everyone they love will be destroyed.

In Memory

February 21 is my mother’s birthday. I didn’t remember it last year; instead, I remembered her death day in October. What does this tell me? It has been three, nearly four years since she passed, at the young age of 80, and I am realizing that I have been focusing on the sorrow of her passing instead of on the joy that she lived, that she was born this month, in 1930. I realize that I am still grieving, and will always grieve for her, but I need to remember and cherish her life accomplishments, her wit and generosity and warmth.

My mother was a wonderful person, but I am not remembering her through rose-colored glasses; she was a difficult person to please, quixotic in her friendships, judgmental like you wouldn’t believe. She was a gifted artist with a love for brilliant colors, she could sing and play the piano, she was an encyclopedia of knowledge about “old” films, and she possessed that rare quality that made her life never dull: she was unpredictable. She spoiled her children, but I didn’t complain. And, most important to me, she always encouraged my writing.

If she were still with us in this existence, it’s intriguing to think of what she would be doing. Among a billion other things, she would be writing her own blog, tweeting up a storm, and she’d have more friends on Facebook than any of us.

Wherever you are, you rock, Mama. Happy Birthday.

More on Gilgamesh (plus a bit of Star Trek)

Yet more on Gilgamesh:

Last night I couldn't resist watching one of my favorite Star Trek: Next Generation episodes from Season 5, "Darmok." This episode featured Picard telling the Gilgamesh myth to Paul Winfield, the alien who only spoke in metaphors. I always have to get out my hankie during this episode, too. Watch it; you'll love it, and then you'll want to start reading myths, arguably the best source for literary archetypes.

And isn't it great that you can look up these old TV show episodes on Wiki, then access your Netflix or other service, find the episode, and watch it -- all in a couple of hours! The magic of modern technology.

Keep watching, reading and, or course, writing.