I started rereading the last post on this blog and it's funny how we make plans that end up going to hell. We published Blackjack 3 in late October and with it came a wave of optimism and raw euphoria that you can feel in that post, but soon after came the crash. And I've been rudderless ever since. I'm working, of course, plotting and doing scenes, but IO is a mountain that I'm not ready to tackle. That bastard's sucking up my time like there's no tomorrow and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. The good news is that I've got a good handle on it. The book is finally in my grasp. The bad news is that it involves taking one of the four storylines back to formula. It'll be worth it in the end, I think Galan needed the new track that we've got for him, but it's a disappointment to have to restart 1/4th of the book.
Part of it is House of Cards. Blame Kevin Spacey. That show's broadened my horizons in such a way that I find it hard to describe. Also Game of Thrones. I don't like GOT nearly as much, but I see something in there that's different than anything I've ever done, and motivates me to try something inspired by it. My partner wants to cut Galan, to drop it in the cutting room floor and leave the fun stuff. In a way, he's right. Galan's story arc is a bit dour, quite morbid, and lacks the sexy fun of Alec and Ev. I get that, trust me. Dropping Galan (and merely playing off him in the other arcs) would make things leaner and faster. But Galan is the key. To me, it's as much his story as it is Mistrals or Canino, or Alec/Ev. To some, I'm talking gibberish, I know. I might link to the last version of IO Episode 1 here, so you have an idea of what we're trying to accomplish. Maybe I'll just paste it at the bottom.
I'm tempted to cut and run, to do the funner parts of the story and publish sooner, but I'm going to fight it. I think it'll be better with Galan's "evil galactic corporation" perspective. Thanks, Kevin.
For the time being, I'm tabling the whole thing. In fact, it's been tabled for over a month. I intend to return to it as soon as we settle on this issue, but right now there's no point in completing it, even though it's almost done.
So what's next?
Two things, first, Blackjack 4 is in plotting stage. We've got a good idea of what the next step should be. Remember that plane that crashed during the conflict with Brutal in the final pages? We'll see what that was about. Blackjack's also kind of bonafide now (with an unreal list of caveats), so it'll be interesting to write about a guy who can show his face on the street and doesn't have to fear having Atmosphero's latest group or even the local authorities. There's also the relationship. We've seen it bloom, then turn to poison, then bloom again and so on and on, a dozen times in Dale's brain. Now it's time to see it in action. A good relationship is hard work, as most of us know, but does Dale know that. Is he ready for a woman like Apogee?
Second, I have a new story. This one's coming first because I'm knee deep in it already. I don't want to talk about it too much, but it'll be something more grounded, but still with the usual Bequer/Hoade sensibility. I intend to have this done in the first part of the year, and B4 in the second half.
Hoade is also toying with the idea of doing a Battle book, based on the character of Ricochet. Don't remember him? Pull out your old *.mobi of Wayward and see for yourself. Fun character with a lot more going on than meets the eye. Imagine being able to control the molecular forces of potential energy...
Anyway, I'm back, and soon, Blackjack will be too.
