On the Homefront

We finally got off our butts and put up our gazebo. We had considered doing this some weeks ago, but the weather turned cold and wet, not exactly the best conditions for that kind of work. In the end, it only took half an hour, thanks to the fact that we left the frame up from last year.

We’ve already used it for our afternoon tea, and I must admit it makes a satisfying break from writing. The weather has also turned warmer, though I've probably cursed us now that I’ve mentioned it. Ah, well, at least the gazebo will keep the rain off!

How I Started Writing

My Fantasy Army Update

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about the fantasy army I’ve been building with the help of my 3D printer. I also asked for input into what my second army will consist of, and the results were clear.

The number one answer was that I should include a dragon, but aside from that, the general consensus was that I should field a mixed army consisting of many different races. I have thus decided the second army will consist of a mix of Humans, Dwarves, Orcs, and Goblins. I’ve also cobbled together some wolf riders by combining two figures I found online.

Eventually, this force will grow to include Elves, but I’m still waiting to find a suitable range of figures. Don’t get me wrong, there are lots of nice options out there, but by the time you reduce them to a 15mm scale, much of the detail is lost.

I have my work cut out for me, but with a bit of luck, I should be able to put them to the test sometime in the next few weeks. I’ll let you know how the battle unfolds!

I'm still on the hunt for a dragon figure, but the cover with the full image on it won the survey last week. I've asked Carol to review your suggestions, and she's going to look at brightening it up a bit, and if she can add a shield. Cover C will then take that image, and put it in the circle, to be used for my hardcover books. 

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The First Academy Awards

The very first Academy Awards were handed out on May 16, 1929. The brief, fifteen-minute ceremony was held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, California, and tickets cost a whopping $5.00 (roughly eighty dollars in today’s money).

Awards were given in twelve categories, while only 270 people attended the event. At that time, they had a prize for Unique and Artistic Picture, as well as Outstanding Picture, though the Artistic category was dropped the following year. It was also the only presentation of the Oscars not to be broadcast. (The name Oscar was not used at that time.)

If only the modern Oscars could be kept to fifteen minutes!

Review of the Week

Flames: The Frozen Flame Book Three

Work In Progress Update

This week I begin the actual writing of Enemy of the Crown. The opening scene of a new book can be tricky. On the one hand, you want to establish the scene quickly, but you also set much of the tone for the rest of the book.

For this book, I had several different openings in mind. They all contained the same details, but each had its own approach. I also had to consider whose point of view to write it in. Thankfully, I settled on that some time ago.

Now, it’s time to get down to writing!

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