Psion Alpha is well under way. Things continue to move forward with Flight from Blithmore. . . errr . . .  A Tale of Light and Shadow. I've been in regular contact with Shadow Mountain regarding cover art and a prequel short story that we plan to release for free before the summer (July 2014) release of the novel.

In the meantime, here is some fun concept art of the Elite symbol that Britta and I are working on for the cover of Psion Alpha. I'm over halfway done with the 4th draft. Once I'm finished with this draft, it's all downhill from there. My goal is 11-12-13, but it all depends on if I can have the book done and in my editors' hands and back in time for me to format the novel.

Those of you that follow me on Facebook already know that I had a great meeting with Shadow Mountain Publishing on Friday. For those of you who DON'T follow my writing posts on Facebook, here's the four takeaway points:

1. They loved the idea behind Super Six. I pitched them the story, characters, and outline of the first novel, and they like it.

2. They said they will never be able to publish the Psion series.

3. BUT they said they'll send Beta and Gamma to a top-of-the-line agent they know at Writer's House and tell him to read it.

4. They want to publish Flight from Blithmore ASAP. They have a meeting with the national board on Wed. If it is approved, then Flight from Blithmore is HAPPENING (new cover and likely a new title). It'll be published as YA fantasy after I make some small tweaks. Characters ages staying the same.

So immediately after the meeting, what book do you think I started working on? Not Psion Alpha, but Flight from Blithmore. I'm getting that book to where Shadow Mt needs it to be to be able to sell it. That means for those of you who have bought it, there will be some big and small changes that happen if Shadow Mt does indeed pull the lever on Wednesday.

After these few changes are made, and I send it back to them, I'll be able to turn my attention to Psion Alpha and get it out hopefully November, but possibly December. But what happens after that?

Well, truthfully, Super Six will probably happen. Why? Because I know that a publisher is interested in it and wants it. My goal as a writer is not just to finish the Psion series, but to be able to support my family with my writing. And to do that, I have to write what I can sell to publishing companies. If a company swoops in and says "WE WANT PSION!" then I will definitely write more Psion books.

I'm not saying that Psion Omega is being put off indefinitely, but I'm saying it may not come out in 2014 like I hoped. It may be put off until 2015. I hate to say that. I hate to do it, but at the same time, I have to push for that goal of writing full time. Fortunately, I've got great fans who I know will understand. Self-publishing as a side business while working full time and raising 3 (almost 4) small kids and doing other stuff with church, etc keeps me dang busy. I'm lucky to have published 4 books in 3 years. I hope to keep up a similar pace. And I don't want to keep fans waiting for the THRILLING CONCLUSION of the greatest self-published series of all time.

Okay, that was a little over the top. But one more possible scenario to consider: Let's say my friends at Shadow Mt DO send Psion Beta and Gamma to an agent, and he DOES love it, and even sells the rights to the series to a major publisher. What if they pull all the books from sale and re-release them over the course of the next TWO YEARS? Doomsday? Possibly if you have to wait until 2016 to read Psion Omega.

Anyway, these are things to consider as my career (very much hopefully) transitions from self-published to publishing house.

(and a few movies whose sequels I would wish away if I could)

Some people out there HATE movie sequels. Why? Do they also hate book sequels? Do they hate TV series that are renewed for second seasons? What is that hate with movie sequels? Good sequels explore character, or thrust enjoyable characters into new situations. How is that a bad thing? Here is my top ten list of movies that should have gotten the sequel treatment but didn't. And then, for fun, five movies that shouldn't have been sequeled.

10. The Incredibles - How does Pixar give us Cars 2 and Finding Dory, but not The Incredibles 2? Can we live in a world with Cars 2 and no Incredibles 2? It's proof that life isn't fair.

9. Kill Bill 3/4 - Because I just don't think you can have too many Tarantino-directed films starring Uma Thurman killing people with a sword.

8. Serenity - Summer Glau with an axe. Nathan Fillion with a script. Joss Whedon directing. Is there any reason this movie shouldn't be made?

7.  X-Men 3 - No, I don't mean X3, I mean X-Men 3 where Bryan Singer directs and doesn't make a crappy movie. In fact, can we just erase every X-men movie that's been released since X2 and start from there? Please?

6. Zombieland 2 - Because the first one is so great and yet self-contained, it seems possible to do another one loosely connected to the first. Same world, completely different actors. Maybe we can even work Bill Murray back in there somehow.

5. Silmarillion - Dear Peter Jackson, never stop mining the Tolkien mythos for stories. The sky is the limit. My wallet is open.

4. Star Wars 7 - Yes I know it's happening, but I want it now, if for no other reason than to wash the taste of the prequels out of my mouth. God bless anyone who died between Episode III and Episode VII thinking that's all there was to life.

3. Stargate - this film inspired three television shows, but never a major motion picture. I thought it introduced enough characters and mythos that it could have been expanded upon in films. Plus, I really liked it.

2. Unbreakable - The story was just getting going. Shyamalan had a trilogy planned. Quit directing crappy films and GIVE ME THE REST OF THE TRILOGY, MAN!

1. Dredd - If I had the money I'd fund this movie myself. It needs to happen. There has to be more.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Every Disney sequel ever made.

2. Indiana Jones IV - There was nothing good about this film. NOTHING.

3. Jaws 2 - Which was basically Jaws 1 all over again. But the worst thing about Jaws 2 was that it paved the way for Jaws 3. And Jaws 4.

4. Batman and Robin - They should have read the signs with Batman Forever. They should have known. Someone could have raised their hand in some meeting somewhere at some point in time and said, "Maybe Alicia Silverstone isn't a great idea. And Uma Thurman. And Arnold. And a really fake Bane costume. How did they not foresee this?

5. Godfather III - Does anyone not agree?