Failure to Communicate and New New Year's Resolutions

I really REALLY wish I had a good excuse for not keeping up with this blog and my other blog, but that's wishful thinking, My resolution to keep this blog up to date fell out of  my mind faster than it should have and I have no excuses for it.

But an entire fricking YEAR?!?!?!! My god, have I been that lazy? Right, that's going to change! I will be writing more blog entries this year, come hell or high water (And the way things are going, that may be coming sooner than later.).

Right, first thing up: My new years resolutions, related to writing:

1. Finish rewriting the first draft of my first Urban Fantasy Novel and finish first drafts of the next three in the same series (that are already partially written)
2. Plot and first Drafts at least two more novels not connected to the series above.
3. A dozen short stories written.
4. Blog more consistently. 
5. Lose 50lbs. (yes, this is a writing resolution)

That first goal is my main goal for this year. The series is the Merlin Chronicles, a urban fantasy series. I have one completed first draft, and it needs to be revised. The next three novels in the series are between 50-75% completed first drafts. I want to have all four completed this year.

The second goal is a little more open-ended. I have three partially-plotted novels that fit that description, so they are the ones that I will look at first. But if something else pops up, we'll see.

The third is again open-ended as to subjects. Some will be Military sci-fi, but in which universe, I don't know yet.

The fourth is keeping my blogs from gathering dust like they did in 2018. I don't have a set schedule, but there will be new entries here in 2019 and more than this one.

The fifth? Writing is done by sitting in the chair and writing -- exercising isn't exactly conducive to writing. Diet and exercise will have to be factored into my writing schedule and We'll see about it.

Still, 2018 wasn't a total waste. As you can see from the above image, a new Outcast Ops novel is out. Rick and I wrote this and it's doing well. The back blurb reads like this:

NOT ALL ENEMIES ARE FOREIGN

When a ruthless and ambitious government official puts a plan in motion to topple the sitting president, the OUTCAST team finds themselves fighting not a foreign threat, but one from inside the US government itself.

Enter OUTCAST (Operational Undertaking To Counteract Active Stateside Threats)--six ex-operatives from six of America’s most powerful organizations. Each has been unceremoniously released by their respective former employer for alleged misdoings that leave their pride wounded but their essential skill-sets untouched. After uniting over their shared bond of dismissal from the nation’s most elite outfits, the disgruntled spooks realize they can work together like never before to take down threats to their beloved country, a country that branded them as outcasts but needs them now more than ever.

Also, I did the NaWriNoMo again and won by writing 53K+ of a new novel in the Merlin Chronicles series, Merlin's Staff. This story will became the new number two book in the series, and is one of the three I need to complete the first draft.

So, that's it. A heartfelt apology is in order for not keeping up with this like I should have. One of my goals is to keep the dust off of my blogs, and this is the start I hope of a productive 2019!

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Words written up to now (1/2/2019)

Short Stories: 183 words

Novellas: 0 words

Novels: 406 words

Total: 589 words

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All the Outcast Ops novels I co-authored with Rick Chesler are on Amazon and are part of the Kindle Direct program. African Firestorm is here: Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon! Red Ice is here: Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon! Watchlist is here: Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon. Shadow Gov is here: Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon!

In addition, there is a physical version of Watchlist here: Outcast Ops: Watchlist Paperback

For those in the United Kingdom, Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK!! Red Ice is here: Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK! Watchlist is here: Outcast Ops: Watchlist on Amazon UK! and the brand new Shadow Gov is here: Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov on Amazon UK

For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one).

Also, check out the other Outcast ops novels. Outcast Ops: Game of Drones by Rick Jones and Rick Chesler and Outcast Ops: The Poseidon Initiative by Rick Chesler.

In addition, Outcast Ops novels are on audiobooks! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to them free! The audio versions can be found here: Outcast Ops: African Firestorm (Audible),  Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible), Outcast Ops: Watchlist (Audible) and Outcast Ops: Shadow Gov (Audible)

The audios for Game of Drones Games of Drones (Audible) and The Poseidon Initiative The Poseidon Initiative are also up on Audible, or though Amazon!

Please read or listen and leave a review!

Later!

Craig