It's been right around a month since my last post and it's time for another check-in on my active projects. This update might appear less voluminous, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it isn't massive. I've completed a couple of landmark tasks over the last month, one of which I didn't think myself capable. I'm really proud of the work I've been doing and am eager to get the best versions into your hands, eyes, and ears. That being said, I recently was informed of some personal matters on the horizon that may easily eat up my time in a way that slows the momentum on certain projects. It mostly means that I will have to be careful and selective about which projects require my attention while it remains divided.
Now, onto the project updates!
Trousers!: The Musical
I have a small update and a big update here, and they build on the progress from last month. The small is that I took a little time in my graphic design software and made a new cover for the paperback version of the script. I've already received the proof and the new artwork looks amazing on the book.
It's available on Amazon here. Before you click away to check out the listing, I need to tell you the big update. Okay, here it is:
I locked in, reformatted the script layout, painstakingly adjusted the music sheets to fit, and made another cover (but thicker) for the Second Edition Print of Trousers!: The Musical that includes all of the music. If you'd rather have that copy, you can pick it up here.
And just a reminder, if anyone wants to produce a performed version of the show, shoot me an email so you can get the cast and crew scripts at a discount.
Alarian Tales
I am beyond pleased to say that the first draft manuscript for Volume I is complete. I ended up cutting the story that was having trouble exiting my brain and will move it to a future issue. That means that all the pieces are in place, and now it's down to the messy business of revisions and edits. For that, I need feedback.
There are a handful of first-round test readers that have already been sent the manuscript, who have been drip-feeding me some wonderful unbiased feedback. However, I could use some more perspectives to get a better gauge of what needs the most attention (especially now that I'm going to be life-busy.) If you're interested in becoming a beta reader for the book, email me so we can arrange that. I'll also need readers for the revised versions; if you're hesitant now, the opportunity will probably still be available for a while and I'll make an announcement when I'm closing the test reading period.
In other Alarian Tales news, I ended up doing all of the digital illustrations for the book. It was something that I was wrestling with, because I often don't think that my artistic aesthetic matches with my writing style in a cohesive way. I would've loved to have professional fantasy illustrators interpret the stories, but ultimately it came down to the usual things: time and money. I didn't have the money to pay artists in the book budget, and I didn't want to delay the book progress for enough time to save up for what I know would be superior images. I made a hard decision which meant more work for me, but it's the one that I could afford on all fronts.
Did they take me longer than I would've liked? Absolutely. Did I hurt my eyes staring at reference images too long? Also absolutely. Are they the best illustrations? To me, no, but art is subjective. But am I pleased with how the illustrations turned out? Ultimately, yes.
Perhaps with a future volume I'll be able to hire another artist, pay them what they are actually worth, and get to be surprised and inspired by seeing my world through their eyes. It makes me hopeful that someone will want to make fanart, because one of my favorite joys as an artist is seeing how my work is interpreted by others.
Anyway, that's all I've got for now. I'll try my best to get another update out in an equally timely manner.
It's been a long time since the last update, but I promise things are moving forward with velocity! It's probably for that very reason that I've neglected to let everyone in on where things are and where they're going. Before I get to that, I have a few personal things I want to disclose because I think it will help everyone to know where I am in my life and what that's going to look like alongside developing all the projects that I want to work on.
I make it no secret that I have and always will have neurodivergence, and I use that term as a wide generalization since I've yet to afford a certifiable medical test that would allow me to use more specific terms with confidence that I'm not stepping into spaces that I have no reason to occupy. With that stated, it has been more difficult to manage in the past six or seven years. I got severe Covid right at the beginning in December 2019, before it was even identified so it went improperly treated, and that's taken a huge toll on my stamina and clarity of mind ever since. It was something that I've been able to accommodate and work through, for the most part. In addition to that lasting struggle, my millennial body has recently decided to start second puberty (to put it in a gentle term for my readers with gentle sensibilities) which has only exacerbated my brain fog and fatigue. I find that my mind no longer wants to rest with ideas for very long, so it's made it difficult to maintain focus on a single project--which is why this update is about to look a little chaotic. You have been warned.
Alaria
Alarian Tales
I am one story from completing the first volume of Alarian Tales, and I've started sending some of the completed drafts to beta readers! (If you'd like to join my beta reader team, please email me with "Beta Reader" in the subject line.)
You can see that I've added quite a bit more material since the first update, including some poetry and song lyrics (to which I have melodies, if ever I make an audiobook version which is something I would like.) I am hoping to get all first drafts finished by the end of March, so that this volume can get it's online release before the summer. That is, if I can find an illustrator to at least do the cover art (and inserts, ideally.) Depending on how digital copy distribution goes, there might be a possibility for physical copies to add to your storybook collections.
