As many of you following me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram know, I didn’t make my deadline of 31 October 2019. I’ve been delayed through a series of unfortunate events. This is probably why it is important to work harder through the first few months than towards the end, to make allowance for life and the curve balls it throws you.
As an update to what I had published on Instagram, my wife’s torn ligament in her ankle is still healing. I have spent the last few weeks picking up the slack in terms of domestic house work. We usually do things together and take turns with chores, but I went full-scale househusband in this time.
It was also my son’s time for school assessments over the last two weeks, so I’ve been working hard with him to make sure he attains high marks. Thankfully, my daughter has not reached primary school yet, so no extra strain there.
And then about a week and a half ago I hurt an old back injury of mine. Despite this, I’ve been working hard on the house and with the children. As I am writing this, I’ve taken some anti-inflammatory medication and am pretty high. It’s been getting better, as has my wife’s ankle.
I’ve lost so much time on my novel. It’s isn’t even funny how ironic life has been. In the few times I was brave enough to open my laptop to work on my novel, something has always happened to pull me away. I can watch movies, read books, play games, run around naked… and nothing will happen. Let me just open the draft of Silent Hill: Obversion, and the world nearly comes to an end.
I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised really. Every time Silent Hill (in the game’s lore) became prosperous, something would happen to destroy the town and bring it down. Maybe the curse of the town is with me now, trying to stop me from telling more tales from it? Maybe that’s the real reason Silent Hills was cancelled??
Be that as it may, I am continuing. I have written today, as highly medicated as I am, and will continue to do so. Things are going pretty well in the story itself and playing out just like I want them, if not better. As I am writing, the story seems to be evolving better than I had planned it, with things finding a way in there without me even trying.
The Silent Hill: Obversion Newsletter has been quiet while I have been trying to get my life (and financial situation) under control, but I will be picking this up again soon. It’s part of my Task to-do list anyway. After this post, I will be returning to writing the novel, but I am done giving deadlines for when the novel will be published. As soon as the novel is done, edited and ready to be published, I will be issuing a proper launch date. This is what happens when you try and push yourself to complete a novel by setting a release date (never again).
At least with NaNoWriMo, I am drilling away at the words. Of course, the novel will be nowhere near 50,000 words. Silent Hill: Betrayal came in at 166,000, which is longer that an epic fantasy novel! Normal horror novels usually come in at about 80,000 so I can comfortably say it was the size of two regular horror novels. And I am expecting Obversion to be the same.
Now for a small surprise. The Gallery page has been updated! Every since WordPress introduced the new blocks format, the page has been rather messed up. I’ve been working on this a bit, and have also include the Silent Hill: Obversion marketing posters that have been shared on social media lately!! So head on over to the page and take a look.
Anyway, that’s enough from me for now. Chat again soon!
THE COUNT OF CELENIC EARTH
SHAUN M JOOSTE 