The unthinkable has happened. I've finally acknowledged reality and accepted the fact that Far to the North reads better when written in the past tense. It only took rewriting two chapters and wringing my hands for a couple of weeks (along with some good friends kindly telling me) to come to this conclusion, so all … Continue reading Time for a Rewrite →

I've completed yet another read through on Far to the North. This is my first reading after having it filtered through the eyes of a line editor, and while some errors still persisted, the manuscript is becoming nice and clean. This is a difficult process, trying to make 128k words become error free, and it's … Continue reading The, the, the →

Though more work remains on putting Far to the North into a finalized state (cover, book blurb, formatting, uploading, etc), the novel itself, from a writing perspective, is done. The manuscript is with a line editor who is destroying typos with ruthless vigor. A few close friends have read the latest revision and provided their … Continue reading Far to the North – A Post Mortem →

Snow flurries trickle down from a gray sky, the flakes dancing and swerving in the early morning in search of new homes. Some join enclaves of powder clinging to the branches of bushy pines. Others settle onto a vast expanse of white, forest floor. A select few find their way onto a sled covered with … Continue reading Far to the North (Chp 17) →

An arctic hare bounds through loose snow and darts beneath hanging rock. Pausing in the night, it hears a shrill cry. Beady eyes go wide while large ears twitch to discern the threat and location. Another cry comes, louder and longer, and the hare scrambles from the cave opening to seek shelter in nearby bushes. … Continue reading Far to the North (Chapter 16) →

Hinges squeal with foreboding as the three Walkers step into the inn. Tilda looks on with dire eyes from behind the bar in the corner. The lantern hanging above captures her foul mood. No greeting is extended. No drinks are offered. In this moment, camaraderie is of no importance to her—only the completing of this … Continue reading Far to the North (Chapter 15) →

(Sorry if any typos got in, my eyes started bleeding... really wanted to post this tonight before another work week started)   After a short and quiet walk away from Hemmett and the broken telegraph line, Anna and Wynn emerge from the snow laden forest and into Nil with the feeling of accidentally discovering a … Continue reading Far to the North (Chapter 14) →

Anna and Hemmett stand together beside a narrow road. Burly pine trees, fully clothed in ice and snow, surround them as though they’re unwelcomed intruders. Above, gray clouds swell with ill intent. Buried in silence, they listen for the sound of coming travelers. “What does it mean?” Anna asks. “The line being cute.” Hemmett scowls … Continue reading Far to the North (Chapter 13) →

“Hey,” Hemmett says. “You ready?” Anna looks over her shoulder at him, not turning her body away from the view in front of her. Seeing a distant longing in her eye, Hemmett pauses. “They’re leaving now. We should get going too. Our walk will be harder without the luxury of the road.” Anna nods. “Okay. … Continue reading Far to the North (Chapter 12) →

“ArrrrroooOOO!” Anna bolts up from her bedroll with a gasp. Eyes wide and heart pounding, she stares at the inside of her canvas tent with a certainty that all is coming to an end. Wilder is trampling through the campsite in a frothing rage, stampeding in her direction with head down and horns ready. His … Continue reading Far to the North (Chp 11) →