Every person I've spoken to in words since starting this ill-advised project back in 2018 knows I've been writing my first novel but for whatever reason [1] I've been keeping this announcement from the internet for as long as possible. There's nothing I hate more than sharing my work. It seems like a pretty big jump to go from software development full time to writing full time but honestly there's a lot of overlap. I'm still somewhat exhausted from the last big push in the middle of the month but I thought it might be a good idea to announce what I'm doing and answer a few of the questions people tend to have for me when I explain that this was not a terrible idea.
So, what is the book about?
I think I've botched this question every time I've answered it in person. The book is set in a universe where time travel is possible but not physically, instead people send their minds back in time. Lyra is a true crime reporter who regularly uses the technology to analyze historical murders, she gets wrapped up in one of the last cases that can't be solved with time travel.
What's the current status of it?
The first draft is being professionally edited as I write this primarily to see if the story itself is viable and worth pushing further. I should be getting it back in a few weeks and from there I should have a better idea of what's next.
When can I read it?
When the book comes back from the editor I'm going to start going through and addressing the notes. Things should go one of two ways: it's worth pursuing I'll polish it up and look at shopping it to publishers, or it's dead in the water and I'll clean it as best I can and release it for free or low-cost on my website. If I go the publishing route I can send some beta-read copies out to friends.
Why did you decide to write a book?
I left my previous software job coming out of a fairly bad situation and needed to take a break from code for awhile. I had a nest egg put aside and the support of my partner[2] so the time just felt right. I started the draft for this current project during a three day novel contest a few years ago, while I didn't finish it at the time I liked the concept and have been sitting with it ever since. Figured no time like the present to finish it.
Aren't you a software developer though?
Very much losing my mind at how much I get asked this question. Maybe it's a feature of modern culture where my most profitable interest defines my whole identity but I am and always have been a generalist. I started writing before I started coding [3], I even built my first website to post my early writings on [4]. I've swapped tracks temporarily to the person who majored in philosophy and another liberal art because she is very bad at math. Getting real sick of people slamming me in an uncreative "coder box" because it is one thing that I enjoy doing.
Hopefully that answers all, or most questions people have. I've got a few posts planned over the next few weeks to talk more about the 'how' of writing a book than this convoluted 'why'. Not that I think my process is revolutionary, or even very good. Stay tuned for that, and thank you to all the family and friends who have supported me while I struggle my way through this project.
Fear. The reason is fear. ↩︎
More support from him than myself. ↩︎
I clearly remember being in elementary school and having enough of the social alienation so I bought a notebook with a green cover and sat inside a hedge at the back of the schoolyard and resolved to be a writer. ↩︎
Please do not look for these. ↩︎