“I have a deadline today right in the middle of a forced vacation at my mom’s. Luckily I’ve managed to secure the loft above the garage. It’s quiet here with no internet connection and just the swish of treetops swaying in the wind as company.”

I posted this to Instagram earlier this week. I can happily inform you that I met my deadline…just about. My story, “Babylon’s Song,” is done! It’s been edited, re-drafted, edited again, analyzed, edited some more, and then further honed until the lean, powerfully moving story of Samantha Babylon–one of the main characters from “The Last Devil”–revealed itself in all its wonderful and heart-wrenching glory. I am really proud of this little story. I say little, but it’s pretty much a novella-sized tale.

Admittedly, this week was probably the best writing time I have ever had, and I know this is a bold statement, but up there on the loft, with no internet or phone, and no one bothering me, with only creaks and groans from the old timber structure around me and nature outside, I found that normally unobtainable writer’s trance I’m always searching for, and I stayed there, writing and feeling my story.

And, at the end of it, when I sat back and exhaled and took off my glasses and rubbed my burning eyes, I realized this thing I just did was like watching a movie inside my head, a spectator to something I couldn’t really explain. And, no, I am not being overly dramatic. I mean every word of it. It’s not the first time it ever happened, but it’s the first time that I felt it so intensely. I’m convinced it’s because of the extended period of no interruptions I enjoyed this week. I have not had this luxury in many years.

Anyway, stories for “Interspecies” have now been compiled and the anthology is being proofread as I write this blog post. Big things are looming in the near future with lots of work in store for us. Remember, “Interspecies” is Kōsa Press’ flagship release. It’s a major event for us. Hell, it’s a major event for me.

So, yeah, quite an eventful week this week. As for my family, we haven’t taken a vacation in over ten years and this one was necessary to preserve our collective sanity. My kids enjoyed it. My wife enjoyed it although she wasn’t too happy with me working the first couple of days. Still, we found ourselves surrounded by new scenery and a fresh routine and a grandmother who doted on her grandkids like there was no tomorrow. Uncle Don even took them on a tractor ride and Malachi thought it was the coolest “toy”–ever.

We went to Rainbow’s End in Auckland, and I loved seeing my kids laugh and cheer until their tummies ached and sheer exhaustion turned them into walking zombies. I took beautiful photos and even a video of us riding the Choco Express. When I tried to do it again on the Log Flume, the invisible claws of Antifun, the Ghost of Bitterness, yanked my phone from my fingers and threw it into the channel where it disappeared with a plonk into a dark, cold watery grave. So, yes, I lost all those photos and videos and I can show you nothing.

I’m still sad about the loss of my photos. My insurance gave me a new phone and I discovered the last backup I had made was just before we went to the theme park. Yep, I am angry at myself for having such fumbling fingers. Now we’re forced to revisit the park to refresh our memories in case they become vague and lost in the fog of life. I know my kids would jump at the chance without hesitation.

And that was my week. I hope you folks have a wonderful weekend. #Art of Fantasy will continue as usual, but you’ll see more personal posts like this from me in the future and about other things, time willing. We’ll have a cover release soon for “Interspecies,” so stay tuned. I can’t wait to show you that. It’s awesome!

Cheers!

Woelf