Blog Post No. 485
I’m racing to the finish line with the Snow from a Distant Sky, the fifth and potentially final novella in my Synthetic Albatross Series (at least for now). There is still a lot to do in order to get it out in April. As it’s currently looking, it may be released closer to the middle or end of the month instead of at the start like I’d planned. Right now, I have a couple last edits to do (including reading it out loud to myself which takes time and isn’t very fun). Then, I have to do the layout, which is pretty quick, but takes a dedicated couple days.
The cover is done, which is super exciting. I should say, the cover image is done. I still have to add the title and write up the back cover copy. Still, the image is another home run from Glen Hawkes and I’m super excited to show it off in the next few weeks. (I plan to give up the goods when the books are actually ordered. I’ve made the mistake of jumping the gun more than once).
With the pandemic restrictions starting to lift, I’ve been invited to a few events and have seen announcements for many more. It’s perfect timing for the release of Snow, but it’s too soon for me. Sadly, Shock Stock is currently planned for April. I would have loved to go back this year. I think Christian may be going. He’s asked me about doing some events and has been understanding about my hesitation. We did talk about how weird it would be for one of us to do an event without the other.
He’s killing it right now as Christian Laforet and his alter ego C.M. Forest. With a novel coming out June first, a novella releasing imminently, and a bunch of shorts in anthologies, he’s itching to get out to events, and I don’t blame him. We’re long over due for readings at Biblioasis, book releases at Phog, or any of our usual conventions. Since I was lucky enough to work with Glen on his comic, The Misadventures of Bowling Ball, he’s asked me to do some events, too.
Over the last couple of years, I’ve made plenty of plans far enough in advance that I thought we’d be clear of the pandemic by then. So far, none of them have panned out. With so many people vaccinated, I hope that this time, the numbers will stay low, the hospitals will not get overwhelmed, and I can start attending some of these events. I don’t want to jump the gun, though. Maybe in the summer I’ll be ready to get back out there and sell some of the books I’ve been hording. Maybe in the fall. I just don’t know yet, but I’m itching to get back out there. Especially to share Snow. I’m as excited as ever to get that one out into the wild.
Ben Van Dongen 