Author Nation is approaching!

I'm back in Australia for the next few weeks for work, staying with friends near Sydney. Four weeks away from the wife and little guy is tough, and I'm missing out on my first American Halloween in almost ten years - it just doesn't hit the same down here. But I'm making the most of it, catching up with family and friends I haven't seen in months, and I get to stop through Vegas for Author Nation, the world's largest author conference! I've wanted to attend for years, so finally making it is going to be fantastic!

You'll still get the usual catalog giveaway at the beginning of November, but I'm keeping my eyes open for collaborations at the conference. Hoping to connect with fellow authors and bring you more personalized recommendations going forward - books I've actually read and can vouch for rather than just catalog collections.

While I'm here (in Australia), I'm loading up on overtime and staying productive. The countdown to seeing my family again is on, but in the meantime, I'm grateful for the chance to reconnect with people and attend a conference I've been dreaming about!

Book 3 of Wild Green Flame Update:

Section 2 has been my white whale - I've been crafting sharp, snappy dialogue that makes exchanges feel effortless, like the early verbal sparring in Game of Thrones. Watching pros like George R.R. Martin pull it off looks easy, but actually doing it? I fell flat on my face more times than I can count.

I drew heavy inspiration from the verbal duels between Prince Oberyn and Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones and Elaida versus Egwene in Wheel of Time just to name a few. Did I nail it? No idea, but the exchanges finally feel real - like they're coming from actual people with distinct voices and genuine bite.

The structure of section 2 is now solid, and I'm connecting the final pieces before polish. The middle section is always the most labor-intensive for me, but once I hit the final act it's smooth sailing - characters established, plot positioned, just executing the finish.
I'm on track to finish the beta version before year's end, and I'll put out a call for beta readers later with all the details!

What I'm reading:

I'm still working my way through the Dresden Files (up to book 10 now), but I recently finished Legends and Lattes. It's about an orc who retires from adventuring to open a coffee shop - sounds simple, but it's packed with wholesome goodness that completely won me over. A relatively short read that's perfect when you need something cozy and heartwarming.

Until next month
Stay awesome,
Stew