It's the 15th of the month, and that means it's time for the February 2012 current projects post, in which I tell you what I'm working on, and you finally understand why I don't have time for tea. To quote myself, being too harried to say something new: "These posts are labeled with the month and year, in case somebody eventually gets the crazy urge to timeline my work cycles (it'll probably be me). Behold the proof that I don't actually sleep; I just whimper and keep writing."
Please note that all books currently in print are off the list, as are those that have been turned in but not yet printed (Blackout). The cut-tag is here to stay, because no matter what I do, it seems like this list just keeps on getting longer. But that's okay, because at least it means I'm never actively bored. I have horror movies and terrible things from the swamp to keep me company.
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Midnight Blue-Light Special.
InCryptid, book two. Paranormal romance/light horror, modern setting, first-person protagonist. Verity Price is back, and she's ready to kick a lot of cryptid and human ass in her pursuit of a career in ballroom dance. If only the Covenant of St. George would leave her the hell alone... Status: I'm approximately 10,000 words from the end of the first draft.
Parasitology.
Forced Evolutions, book one. Science fiction/medical thriller, near-future setting, first-person protagonist. Sally "Sal" Mitchell is having a lousy day. Month. Year. Life. The first book in the new Mira Grant duology. Status: 80,000 words in, 65,000 words to go, give or take a chapter.
Ashes of Honor.
Toby Daye, book six. Urban fantasy/fairy tale noir, modern setting, first-person protagonist. Because Toby hasn't been through enough. Status: Editorial revisions have been received, preparing to rewrite for final turn-in.
The Chimes at Midnight.
Toby Daye, book seven. Urban fantasy/fairy tale noir, modern setting, first-person protagonist. I can't say much about this book yet, but the file is set up, and I'll be getting started very soon.
San Diego 2014: The Last Stand and Final Fall of the California Browncoats.
This year's Newsflesh-universe novella. The characters in this story may have been on the losing side, but that doesn't mean it was the wrong one. Just the one that got eaten. Status: I'm approximately 24,000 words in, which means I'm 50% of the way done. Conventions are short!
Echo.
Echo, book one. YA science fiction about parallel universes. Sort of Fringe meets The OC. With mathematicians and science, because I'm still me. Status: in outlines, getting ready to write the sample chapters.
Sit, Stay, I Hate You.
Coyote Girls, book two. Young adult horror/paranormal romance, modern setting, first-person protagonist. Having survived the events of Lycanthropy and Other Personal Issues, Clady would really like it if her life would settle down and get, y'know, easy for a little while. Clady is not going to be terribly happy with me, either. Status: about halfway through chapter one, stalled while I work on other things.
The Nativity of Chance.
High modern fantasy ranging across the country, through the wonderful lands of Oz, and through a lot of explosions. Pythagorean philosophy meets the works of L. Frank Baum, alchemy meets modern technology, and a pair of cuckoos meet their destiny. Status: researching.
Chasing St. Margaret.
Chick-lit romance/travelogue, modern setting, first-person protagonist, diary-style. Think Bridget Jones' Diary meets Lost In Translation meets A Twelfth Night. Actually, quite literally, on the last. My dear, sweet, utterly bewildered Margery. Status: finished, rewrites have begun; I'm through the end of chapter one.
Pretty Poison Apples.
The sequel to Nativity of Chance, and that seasonal monarchs book I've been threatening to write forever. Stop looking at me like that. Status: researching.
How Green This Land, How Blue This Sea.
The 2013 Newsflesh-universe novella. Details to come; animal husbandry in Australia is involved.
There are lots of other books floating around here-some finished and slated to be worked on further, others pending getting started-but these are the ones you're likely to hear the most about, at least currently. I'll update this list from time to time, as things move from "project" to "print" and new things take their places on the workshop floor.