SFFSat - June 08

Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday (SFFSat) is a place where a bunch of us post snippets from our written works and also shoot the breeze a little. And before I get ahead of myself, thanks and appreciation as always to those who stop by and leave fantastic comments.

So, straying away from my current WIP, the ever-dastardly and determined to confuse me, Bengaria's War, I had this inane thought bubble that popped in my head. Things like this have been happening to me quite recently, including having some weird dreams to help spur things along. Anyways, this thought/first two dialogue lines about 'dinosaur' just popped into and the rest just sort of came. I've never been one to write panster-style, so, basically, this is like giving a speech ad-hoc style, or storytelling around a campfire. Bear with me...I'm new to this.

This is an untitled snippet, and something I may just write as I go along, strictly for SFFSat. What do you say? This sounds like a plan. Let the pansting (is that a word?) begin! For now, let's call this a SF-ish, Twilight Zone-ish, X-File-ish something or the other...

This is the very first opening scene...

           

“Dinosaur.”

“You got that right. This tech is pretty ancient.”

A general calculation pegged the control room on the bridge to be circa 1960s, complete with round screens and dials and protruding knobs like toothpaste caps and sharp-edged consoles, even an old-fashioned landline telephone in a horrible peachy color was mounted at one end.

“No, I mean really. Dinosaur.”

I looked over at Mason. Judging from his expression, I knew immediately he didn’t mean the outdated navigational equipment on the derelict vessel. He stared at a point behind me and looked like he’d just pooped his pants, in the worst way possible. He even stood funny.

If you are interested in participating in next weeks SFFSat, just click HERE, and follow the rules. Sign up is open every Wednesday - and if you're on Twitter, use the #SFFSat hashtag.

Cheers!

5 Years, 4 Books, 3 Novellas, and some Shorts later...

Well, I couldn't let the year progress any further without some mention of where I am right now. Where? It's like the title to this post says and then some: 5 years writing, 2 publishers, 4 books, 3 novellas and some short stories later...and, wait for it...lots more to come since the ideas keep a-coming!

My journey began early 2008, with a promise to myself and a new year's resolution on the beach among friends. One insisted we write down a list of the 200 things we most wanted to do. Well, I couldn't think of 200 things - just the one thing, and that was to write. Write something, anything. That thought stayed with me like a kick in the ass for a few weeks. I waffled a bit, thinking how best to tackle this whole writing thing. So I wrote down notes on plots, ideas, tooled around with characters, and then I just pushed it aside and instead, ruminated with a few scenes that kept reoccurring in my head.

My mid-January, the very shaky beginnings of The Lancaster Rule formed, and by March, I was hacking out the beginning. By April, I was just about done. But I was far from done, and The Master Key, spewed out of me before I could even finish Lancaster. And shortly after, the seeds of The Eternal Knot germinated in my head. Within 2 years, The Lancaster Trilogy was complete and I was a published writer!

Then I discovered, I simply could not stop writing. Like breaking through a blockage and forging a new tributary to empty out into the vast river of creativeness, it seemed I'd found another outlet to 'vent' my thoughts out. It felt right.

Last year, out came my fourth novel, To Catch A Marlin, and I gained a new publisher game enough to take a chance on me. Shortly after, 3 novellas in the Marlin series. Rounding things off, I also completed a couple of short stories, still seeking their way to publication.

I've also got a collection of unfinished stories (well, one is done) that need to see their own 'the ends' in good time.

Then, after The Lancaster Rule was published, it received a Novel of the Year nomination from my publisher, Champagne Book Group. And then, The Eternal Knot was voted Best Book of the Month by Long and Short Reviews. (Check out the link and my interview with them). Soon after, it was up for nomination as Best Book of 2012. How cool was THAT?

So, not too shabby. These past five years have been busy and productive, filled with fantastic plot bubbles and adventures that have taken me 300 years into the futures as well as traipsing about the depths of space. Heh, and I didn't even have to leave the comfort of my home. Isn't writing fun!

Cheers!

SFFSat - March 30

Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday (SFFSat) is a place where a bunch of us post snippets from our written works and also shoot the breeze a little. And before I get ahead of myself, thanks and appreciation as always to those who stop by and leave fantastic comments.

Still featuring my new WIP. It's still untitled (and so my OCD tendencies are still irked by that), but you guys have given me some ideas. So far, here are some suggestions: LOST LEGACY, THE ACQUISITION OF THE LEVI, or RELIC RANGER.

The story is about a young woman, Ranger Serafina Derwynde, who works for the Acquisition Guild - an agency that procures and retrieves items of historical and human interest. Sort of like an official scavenging agency, with training and university studies specifically targeted to such items of interest and their historical background. Not to mention ways and means to successfully procure them - by whatever means (force) necessary.

Last week, Serafina stumbled across a hulking generation ship - one thought to have been lost for millennia. After a few lines where I describe her searching the database to compare the image of the old ship and determine whether or not it is, in fact, an actual generation ship, we move on to this, another cheerful exchange between her on board interface, Bertram...(By the way, I came up with the word 'solam' since it just sounded cooler than kilometers or whatever-meters).

