Here I am again, and this time a little over a year later. Oh well.

My story To Touch a Dragon appeared in Kerlak Publishing's Tales of Fantasy anthology in late 2007. The folks there have approached me to put out my vampire novel The Eye of the Storm when (and if) I get it finished. I hope to have it ready for them by the middle of 2009.

Tyree Campbell of SamsDot Publishing has expressed and interest in re-releasing the Thran Chronicles books under a new cover, rewritten into only 2 or 3 volumes. I am excited about this new project and look forward to working with SamsDot.

Working still on the other novels, and a story again for Kerlak's 2008 anthology.

On the home front, a new grandson was born in February to my youngest daughter and her hubby in Atlanta -- Joseph Matthew. That makes four by blood, three boys and a girl. In addition, my "son" James and his wife Marcia Miller were blessed with a baby boy, Galen Alexander, in January. I am impertinent enough to call that one grandson as well -- so sue me.

October the 1st I will retire after wage-slaving for 37+ years. I intend to spend the first year doing absolutely nothing I don't really want to do. I owe myself that much I think. Of course, the wife might not think so...

Till next time.

Seems like that's as often as I can get to this blog.

Where does the time go?

My last entry seems so dated now, there is no room here to catch up. My grandsons are growing, healthy and happy, life goes on, the house and jobs are doing well. The only thing that seems to have hit a snag is my writing, more's the pity.

I am struggling with the final volume of my fantasy series. Mixed feelings finishing this project, over 30 years all told in the making. A chapter, a big chapter, in my life coming to a close. How many chapters are we allowed?

In between the mundane needs of my day job and the vicissitudes of daily life in general, I have begun a long, arduous process of study that I hope will lead to a spiritual revelation. In my book Metanoia I began the process more than 15 years ago. Now I hope to finally discover the goal of that study, and be able to comprehend the depth of its secrets.

Creativity is an outward manifestation of a deep-seated need for spiritual satisfaction.

My absence, though extensive, is, I hope, excusable.

I have finally finished my house and my fifth novel. The one is now in use, the other in the hands of my publisher and at the mercy of the whims of fate. There has been a hitch with the cover art, one I hope will find a solution soon so that I can get the book into print.

I continue to work on the last book of the six book series and flirt with drafts for the next two planned novels. Writing is as much frustration and aggravation as it is satisfaction at times.

There never seems to be enough time to do the thousand things that need doing. The house is accelerating toward completion, the new grandchild is now only a couple months away, Drake is nearly a year old, and I'm exhausted.

I spent most of MidSouthCon at my dealer table selling books. Halfway into it a friend of mine, Windsong Levitch of Blue Turtle Trading Company, brought her hand-made crafts and set up on the next table. Her stuff is beautiful, unique, and fascinating. An Ojibway Indian, she's been doing beadwork and storytelling for years in spite of the fact she has terminal cancer and post polio syndrome. She is a remarkable woman.

After a very wet and often icy winter, the house is finally beginning to shape up. We got a late start because of problems with the plans, but now it seems to be progressing very well. The monolithic slab went down in early November and the frame and decking in December. The roof is next with the windows on order, hopefully to be installed before Valentines. With any luck, we will be in the house and settled before the second grandchild comes in July.

After an extended absence, I have returned to the quiet community of Silence Speaks. I have missed the people here and hope they don't hold my absence against me.

I have finished and published my fourth book. It was due to be available by the end of the year, but unforseen circumstances have delayed its release until January. I still look forward to seeing it in print. It is cathartic to have these manuscripts finally published after languishing for nearly 30 years.