Writing Update

Well, lookie here, I'm actually getting a Friday post up. And on time! Will miracles never cease. xD

Anyway, I'm here because I realized that it has been wayyy too long since I've done an update on how my writing is going. Like, I was checking the posts, and I haven't done a writing update since . .  .May?! I honestly have no idea how that happened. *coughs* Sorry, guys.

So. Anyway. I'm here to make up for that. ;) And give you an update on how writing has been going these past . . . 6 months.

Questions of War Series

 Well, the 2nd book is about to be published on the 1st (sign-ups for the blog tour are here!), and the third book is right around halfway done, thanks to NaNo. ;)

A Question of Loyalty is the third book, and the one I'm currently writing for NaNo. It's the first book I've ever attempted with 4 POVs. And I'm quite enjoying it! It's already at around 33K words, I'm not even quite at the climax yet. So I'm thinking it'll end up at around at least 65K. If not a bit longer.
And since the whole point of doing a post with a NaNo update is snippets .  . . I've included a few below for you. (Below meaning, at the end of the post. ;))

For those of you who have been following my blog for any length of time, you may have remembered that this was originally going to be a three book series.
Butttt . . . I realized there was no way I was going to fit everything that I needed to into three books. So, there will be a fourth one. The tentative timeline for the 4th and final book is 1946-1948.  Some of the characters introduce in the 2nd book will make another appearance, and it will focus on the 4th Sullivan child, Jamie.  I'm really looking forward to this one, because, first of all, it's going to need so much less research! And secondly, I think it'll be nice to take a break from writing about the war. Like someone told me, I need to focus on writing a happy story.

So yes. That's how the series is coming. ;)

In other writing . . . *crickets chirp* Yeah, I've pretty much been focusing on Questions of War. But! That's hasn't stopped me from getting ideas! Ask my critique partner; I've got enough 'future story ideas' to last me until . . . 2020? Yeah, it's pretty bad. But I am planning on writing a Christmas story for the blog this year. And then  I'd like to start work on a book that I've been toying around with for a long time. Think brothers, war, adoption, redemption, and all that fun sort of stuff. *nods* I'm excited about it. ;)

Well, yeah, that's about all. Writing has slowed a bit these past few months, but I've learned to be okay with that. After all, while writing is a huge part of my life, it's not my main focus. But I'm hoping ot get back into it more soon! I have to. These ideas are driving me insane. xD And .  . . I'll stop talking and give y'all some snippets.

*_*_*_*_*

The latch on the door clicked, and the rhythmic tapping of boots across the floor startled him from his reverie. 

“Arnold, get up, let’s go.” Captain Essler, his cap drawn low over his brows and the familiar frown settled on his face, slapped his riding whip on the desk.

Arnold didn’t make move to get up, nor did the sting of the whip across the dark oak startle him. He’d seen Erich like this before. 

Reaching up, he pushed back his cap and ran a finger through his thick, black hair. “Well, now, is there something the matter, Erich?”

Erich’s eyes blazed, and the look his shot Arnold would have scared many a younger officer. “Why must you always persist in acting like this? Why can’t you simply follow orders?”

Arnold chuckled, and pushed back his chair. Taking his time, he stood. “Because, I’m the only one who gets to see you act like this without getting a reprimand. Why would I want to spoil that?”

*_*_*_*_*

As soon as they left the hall, he felt a hand clamp down on his shoulder, and Erich spun him around. “Arnold, so help me, I’m going to kill you!” Erich’s voice came out in a hiss between his clenched teeth. “No, wait, I’m going to demote you to private, then I’m going to send you to the Russian front and put you on the front line. And if the Russians don’t get the job done, I’m going to personally take a trip there and finish you myself.”

With the last word, he shoved Arnold up against the wall, as if to emphasize his point. 

Arnold chuckled as he reached up and brushed off what appeared to be flour on the front of Erich’s uniform. “And once I’m gone, how are you going to explain that you were found fraternizing with the cook, ehh? It’s not allowed, you know. “He cocked an eyebrow and met Erich’s gaze with a smile. “Even for an officer.” 

*_*_*_*_*

Did women seriously like flowers and chocolate? Micah wanted to shake himself. He was insane. But then again, when had he ever been anything but? The bar of chocolate was going to melt in his pocket, but there really wasn’t much more to do about it. 

Making his way out of the hospital, he tried to appear as inconspicuous as possible. However, that wasn’t very easy to manage when you were dressed in your uniform and holding a large bouquet of flowers in your hands.

He grimaced as he saw two of the nurses watching him from, the hospital lobby. In his three years working on staff at the hospital, he had never gone out with a woman. 

*_*_*_*_*

Micah didn’t reply, and Ann wondered if she’d touched on a difficult subject. Despite his teasing and his smile, she could tell the war had taken a toll on him. His eyes, even when he smiled, were shadowed. And a dusting of grey brushed his temples. It almost looked as if snow had drifted down and landed there, leaving the rest of his head untouched. 

The silence stretched easily between them. The sights and sounds of London still amazed Ann. They were so similar, yet so different from America. She paused for a moment and looked up at Big Ben. She’d seen pictures, but they hadn’t done it justice. 

“You’re not in Oz anymore, Dorothy.” Micah’s voice held a smile. “A lot different from Kansas, ehh?”

Rafe would have said that. The sudden realization shot a pain of homesickness through her, but she pushed it aside. “Yes, very different. For one, our landmarks . . . “ Her Voice trailed off. What Landmarks did Kansas have? The sky. The fields. Nothing that could ever compare to the massive clock tower that was a symbol of London. 

But she loved them all the same. “Our landmarks are nature.” She smiled, as images flashed through her head. “Sunsets, that seem to never end. Going on till the colors seem to turn the entire sky into a canvas of lava. Fields that go till they touch the end of the horizon Such small things. But I still love them.” Her voice came out in a whisper. 

 *_*_*_*_*

Across the table, Ann looked up from her food, concern written on her face. “First, you seem so solemn that I’m sure something must be wrong. Then, you don’t say anything, which only reinforces that conclusion. Now, out of the blue, you’re laughing.” She frowned and pointed her spoon at him. “Were you not already a doctor I’d have you taken to the infirmary to be checked.”

The image of her sitting there and lecturing him with a spoon was so comical, he shook his head and chuckled. “Well, let it never be said that Micah Wilson was normal.”

She only glared at him. “I’m quite sure you’ve never been accused of that.”

“Oh, well actually, there was that one time I actually sat down and practiced piano like I was supposed to. Mother came in and remarked that for the moment, I looked every bit the normal child. But other then that, you’re right. I never was what you might call a model human.”

Ann took a drink of her water, and then nodded in agreement. “How could you be? You’re not German. And from what I hear, they’re the epitome of the model human race.”

It was all Micah could do to keep from laughing, which would have been disastrous seeing as to how he’d just put a bite of food in his mouth. Ann’s comebacks were second to none, and he hadn’t had as much fun since David was there. 

*_*_*_*_*