The Journal of Michael Merriam

I know, I haven't been posting as much as I usually do. Here's the writing news, for those of you playing the home game:

Short Story Collection: It now has a title, Shimmers & Shadows. I have approved the cover art sketches that tiny_wings came up with. I have received blurbs from hatfield13, hilarymoonmurph, and wordswoman. The stories are selected, but the actual order they will appear has not been decided.

Last Car to Annwn Station: Needs a little bit of stuff concerning the antagonists added in the diary entries Fay writes on the walls of her room. Then it will need a copy edit pass and a synopsis. I expect to begin submitting it in late March or early April.

Old Blood's Fate: The broken first novel is probably going to go out to readers. I think it is broken beyond repair, but I am cognizant of the fact that I am also a terrible judge of my own work.

The Next Novel Project: The editor at a small press magazine I've worked with in the past is now publishing books, and has asked me for a full novel (on spec, no guarantees) concerning a character of mine that has appeared in his magazine. It's just as well I was planning to write Into This Land next.

Short Story Projects: I realized that I don't actually have to finish any of the short stories I have in various states of disarray right now. I can go ahead and get to work on another novel if I want. That said, I'm pretty excited about three pieces I'm working on right now, two of which seem to be psychopomp stories. The other is an urban fantasy/hard-boiled detective story that's threatening to go off and be another novel.

Other Novels I have one at the one-third point, another mostly outlined, and a third in the vague concept stage.

I have plenty of projects to keep me busy for the next couple of years.