If you’re wondering, this isn’t a painting of Jack London. It’s just here to remind me that as frustrating as working on a computer can be…it could be a lot worse!
The Lost Book of Ehlsewhere
Once upon a time, on the other side of an unsailable sea, there was a kingdom. It was by no means “the” Kingdom, but it was a kingdom none the less; with a real king and everything. But don’t think too much of him, he was just a man after all; and besides, he did plenty of that all on his own. Within and without of the king’s court there were two wizards, and while they were both wizened, wise and powerful, don’t make too much of them either, for they too were just men. And of course there was the boy. No one paid much attention to him, but you should. Now, before there was a kingdom, and before there was a king, or even a world to hold them, there was the book. When we say book we have a picture in our minds of a thing made of paper and ink and other such materials; things that the eye can see and that the hand can touch. But that’s only because frail incomplete creatures that we are, we are left with no other choice but to rely on the limited senses we possess. And that is in reality the heart of the problem and the reason this story needs to be told.
Ehlsewhere is a fantasy novel–maybe a series of novels, set in a time and a place that we would think of as medieval. Besides having kings and castles, nobles, knights and commoners, there is even a dragon–eventually. Just like in the Bible, he’s always lurking, but actual sightings are rare. Don’t worry, there are plenty of other evil forces at work that will have to be overcome if Ehlsewhere–and the entire world it is situated in are to survive. At the heart of the story–one of them anyway, is The Prophesy of the Rendering; which is as ancient as it is dire. As long threatened–or promised, depending on your point of view, as it is, most people have come to doubt it’s actual existence. Of course they’re wrong, but don’t worry about that either because they’re about to be shown the error of their ways. The other heart of the story–the much more important one, is how lost a world can get if it loses sight of the Truth. Ehlsewhere needs to find its lost book, just as we need to rediscover ours.
The first draft of Ehlsewhere is well underway, but I can’t give you a completion percentage because it keeps growing on me. My best guess is that the first chronicle is about twenty-five percent done. As with everything else, I would appreciate your prayers to help me to continue writing it and that it would be a blessing to others.
One last thing. I thought I’d try something different with Ehlsewhere–hang on a minute, I’m going to rambler for a bit here. Long before I ever started trying to be a writer, I knew I wanted to be one. The how to do that, to go from wanting to being was a mystery–one that I don’t feel I’ll ever completely solve. But to that end, over the years, if one of the authors I like puts out anything about how they go about the writing process, I gobble it up. And if you told me I had to pick between reading their next novel or the first draft of their last one, I wouldn’t hesitate. As much as I love a good story, I yearn to be a better story teller, and the best way I know to learn is by watching others. So, for those like me, who would like a peek behind the curtain, I’m going to post–chapter by chapter, the first drafting of Ehlsewhere. If you’re interested, or just curious, you can find it under the First Words tab.
The Soldier Sailor
The chronicles of Paddy Taylor Book Two
One of George Washington’s spies has uncovered news of a secret British project called “Zeus”. Little more than the name itself is known about it, but one curious detail sticks out above the rest; Zeus is a cannon, supposedly a very large and special cannon. That’s all Paddy Taylor needs to know. It’s the clue that he is sure will lead him to his missing brother. And it does, eventually, but only after running squarely up against one of the greatest generals—and biggest egos, to ever don a uniform. Before Benedict Arnold betrayed his country, he had the challenge of saving it from an early and decisive defeat at the hands of the British navy. Paddy ends up not only being an eyewitness to those events, but finds himself playing a bigger role in one of the revolution’s greatest battles than he could have ever imagined.
The first draft of The Soldier Sailor is approximately 30% complete.
Bridger
Sodom & Gomorrah
Light, darkness, good, evil, Heaven and Hell…these words don’t mean much in the world we live in. They’re tossed around as casually as a child playing with a whiffle ball on a windless day. At least for most of us; until the darkness reaches out, and evil comes knocking at our door, and no matter where we look there’s not a ray of light to be found. But here’s the thing…that last part is a lie! Even in your darkest of dark hours, all you ever have to do is cry out to the Light and He will answer. Sometimes that answer comes in the form of a messenger; sometimes human, sometimes not. And sometimes that human’s name will be Bridger.
Foxes have their holes, and birds of the air have their nests, but the Son of Man had nowhere to lay his head. The same could be said for Cornelius Bridger; and he’s okay with that. Living out of a backpack and never knowing where you’re going to be at the end of the day, much less tomorrow, that’s just the way things are. Oh so he tells himself until one quiet night when he steps out onto the street and a toothless old man speaks the one word that makes him remember that the darkness reaches out for everyone—even the ones who spend their lives battling it—especially them. What do you do when you’re asked to go somewhere you can’t go, and to do something that can’t be done? If your name’s Bridger, you grit your teeth and say, “Here I am…and there I shall go.”
The first drat of Bridger: Sodom & Gomorrah is approximately 25% complete.
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