In Romania this week

I’m going to try posting while I’m here in Romania, but I’m not going to promise anything.  I might even post a pic or two;-)

Lonnie

Added to authorsblogs.com

I’ve just been added to authorsblogs.com and you will find the link to the right under blogroll.  I encourage you to check out the site, really good stuff for any aspiring writer. 

 

I’ve let a couple of friends read my work in progress and I’d like to offer this to a few of you reading this blog.  I have about 6 chapters completed and looking for some input.  If you’re interested just drop me a line at lon@widdicombe.us . 

 

There is a really interesting story about a writer, Scott Sigler who is putting out his first novel in serial form through podcasts.  It sounds interesting and I have it in the back of my mind as an option if the traditional publishing system doesn’t work for me.  You can find the story at this link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89220417

A couple of side notes

Two real quick things.

First, John Hemry, (aka Jack Campbell) has just posted the first chapter of “The Lost Fleet: Valiant” at his web site.  Just click on the cover and chapter one pops up.  This is currently my favorite book series and I can’t recommend the first three book high enough.  I’ll let you know more after I finish reading the new chapter.  His web site is on the right side, under blog roll.

Second, I just had two thing go bad and it shows you the difference between Apple and Microsoft.  My XBOX 360 got the 3 red rings of death, knew that was just a matter of time, and customer care was a disaster. after an hour on the phone 2 unneeded transfers and a promise to send out a shipping box, I have no confidence I’m going to get any help.  It’s been 10 days and no box and they said I had to have it there in 20 days or they would cancel the repair.  I’m glad I have a Wii.  3 days later my MacBook Pro had a firmware upgrade go back; I think I screwed it up.  But, I called Applecare in Germany, (I’m stationed here in the Army) and asked for english.  He switched mid sentence and within 10 minutes we had gone through all the trouble shooting he could think of.  He referred me to two apple stores, one right down the road so I headed there.  15 minutes after walking in the door I had a repair slip in hand for a new logic board and a one week turn around promised.  With Applecare the whole thing is free of charge, (that’s about 800 Euros or $1300), thank you Apple.

I know this post is a little off subject, but I just wanted everybody to know Apple rocks and Microsoft needs some serious customer service help.

Lonnie

After Vacation blog post

     Sorry I haven’t written a post in a while.  I’ve been on vacation for the last week, and touring around Europe has left me too tired to do much blogging.  The good news is, I had a couple of days to write and I’m now up to 65 pages.  My neighbor gave me some good feedback and is actively pestering me for more.  She reads way to fast so I have no hope of keeping ahead of her.

     The last thing I completed was a deadly fight scene between the two lost soldiers and a group of impresser.  It really went in a different direction then I had envisioned originally.  I was thinking of making these two character my comic relief but as I was writing the scenes, one of the character seemed to take on a new personality and I just went with it.  I think it works and is believable because of the stuff he sees and what he goes through would make any real person change. 

     I’ve always heard and I have seen on a couple of occasion the truth that you can’t judge a person in training.  History is full of mild mannered people emerging as great soldiers and superior leader.  Just look at Audie Murphy of Alvin York as a couple of examples.  I’ve seen two lieutenants that were completely uninspiring when they first showed up to their unit and both deployed to Iraq shortly after arriving.  Both blossomed there and where fantastic battlefield leader.  So taking my character through a crucible and having him emerge changed and better somehow seemed to be the right thing to do.

     I’m having trouble getting focused back on the main characters and story line now though.  I wrote the other story line for about two weeks so I’m having a little bit of an issue getting refocused.  I will try again on Tuesday, hopefully I can get focused and shutout some distractions.

Lonnie