The Glimmer
I've reached a bit of an impasse with the outline of the book, so it's taken a little bit of a backseat to the other projects which I think will be easier to expedite. I have certainly not given up on this book! I believe the story I've envisioned is both familiar and unique to the fantasy genre, and I very much want to tell it. It's all a question of how much of the story do I want to tell. While I have a "The End" in sight and it's just a matter of navigating the pieces on the board to get there, the definitive end is so far off on the horizon that I cannot be sure if it's a trick of the eyes. Sequels could be a possibility, but that's so far into the future that it's currently inconceivable to me.
Trousers!: The Musical
This again?! YES. The show that will never die in my mind and heart has gotten all-new cover art to go with it's 2nd edition release on Campfire Writing (digital only at the moment.) And that's not even the biggest and best thing about this release.
For the first time ever, I've made the sheet music available to the public. I'd been afraid in the past to do this, because it would make it incredibly easy for unsanctioned productions or plagiarism of the work, but I told myself that it's been just about 20 years since this Trousers thing began; and if it is ever going to get a chance at seeing a proper stage, this is something that I need to do.
Other Past Scripts
In addition to the new edition of Trousers!, I'm also in the process of compiling a handful of scenes, sketches, and skits that I've written in the past. This will probably be a zero-cost eBook that I'll make available here with my books. I don't think I have enough material to justify charging for them, and I'd rather let young performers have those short scenes for free anyway. I know that there are currently two scripts that will be available once I get the files together:
Grind The Donut
A biting satire of the customer service experience from the behind the counter. Disgruntled employee, Wendell, is tasked with training new hire, Gabriella. 3-6 Actors. Adult themes.
Renaissance Men
A SNL-style skit that imagines the three most famous Elizabethan playwrights having a chance meeting in a stationary shop. 4 Actors. Copious references to the works of Shakespeare and extraneous "eth"-ing.
...and there might even be a secret project in the works that I'm just not ready to announce yet.
...is what I'm currently telling myself, as I sit on a stack of short story ideas and an even smaller stack of ones already written that take place in my world setting of Alaria. Like I've mentioned, the worldbuilding for Alaria started a very long time ago (according to my creative clock.) When I started, part of that worldbuilding was creating legends to build out the unique mythology of the world. Because it was originally for a tabletop game, I wanted these stories to be something for my players to find and learn from. They were designed to be viewed and interpreted by the players' characters who were either residents to Alaria or transplants who are just beginning to explore its history. I wrote them with that in mind, they are introductions to the world in one of the most immersive ways I could think of: legends, fables, and fairy tales. The stories that people had used in the past, and still tell to their children, to help them understand what cannot otherwise be explained.
Short Story Short
My plan is to release these short stories in a volume (or multiple volumes) of small anthologies containing just a few stories per issue. I'm looking to make these stories very accessible, so let's save a few trees and I'll keep it to e-publications until I have enough of the myths to make a decent sized paperback. I'm hoping to get some of the shorter stories illustrated, primarily for the benefit of young readers since I'd really like the books to be used the way I imagined they would be in the world of Alaria—as children's stories. All that said, I'd like to do a limited period where the books are available for free before setting what I hope is a reasonable price for the included material.
The First Volume
So that I don't become bogged down with short story ideas before I can get anything out to the public, the first volume of Alarian Tales will contain these three stories:
The Creation of The Gods and Goddesses
The first myth, outlining the creation of the world of Alaria.
This is a story that I've had in my world lore for a very long time; and because it is not a very long piece, I'm hoping to get some illustrations to accompany the manuscript.
The Ship That Would Not Be Stopped
A pirate king mistakenly challenges Paka, the God of Winds, to a boat race and learns why it is unwise to play with gods.
This is the newest tale that I've been writing, and (at the time of this posting) it is unfinished. I have always been drawn to nautical themed stories, so this story has been a delight to work on. I hope to have it finished soon.
The Princess Who Tried to Cheat Death
The fable of a Lanosan Princess who travels to the deathlands to try to return the living soul of a shipwrecked merchant from the city of the dead; and, in doing so, she learns the price of her altruism.
This is another story that I've had written for a few years, having shared it with only a few other people in the tabletop game that I was running at the time (the party's bard needed material.) It's a slightly longer story, but with a larger scope and grander morals with which to contend.
When I've finished writing the pirate story and gotten the illustrations for the creation myth, I'll post an update with some previews and the release date!
It's been too long since I've updated anyone, online or irl, about my creative pursuits. I've effectively abandoned social media, only browsing occasionally to make sure I haven't missed any truly important news from the friends and family that do participate. I never post anything anymore, and I've never been happier about that. However, it's been really difficult to share my ideas and successes because of that voluntary avoidance—and I have a lot that I've been wanting to share: new personal projects that I'm delving into, updates on past work, and sneak previews of things to come.
