Tag: politics

PGI, 17

I was stuck for a few days. Probably still tired from DayJob. Not wanting this to turn into a long road show, I finally came up with their likely final investigative destination before returning to Aurie. When I realized it would be San Diego, it was one of those “I’m so stupid” moments. This allows me to link this MS to my romance/horror novel, Cursed Hearts (and it’s for 18+). Like many of my stories, it ended very quickly, so what has happened over the last 150+ years of the handful who survived Maya’s rampage?

That city was quickly stabilized under the Mexican Army, commanded by Anton Alvarez’s great-to-the-fourth grandfather. There should still be a stable of characters – heck, there was a proto-Thinking Machine in that book – I can draw on for this next scouting mission.

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PGA, 13 (and pause)

A rare Saturday update, but for a reason. At the post title indicates, I’m taking a break from this manuscript. I mean, 31k words and the plot has barely shown up? I need to let them talk to me, possibly for a few months. In the meantime, as I have mentioned, an informal writers’ group, birthed at Imaginarium, has entrusted me with putting together an anthology that I plan to have out by the end of the year. That is a lot of reading and editing or others’ works, which is not something I have done before. However, I shan’t let them down. So, this potentially emerging religious war goes on the shelf for a bit.

Until then, as you see in the selection below, it occurred to me that nobody ever really has gotten sick in my books, barring Lem’s brief neurological disorder (which incidentally led to the modified angelic body of Ildi). Blown up, sure, but not even the sniffles, that I recall. I’ve been sick twice over the summer and thought, why not? Interesting in that it is entirely possible Pai has never been around a sick human before; a no-brainer for Aurie’s dad and brother, both doctors, but why would a Thinking Machine have cause to visit a sick ward? I know both Earth and Mars take strong precautions to prevent cross-contaminations and outbreaks, but this seems very new to her.

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PGA, 12

Well, now. This is not what I thought I would be seeing. Do I hope that this novel turns into some huge, interplanetary jihad/crusade? Sure, that would be kinda cool. Did I expect cute little Pai to do what happens here? Even given her family, no, I did not. This has me almost at a standstill; not written for two days, three if you count today. I really am at a loss.

I sort of see the simple representation of Ildi as a throwback to an ichthys image. A shorthand for one follower to signal to another.

Special thanks to Pink Floyd and Bob Geldof. Wish I knew how to format lines in WordPress.

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PGA, 11

Smaller segment for going into a weekend. Things get a little odd their next morning and I am still trying to work through the details. Beyond that, I also need to do some research about South America. For ten years and nineteen books, I do not think I mentioned the place once. Mexico gets a little mention in Cursed Hearts and Martian Wonderland, but points south of that? I really have no idea. With the US dead and gone for over a hunderd years, and trade with Western Europe a zero, I suppose I’ll have to extrapolate what places like Brazil, Argentina, and Chile have done to survive.

Saying all that is to imply that updates might be sparce awhile. Plus, I’ll need to focus on the initial editing of our Lemurverse anthology.

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PGA, 10

Pai gets mistaken for a boy. That’s freakin’ hilarious. But, we see that, yes, there is some kind of religious sentiment about Ildi in this unregulated northern town. Unregulated towns and new religions, well, names such as Medina and Mecca spring to mind. Not something that either the imperium or other spokes of the Polar Alliance would appreciate.

Mark XXs. Might be a story there.

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PGA, 9

After a few scenes from Pai’s POV, we’re back to Graf. I’m not entirely happy with the timing and pace of this segment and will likely revise the heck out of it prior to sending to my copyeditor. Still, raws are raws, to get something down “on paper” to keep the story moving.

I take this time to educate a potential reader about Ildi, for anyone who has not read about here in my two short story collections. She sure takes after her mother when it comes to fecundity. I suppose I’ll have to know more about her family before all of this is over; I cannot really imagine her kids liking the idea of their mom being worshiped as a goddess.

Graf has never heard of a strip club. That’s hilarious.

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PGA, 7

These segments will be a small chapter as I was taken to task years ago about “head hopping,” changing the internal monolog from one character to another with little or no warning, so the reader becomes confused. With one one deliberate exception that comes to mind right now, I do not do that anymore. So, since this little bit around the campfires is all Pai, I’ll separate it.

Having a cute gal from a country allied to yours for a century wander into your camp can be vaguely disturbing or, with accent, somewhat endearing. Pai uses that to push them and gets a surprise. Have I mentioned how seriously I, and they, take loyalty?

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PGA, 6

Graf and Pai get their orders, to some extent, and he gets dinner. I touch very lightly on one of Aurie’s most personal secrets. I am still trying very, very hard to start a religious war.

Where they are in Frankfort was/is a real place. I was there when it was being rebuilt and later opened as “St. George and the Dragon” pub. It changed hands and was renamed “The Dragon.” That folded and it was closed for a year or so. Now, it’s called Bourbon on Main.

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PGA, 1, Start of Part 2

Beginning Part 2. And beginnings are delicate things, especially this one. We learn the story has moved on a few years. Then, from their report, that there are some odd beliefs about the Demis and Machines starting to arise. Finally, while Graf and Pai are married, there is the question of Alix. And what a question. I am going to have to tread very, very carefully here to not say or do something that is theologically or morally compromised. At least, more than it already is.

So, I being to lay out just what be going on for the rest of this part of the book. I’ll have to put it on hold once I get serious about that other project.

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Pai-Graf, 11/x

Pai continues to “bite back her spleen,” as Dante said. Thankfully, Alix gets that and tries, too. There’s a little exposition about what the ships they use can do, followed by a very brief visit from someone on-high.

Apologies for the broken update schedule. I am hopefully finally on the mend, now that we’ve an idea what is wrong with me and thus how to treat it. The rest of today should be quiet, so I am going to see if I get these three first to Graf’s home and then at least to St. Peterburg. I appreciate your tolerance.

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