Spring Fever

Hello All!

It has been a couple of months since my last post and in that time I've completed editing the first draft of my new manuscript and am in the midst of going through the second draft. The process of editing has been tricky as I still have sections that don't seem to work as well as I would like. It probably doesn't help that I come up with new ideas, new twists and new ways to mess with some of my characters.

Character development is key and during the first draft my characters were very hollow. I knew what I wanted them to be in the way of their personalities and appearances but it never came through in the first draft. Now that I'm on my second draft the characters are more developed and evolved enough I believe to make someone want to care about them. I have plenty more to write in order to develop them and give them more depth. Honestly, if the characters in my book were on a movie screen I'd have one good looking cast. The appearance and traits of my characters are influenced by various actors and roles they have played. Even musicians influence my cast of characters.

As I trudge along with my new story I am of course expanding my musical horizons. My ears have been introduced to Leaves' Eyes, Vanden Plas, Visions of Atlantis and Sirenia over the past few weeks. I like it! I love discovering new music. I sometimes think I should open up a record store.

Even as Spring arrives here in Vermont the birds and other woodland creatures that show up around my house have initiated their typical nature orchestra. It is nice to hear all the sounds of nature and sure wish I could find a way to drown out the Domino's pizza delivery guy who zooms by the house continually night after night or the awful air conditioning unit from the office building next door. Someone seriously needs to fix that thing.

-Maynard