Hammination Animations Voiceovers
The distribution of The Dream Hat has started on Roku, and Hell Toupee has reached TubiTv, TyphoonOnDemand, and Mometu for the viewing pleasure of all!
If you weren't already aware of these projects, I've been working with animation extraordinaire, Gene Hamm (known for Gumby, The Smurfs, and Superfriends;) providing him with a bevy of voiceovers over the past 6 or 7 years at the time of writing this. Gene is the creative force behind Hammination.com, which showcases all of his independent work in the entertainment industry.
Hell Toupee was the first project I worked on with Gene, providing the voice of the lead character (as well as some additional voices.) It's been to the Hell's Kitchen NYC Festival in 2020, winning Best Animated Film that year. Check the link in my voice credits and give it a watch or click here to go directly to the TubiTv watch page!
I'm super excited to be sharing my work in The Dream Hat, which is now available to watch here. It's the second project I've done with Hammination, and probably the project where I feel the closest attachment to the material. I have the extreme honor to be voicing alongside the impeccable Julie Newmar, who provides the voice for my character's mother.
There's also another animation in production right now! It's called "Don't Call Us, We'll Kill You" and it's more of a return to the dark, gritty, topical material that I got to know in Hell Toupee. I will say, it's not nearly as campy as any of my previous work and I had to truly dig deep with the voiceovers in this one. It's currently in the animation process, and I have no idea when that one will be releasing but the updates will be here when I find out.
Games for Your Tabletop
Adam (my life-love) recently reminded my that I made a card game once upon a time when he expressed interest in getting a copy for a coworker's Christmas present. I've actually fully designed a couple of card games, and had a board game on the back-burner for about 5 years.
The first game is called "F*ck Everything!" and plays like a screw-your-neighbor style of parlor game. It's got write-in mechanics to personalize the experience, which you *will* want when you start to understand how the game works. Here's the full explainer video:
You can purchase a made-to-order copy of F*ck Everything! from TheGameCrafter using this link:
When I went to check on getting another physical copy of F*ck Everything for Adam's coworker, I saw a couple of other games that hadn't been published. One was ready to go and only needed the shop page to go live. I honestly couldn't believe that I had let it sit like that for so long, and went through the components assuming that I had forgotten to finalize. It was all there, so I went ahead and made "Trial By Combat" available for purchase.
Trial By Combat is a standalone version of a game that would normally use deck-builder mechanics to fuel a versus-style of play (I was particularly inspired by the Pokemon TCG that I played relentlessly as a child.) In this game, you deploy champions onto the field of battle where each champion has a different attack and defense score. You use items to bolster your champion and improve their odds of overcoming their opponents. At the end of the battle, heroes will have risen and fallen, but only one player will stand as the victor.
Trial By Combat is also available as made-to-order by TheGameCrafter using this link:
I have one more game that I'm working on, but for that one I'd rather have more of the assets finished before I share more about it. It's too early at this stage to put any meaningful information out there. What I will say is that it's about buried treasure and the game testers enjoyed it very much.
The Big Book
I started writing a novel. That's the big news and the thing that consumes 60% of my daily brain-power. The working title is "The Glimmer" (which might stick, tbh) and it takes place in the fantasy setting that I've been worldbuilding for nearly a decade. Originally devised for a D&D campaign, Alaria has been a secret baby of mine for almost a decade and contains eons worth of rich lore. This story is the beginning of a new era for this setting, steeped in its old world cultures as new heroes of the world rise to prominence. I'm also writing this with the intention of it being a standalone novel, so I'm not even thinking in terms of sequels or series at this point.
I'm currently working out the plot beat breakdown before I start committing any words to chapters, and am about half-way finished with mapping the story out. Once I have the framework in place it should be a lot easier to delve into the meat of the book and get pen to page.
I will likely start this with a digital release (Kindle, ePub) so I don't have to worry about the overheard of physical copies. I'm not opposed to a physical release of the book if the interest arises—but keeping the cost low for readers is important to me, so it would likely be a limited pre-sale sort of deal.
I'm also planning to publish some previews of particular chapters, when they're ready.
Wrapping Up
That's currently what I've got to share. With the holidays fast approaching I anticipate that there might be a bit of a slowdown with these projects, but I'm really hoping to carry this momentum into the new year. We all need positive things to look forward to—I know these are mine for the foreseeable future, and I hope that you might get excited for them at even a fraction of my enthusiasm. I'll be updating again soon, hopefully with much more that I can divulge.