            A distance counter flickered underneath stating the mystery ship was a thousand solams away, picked up by her No.2 probe.

“Satisfied?”

Ignoring the interface's muttered response, Serafina squinted at both images and with a raggedy-nailed finger, she flicked the corner of the schematics display to let it rotate a full 360º, glancing at the image No. 2 broadcasted. They looked the same.

“Scan it for life signs,” she instructed the AI.

“I tried.”

Serafina expelled a breath with a groan. “And?”

“My signal bounced back...it’s blocking me.”

“What?”

If you are interested in participating in next weeks SFFSat, just click HERE, and follow the rules. Sign up is open every Wednesday - and if you're on Twitter, use the #SFFSat hashtag.

Cheers!

SFFSat - March 23

Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday (SFFSat) is a place where a bunch of us post snippets from our written works and also shoot the breeze a little. And before I get ahead of myself, thanks and appreciation as always to those who stop by and leave fantastic comments.

Moving on today to a brand new WIP. It's still untitled (and that irks my OCD tendencies...perhaps that's why it's now sitting on the back burner while I scratch my head for a suitable title. Anyone got any ideas?)

The story is about a young woman, Ranger Serafina Derwynde, who works for the Acquisition Guild - an agency that procures and retrieves items of historical and human interest. Sort of like an official scavenging agency...with training and university studies specifically targeted to such items of interest and their historical background. Not to mention ways and means to successfully procure them - by whatever means (force) necessary.
It just so happens that Serafina stumbles across a hulking generation ship - one thought to have been lost for millennia. (By now you've probably guessed that it's set way into the future...way way...)

The following is the very first opening lines in the tale...

            “Come again?” Serafina Derwynde scratched her head and leaned back in the pilot seat.

“Shida Class, Generation Model, DS-057,” the onboard AI repeated, pitching its masculine tone to sound mildly irritated.

To the best of Serafina’s knowledge and remembered history lessons, Shida Class generation ships no longer existed—at least, not since the Migration, two thousand nine hundred and eighty-six years ago. A find like this would set her up for life, not to mention the fame it would bring.

“Are you sure, Bertram?” A quiver of excitement raced through Serafina; she envisioned early retirement and a brand new ship with a new artificial intelligence interface—one without attitude. Maybe a small outpost station to call her own. “Run it again.”

If you are interested in participating in next weeks SFFSat, just click HERE, and follow the rules. Sign up is open every Wednesday - and if you're on Twitter, use the #SFFSat hashtag.

Cheers!

#amwriting - Hanging Up The 'Do Not Disturb' Sign

These days, we’re all too familiar with that hashtagging business, so, no need to explain myself.  However, talk to people outside of the Twitterverse, and they give you that ‘huh’ look.  Such is the case, once more, with my orbiting satellites who do not transmit the usual social networking signals.

Experience has told me to keep my mouth shut while #amwriting, because I simply cannot write with someone constantly looking over my shoulder.  It's like picking your nose, you need a little privacy.  But since letting the cat out of the bag that I now do—actually—write stuff, everyone and their cousin wants to know what I’m doing next.

It can be very distracting.

Of course, they want more of the Lancaster Trilogy (I'm beginning to think they don’t quite understand the word ‘trilogy’), and want to know what happens next.  It’s hard not to stamp my foot and throw a tantrum and tell them to…well…you know what I mean.  Seriously, I do have other things to write about.  While I feel quite flattered they’d want more Lancaster stuff (so great for the ego, btw), I have moved on with my imaginary life.

Right now, I’m waist-deep in a new story (Hear that folks? New story) titled To Catch A Marlin.  Each day, I find myself anxious to dive in (barring there's no distractions from the real world—but boy, they can’t seem to take a hint) and hack away at the keyboard to conjure up words.  And like the last work in progress I just completed, I’m noticing I’ve become anti-social again.  Well, more so than usual.  It’s like 75% of my attention is still lodged into the new world in my head, while the other 25% performs the usual day-to-day tasks.  I have been told I tend to ‘wander’ (I never really noticed that until it was brought to my attention) and my temper tantrums tend to rise miraculously too (just picture a protective dog guarding her pups with bared teeth and nasty little snaps).  I've even got the 'go-away' glower down pat (oh, and the growl).

Of course, I’m not really conscious of these occurrences (it could be PMS too—just saying), especially when I’m only utilizing 25% of my brain.  I mean, seriously, there’s multitasking, and then there's micro-multitasking.  Jeez, I can’t do everything and be aware I’m doing it!  Hubby has learned to read the signals well (for self-preservation reasons) and quite enjoys when #amwriting.  He can surf the TV channels to his hearts content.

Anyway, you do know this is all tongue-and-cheek (not really…kidding, kidding) and I’m sure most of you do, or are afflicted with the same.  Maybe I should do like those construction workers and put up a sign saying: ‘Work In Progress: #amwriting.’  Even better: ‘Disturb At Your Own Risk.’  No?  Too blunt?  #justsaying.

I any case, I shall get back to #amwriting…

Cheers!

T.K. Toppin