I'm An Author

For a long time it was a secret wish: something I didn't tell others about because it felt like an unachievable dream. I seemed silly and unrealistic (which I realize is ironic coming from an actor and musician); I didn't think I was creative enough or smart enough and that I didn't have the chops to write a book. That no one would want to read it or it wouldn't make sense and I'd be setting myself up for a catastrophic failure.

Last April, after a recharging trip to sunny LA, I was feeling an excess of creative energy but a lack of time for collaboration, so a new friend from that trip and I started an experiment. We both loved the creative writing courses we took in college, but had spent little time writing post graduation. We devised a writing exchange based on our favorite writing exercise: to trade prompts about once a week and write a short story, poem, and once even a song, based on the prompt.

Out of these exchanges came some great stories and some realizations: I'm a better writer than I thought, I have a lot to write about, and I really love doing it. If it weren't for his help, I'd never have considered taking this on. (I doubt he'll read this or that he realizes I feel this way. On the off chance he does see it: Thanks)

And what is 'this'? Why, the release of my first novel, of course.

{In kitschy announcer voice}
Ladies and Gentleman, I'm pleased to announce the release of my first novel: Venture. Available for purchase tomorrow morning!

Thanks to a Kickstarter campaign I was able to pre-sell 40 copies with some great extras for the backers and feel the wonderful support of my family and friends while I was developing the book. I started writing on Oct 14, 2009 - here we are 4 months, 8 days, and 176 pages later. I feel really good about it and the responses I've gotten from the pre-orders have been really positive.

I've also been feeling the creative energy feed itself. From the development of the first book I've begun the planning stages for two more books in a series, at least two other series beyond this one, and I've started writing a series of short stories that I hope to release as podcasts later this year. These will all take place in the same world setting, Aeowal, and all be released under a Creative Commons license to encourage fan fiction, art, expansion, and collaboration (like ya do).

I hope you'll jump on the proverbial bandwagon tomorrow and visit my Lulu Store. I'm shooting for it to be available by 9am EST.

Dungeony Goodness

In case you haven't seen the awesomeness that is the Year of the Dungeon, you should. Go there DnD peeps; you will not regret it.

6 Months, Checking In

Just a quick note before running out the door today: it's been 6 months since we moved to NYC as of today. We're doing great, I love it here, and John's doing wonderful at his job.

Oh - and 6 months since I quit smoking (yup... that's right... I was a smoker). 3rd best decision of my life.

Off to catch a train...

BOOKS!

As we near the completion of the Kickstarter campaign to help fund the publishing of my first novel I'm getting really excited. I am not a patient person in any way, and it's been very hard not to get everything out before it's really ready to go.

One wonderful thing: the copies from Lulu arrived yesterday. I've been enjoying them, as is in evidence below. They're numbered and signed and patiently awaiting packaging and the goodies to be included with them for the backers.

I've missed you Internets

We have been visibly absent from the internets these last few weeks, living somewhere in the 'real world' (thankfully not this one).

Playing D&D a few times a week, auditioning, J beginning semester #2 as his alter-ego "Professor McCullough", and that minuscule undertaking that is the novel. Venture is almost ready for release - the proof copies are winding their way to Brooklyn as I type this, and after I reward the backers from the Kickstarter campaign I will launch my Lulu.com storefront!

There's also a dirty rumor that I'll be filming something for TV tomorrow... but I don't want to jinx it. Keep an eye on Twitter (if you're into that sort of thing) while I'm in the studio.

So, internet, we'll try to keep up if you do. For now, this is to keep you entertained:

Laundry Haiku

Here's a little haiku I wrote tonight after a mishap with the dryer:

I am a moron
Put new jeans in the dryer
First sin of laundry

Hope everyone's enjoying a good Saturday night. And that their clothes fit.

Sliding into 2010

I've been meaning to blog for awhile - it's been weeks since the last post and it's a habit that must be inforced or it will shrivel and die - but good excuses kept coming up. Christmas travel, New Years, nothing good to say, and then I didn't want to jump over John's last post. Then, this morning, Wil Wheaton wrote a great nostalgia post and it got me fired up to get back into the blog.

When I say the last month has been hectic I don't mean your annual Dec. 25th until the New Year Blitz. I mean all out social warfare - pegging one holiday party against the next for who will recieve our energy and time. Scheduling in naps to ensure that we can meet our militaristic-like celebration obligations.

I wont bore you with the itinerary - but I can tell you that we ended up in Hartford for the New Year to celebrate the nuptials of Ben and Jen Steinhurts; long time friends and a long time couple. I probably spent over 100 hours crafting Jen's wedding dress in 2009 and so was so happy and beautiful. I believe the final count was Dar: 5, Jen 7 (times we cried that day).



We ended 2009 with a champagne toast and entered 2010 watching fireworks peak over the industrial park on the eastern side of I-91; John holding me up I was so exhausted. We decided to stay an extra night in Hartford to get some more sleep and have the happy couple to ourselves.

But the fun doesn't stop just because it's January. On the 5th I celebrated the successful funding of my Kickstarter campaign and announced the name of my novel: Venture Book 1 in the Orla Series.

Yup. It's a series. Because I enjoy the feeling of overwhelming myself with the need to produce.

John's headed back to school to plan his 2nd semester as Professor McCullough (duh duh duh!).

I think later this week we'll take a look back at 2009 and gaze forward into the fog of the future... 2010! (I realize that everyone else did this last week... but we had some unexpected events that prevented it.)