It’s that time again.

Mornings are cool. The kids are walking to school. The house is quiet. Coffee scents the air. It’s time to dive into writing with renewed energy.

After taking the month off to spend time with the family, I’m ready to pick up the tale of Atom & Go. It is funny how slipping into the minds of a fictional character can be both exhilarating and frustrating at the same time. Taking time off messes with the flow of the story, but the characters feel so familiar. Like an old t-shirt.

So, how do I move forward?

How do I step back into Atom’s shoes?

To be honest, a little bit at a time. I’m not one of those manic writers who drinks from the well for days before exploding ideas onto the page in a bacchanalian binge of creation.

I’m a steady sipper. I read every day. I absorb every day. I write every day.

Sometimes I write ten pages in a day. Other days I write a single page. The story has to unfold at its own pace.

That being said, I’m dipping my toes in the water for book 3. Atom and company are faced with a pretty tough decision that greatly impacts the health and wellbeing of one of the crew. I’m also toying with the idea of bringing back a familiar face. I suppose options pose a good problem to have.

In other news, exactly one week from this moment I’ll be hitting the road and heading for Manchester, NH. The Granite State Comic-Con lies in wait. They even have a table with my name on it. Legit, no expression here, my name is on the table. I don’t know that I’ll be channeling my inner Kerouac, but I’ll be on the road again getting psyched up to sell my books and talk about the writing process.

I hope to see you all there.

On the home front I’m reading Stephen King’s On Writing. I can’t say I’m the biggest King fan. I find his writing hit-or-miss. But this book is stellar. It may be one of the most succinct books I’ve ever read on the craft. And the fact that he approaches the topic as a humble storyteller and not a god-like know-it-all makes his thoughts much more powerful.

As fall approaches keep on reading, keep on gathering around the firepit, and keep on flying the Black.