The Veil War

Maps Update

In the comments to my crude, hand-drawn map DMRGrimes asked where exactly this so-called “real terrain” actually was.

You’ll have to scroll out a bit, but all the key locations are there.

I have been less than communicative lately, if by less than communicative you mean dropping off the face of the Earth. I’ve been traveling and working and taking care of family, all of which militate against writing productivity, to be sure. But the honest truth (as opposed to sneaky dishonest truths) is that I was a little burnt out there. Trying to manage all the mundane aspects of my life and produce decentish fantastical prose was getting to be a little much. So I took a break.

And I have to say, it was nice. I didn’t think about the Veil War at all for most of two weeks. And when I did resume thinking about it, there was no longer the pall of dread that had attended such thoughts back in June and July. A whole bunch of things that I had been hung up on are now no longer hangups, and for the last couple days I’ve been happily typing.

Regular chapter postings will resume next Thursday, and I’ve already got that chapter in the bag. I hope to push out another chunk of the sword story this weekend, but no promises on that one. I also have some posts cued up, and I’ll be looking for some feedback from you, the long-suffering reader.

Thanks for hanging in there!

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July 11, 2012

Maps!

I’ve been hearing complaints. Ok, ‘a’ complaint – that the action in this battle is somewhat confusing. Well, there’s a lot going on and it is often difficult to keep it straight myself. So, here then is a sketch map of the general outlines of the battle:

Here you can see the two hilly areas where the Snake River Brigade and Lewis have taken positions. The little thing in the middle at the bottom is the gun emplacements that Lewis happened upon right at the beginning, and then the line to the left is the ravine that he followed to get to his low hill.

The Prince and Odo came in from the left or west. The goblins and other beasties are coming up the ravine, a natural ramp through the cliff. Several regiments attacked the 116th, and you can also see the initial positions of the goblins, trolls and giants that the crusaders are fighting. I didn’t include it, but the dragon would have come in from the middle of the right side of the map, flown along the north edge of the hill, turned north, got shot, and aimed back at the 116th before being drive off.

Another note: this terrain actually exists, more or less I’ve drawn it here. Google maps set to satellite view is a remarkable thing.

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July 11, 2012

Midwinter Day

New episode of the sword story is up. Read it here.

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June 30, 2012

Comcast Sucks

I’ve been without Internet all day (I’m posting this via phone) and this is slowing me down. When I regain connectivity, there’s more stuff ready to post.

In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy the oven-like weather.

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June 23, 2012

Sword the Second

Part two of your bonus story is up – Trade Negotiations.

One note about these bonus stories. I am not putting as much effort into them as the main story – they probably never will be as fully developed. When I was laying down the back story I realized that this one thread had a sort of narrative of its own, and I’ve put a little flesh on its bones. I also don’t want to give away too much of what will happen later, but these stories will provide some (hopefully) tantalizing glimpses of places, peoples and things that will be of great importance later.

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June 22, 2012

Next bit

As promised, here’s some more words. This is the first chunk of Chapter Twenty-Three. (When it’s all up, I’ll smash them back into one post.)

This is probably all I’ll get out today, but tomorrow should see unprecedented (by the standard of the last couple weeks, anyway) productivity. Sunday I’ll be driving back to PA to administer last rites on the suburban, which will mean ten hours of driving.

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June 21, 2012

Locusts!

This is me for the last couple weeks:

Well, the trip to Ohio was excellent up until the moment when my suburban threw a rod.

I’ve had a grand total of maybe two hours in the last couple weeks to work on the story. Which sucks for me and you both. But, I did accomplish some things, and more will be accomplished in the very near future. In a slight departure from my normal mode, I’m just going to start posting stuff as it gets edited and not wait for the full thing.

So, at random intervals over the next week, you’ll be getting chunks of the Chapter 23 and 24, and as well – because I love you so dearly – bits of a bonus story. I will do this until I’ve caught up a bit.

The first bit is part one of… the back story of Lewis’ sword. Read it here.

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June 15, 2012

Slight delay has grown, and become a medium-sized delay

Fun, fantasy, confusion and chaos. Nothing tragic, but events have conspired to keep me from the keyboard. But! Even though I am now three states away from my home, preparing to accompany my wife to her 15-year college reunion, there will shortly be new prose.

Tomorrow you will see Chapter 23. And over the next few days, I’m going to run a bonus series of stories that are related to the events of the story, but yet will not actually ever be part of the novel. They are written already, and merely need a little polishing and elbow grease to be ready for you.

So there it is. Thanks for bearing with me as life interferes with my grandiose authorial schemes.

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