The first Sudden Onset Evolution book was actually supposed to be a totally different story. About 10 years ago, I came up with an idea to write a story about an insurance agent who sold Superhero policies. They would cover regular people for superhero related damages to themselves or their property, but also would cover superheros for them getting sued for breaking buildings or cars. That was just the backstory of the thing, it wasn't really an insurance book. That was the premise, it never worked out. It became something that was a fun idea, but wasn't really deep enough for a book. Out of that endeavor Mitosis and Lady Splendid were born. I liked them and decided to write just about them, and that's how the first book happened.
Of course, there were 7 years in between their invention and them being put down on paper. I guess I have become the author that I always complain about (Scott Lynch, I'm looking at you). When I was writing the first I was working a lot of nights from home and would stop working at about 10pm and then just go right into writing for a couple hours. It worked out really well for me and I ended up writing the actual text of the first book in about 6 weeks. I had an outline and knew what I was going to write, it was just a matter of doing it.
Well, I don't have that job anymore and very rarely work at night, so I've become a very lazy author. I'll set aside time and sit at my desk, but end up Googling stuff, or updating software I don't use or shopping for a new laptop because obviously that would inspire my prose. I decided that if work was the catalyst once, it could be again. Now I have an hour commute on a train both ways everyday, so I have started to utilize that time to write and it's been working well. I've written about a 10th of my words goal in the past week or so, and am ahead of where I thought I'd be, story wise, at this point. That's all good. Some of the stuff is good, some will need tweaking, but it's important just to get words down on paper. I've had some trouble finding the characters voices. Holy Mammoth isn't quite right and Splendid isn't as snarky as she could be. No issues with either Powerful Dude or Logix. It would seem that the polar opposites of dialogue writing work for me, it's the middle area that has been misplaced.
So I still have my goal of getting something to the editors by July. Who knows, but I really want to have this book available in August. I do need the cover art. I have an idea I'm in love with, but I can't design or draw, so if you are someone who does that or know someone, let me know. I'm willing to pay some, but I'm able to afford too much for a book that won't net me $100.
So I'm sorry if you are one of the people that have been looking forward to this next book to find out what is going on with NinChick and what is next up for the Slackers and the Quad. It's all here, it just isn't in word form...YET.
Thank you all for your support. Maybe I'll post the Prologue here when I'm happy with it. There is one joke that isn't funny enough yet and I'm trying to work that bit out.
In the mean time, read "A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet" by Becky Chambers. It's fantastic and some of the best Sci-Fi world building I've ever read. I actually red it twice, one right after the other, because I didn't want the experience to end. I wish I had that kind of talent.
-Pauldo
