I knew I had been in active here for a while, but I did not realize just how long. Fail. My digestion is now back as it should be, at least, and the fourth book in the M series is now up for sale:
The War of M was seemingly won, but at a terrible cost. With millions dead, and the Northern Hemisphere a wasteland, rebuilding will take decades.
What few know is that the war is not yet over. Thorvald might be dead, but the creature that created him remains alive and well, and is determined to traverse the gap between the Void and Earth. Earth, however, is not the only dimension it threatens, and humanity has gained itself some rather strange allies. Airships from another world that plow the skies bring what hope may be found, while ancient gods wake from their long slumber.
Among them, but not of them, walks one who should never have existed: an abomination broken at the moment of her birth. Scarred in mind, body, and soul, she has the potential to defeat their foe — if her telepathic allies can glue all the fractured segments of her self into something whole, before it’s too late.
I am hard at work editing book number five, but now I might have the energy for more short stories (I hope). I live in Washington State and am avoiding the outside world even more than usual, because as a former long-term smoker I would really rather avoid the coronavirus (I also have a housemate over 60 who was also a long-term smoker, so that’s extra impetus to stay home). I’m happy to say there really hasn’t been much in the way of panic here: grocery stores are out of things like hand sanitizer and toilet paper, and streets and businesses are eerily empty, but for the most part people are simply being sensible.
It’s somewhat surreal that I grew up very close to the epicenter of the virus in this state; I know exactly where the care home is. Hearing Kirkland described as a suburb of Seattle is likewise surreal — considering there’s a lake between the two, we don’t really think of it that way. It’s understandable, however, because probably nobody outside of Washington has ever heard of Kirkland (unless they shop at Costco, that is). I have an uncle still living in Kirkland, and he emailed me this picture of his local coffee shop:
You know it’s serious if Washingtonians aren’t going for coffee, because our reputation for being caffeine addicts is a well-earned one. Meanwhile I’m looking at 1-3 inches of snow tomorrow and a low of 17, which makes me very glad I didn’t buy plants yet.
Stevie Barry 