The End

Last night, I typed "The End" on the manuscript I've been working on for the past year! It is an odd feeling, finishing a rough draft. There is a mixture of elation, accomplishment, relief, satisfaction, and happiness... but it also comes with a strange feeling of being at loose ends. Whenever I finish a manuscript, I feel a little like Inigo Montoya when he says, "I have been in the revenge business so long, now that it's over, I don't know what to do with my life."Perhaps next I'll take up piracy.Or not... I mean, just because a rough draft is complete does not in any way mean that it is FINISHED, there's a lot of work yet to be done. And more stories to be written. But for just a moment here, there is a void. A sense of "what next?"This second installment in the Turrim Archive clocks in at 117, 423 words. Though I have every reason to believe that this may be the first time ever where my rough draft will actually be shorter than the finished product.In the past 8 days I wrote 11,549 words, which may be the fastest I've written in a very long time.With Derek's help, I came up with a title for the story... and since I am feeling all joyous and generous with the achievement of my goal, I thought I'd share it with you: What do you think? I think it goes well with THE ORB AND THE AIRSHIP, which is the title of the first book in the Turrim Archive series.Want a few snippets? Here you go:   Now it's time to lay this story aside for a short time while I dive into the final edits of Minstrel's Call! But... I might take a few days off, first...