I'm going to start with my return to martial arts. I love it. I've missed it. I'm so happy to be training and teaching again. I honestly wish I could do it more, but there just aren't enough hours in the day. Perhaps one day (soon, I hope), I'll be able to reduce me hours in the 8-5 and start doing the things I really love more. I wish all offices everywhere turn to a results-based wage instead of a time-based wage. One day, perhaps, we'll get there.
This week, I watched the first episode of HBO's The Last of Us and I have thoughts. I'm going to save that for another blog, though, if they'll have me back. Near as I can tell from the first episode, though, this is one video game adaptation that was done exceedingly well. While I do have some grumbles, particularly as they relate to Joel's character, but overall, it was so very good. Pedro Pascal was not my first choice (though I was not as hesitant about him as I was when I first heard the casting for Geralt in The Witcher), he is a brilliant actor and he does very well in the role. Bella Ramsay as Ellie was exceptional. She portrayed the cursing young teen perfectly. So perfectly, in fact, that I had a good belly laugh when we first meet her. I will be eagerly continuing the watch.
But, like I said, I'd like to expound on that further elsewhere.
If you're wondering about my writing, The Lioness of Shara Mountain is now off and away to beta reader 3. There will be one more edit and then I will be publishing it. Right now, my mind is on what kind of book cover I would like for this one. I have a couple of ideas. Since I am leaning towards publishing this as a web novel on an online platform, I will have to come up with the cover myself. I'm thinking that maybe I'll do a painting on canvas and use that, but first I have to do a couple of mock-ups to see which design I'll be actually painting. I'm not sure yet. I've got a little time, so we'll see.
I've not quite decided how I'll have this published, yet, so it might be I try the traditional route. That's looking less and less likely, though.
With TLoSM all written and off, there are a number of other projects that I have on the go or waiting for a start that I should get to. I'm not sure which of these I want to resume/start. There are just so many. I'm thinking I should start the third and final book of The Avalon Series... which still doesn't have a proper name. Once the series is done and written, I can start shopping it. I don't really want to do that until it's all complete. You know, just in case. I'd hate to have the first two books published and then something happen and readers never get to read the end of the story. Once that's complete I have a new story begging for attention, but I think I'll return to rewriting The Great Man series. I've done the first three books, as I recall. It's the last three that need rewrites. Cai has been whispering to me again, and so I think I ought to finish rewriting his story. I should get it all done, as the first book, Soldier, is on submission right now. If a miracle happens and it's accepted, I would like to have the series done as much as possible before the first edits roll in.
For now, though, as is tradition when I've finished a story, I'm giving myself the rest of the month off... or as much of the month as it takes for my third beta reader to get back to me.
Oh, and Sunday we streamed the first episode of Nights at the Round Table. It was fun, though it started with a whole bunch of technical issues I needed to iron out. We got there in the end. I am wildly out of hosting practice, so it was a little awkward on my end, but it'll get better as we go along. As long as I can continue to get panellists! I've missed chatting nerdy books with friends! The episode will go up on our YouTube channel Sunday the 29th. I'm kinda nervous about this.
And that's where I'm at this week. Tonight I'm going home to continue working on my crafting stuff, and I think I'll rewatch the first episode of TLoU.
Ciao!