The Writing Hiatus is Over!
I’m thrilled to announce that my year-long break from writing is officially over! (I’ll explain why I went on hiatus in a later email.) I’m diving back into the world of storytelling with my new novel, the much-anticipated sequel to Angel from the Rust. (Right now, the working title is Chorus in the Storm.)
Even though I’m getting back to the writer’s desk, producing a final draft might not come as quickly as I’d like. As a high school English teacher, my work load just got heavier with two new classes. Add to that being a dad of three, and finding quiet stretches of time to write becomes a challenge.
But that’s what early mornings and coffee are for!
I’m plugging away at the novel’s outline (which is mostly finished), and I’m looking forward to writing the awesome sequel Angel from the Rust deserves.
Stay tuned for more updates on my progress and sneak peeks into the story!
Developing the Board Game: Iron Wilds
In addition to writing, I’m also working on developing a new board game called Iron Wilds—which takes place in the world of Angel from the Rust. Currently, my friend and I are in the playtesting phase, ironing out the rules to ensure a smooth and enjoyable gameplay experience.
I’m also developing new artwork for the game. After some research, I found that many people would not support a game with AI-generated artwork. And since most of Iron Wild’s art is currently AI generated, this means going back to the drawing board—literally!
I’ve dusted off the old sketch pad and gotten to doing something I love: drawing. I’ve been busy sketching out the monsters that lurk within the Iron Wilds.
The plan is to pitch to publishers, and if we can get one to pick up the game, then they would take care of hiring an artist. But if we don’t get any takers, then the backup plan is that I’ll do the art myself. Here’s a sample of what I have so far:
(If you’d like to see more of my artwork, considering joining my recently created Patreon where you’ll get full access to my sketchbook as it develops.)
Movie Recommendation: Transformers One
Last weekend, my kids and I decided to watch Transformers One on a whim, and the movie turned out to be a fantastic origin story for Optimus Prime and Megatron.
If you’re a fan of Transformers, you’ll love the deep dive into the planet of Cybertron with all its mystery and lore. If you’re not really into Transformers, it’s still a fun ride with exciting action and memorable characters. It’s the kind of action-comedy that I really enjoy, and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for an entertaining film to watch with your family.
What I found on the Internet: Warrior Dinosaurs
For those who enjoy animated shorts, I recommend checking out the Sauria series by the multi-talented animator David Armsby. This three-episode series features a primordial world of dinosaurs and dinosaur-like humanoids with kingdoms and warring tribes.
The world drew me in right from the start, and the stories (although short) pack a punch at the end. However, a word of caution: the content is quite violent (similar to the movie Gladiator).
If you’re interested in getting a behind-the-scenes look at a talented artist’s creative process, Armsby has plenty of making-of and world building videos that I found fascinating.