I'm all over the place and absolutely nowhere at the same time. I have no project discipline. I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm unfocused.  

Work on the last Chronicles of Fu Xi novel is progressing slowly. I'm trapped at a crossroads. I've got a lot of story material, so much so I'm constantly tempted to break it into two novels. I don't want to do that. Well, I don't want to break it into two main storyline novels. The Chronicles of Fu Xi (COFX) main series will only be four books.  I might break one off into an independent smaller novel, like I did with The Golden Princess. However, what I really want to do is finish the entire series and move on. I'm at a conjuncture where I have to decide and decide soon.

There is considerable back story that has significant influence on the main story. The back story is a novel unto itself, and an exciting one.  If I break it off into another stand-alone spin-off, like The Golden Princess, it will be another smaller novel that doesn't sell.

So much effort, so little to show for it. If I press on with one enormous novel, it's going to easily reach 250,000 words. It will make for a richer experience, but that's too long.  If I leave this material out, it will lessen the experience, with too much "tell not show" in the book.  I'm incredibly proud of the work I did on The Golden Princess, including the audio book. It just doesn't sell the way I thought it would. Its gotten great reviews, and even award nominations. It just doesn't sell. The main novels sell considerable better, and I thought it would be the other way around. 

So what to do? I think I'm going to break off the back story and press forward with a small, stand alone novel. The main COFX will also press forward and the fourth novel will be smaller and more manageable. I am not going to self-publish the smaller novel. Once I complete the final COFX novel, my self-publishing days are over. I've got that t-shirt, I've lived that experience.  If there is an audience for my work, I'm not finding it through the self-publishing arena.  The plan is to market the smaller novel to the traditional publishers, and I have no illusions about that path.  I'll try to make it accessible, marketable, and all those things publishers and agents want to see, while at the same time holding true to myself and my expanded universe. 

We'll see. 

I've been unable to get out and hit the road for more images. Simply too many other demands right now.  I am taking photos, but they are not for the next photo book. 

Hopefully spring will see things improve. More to follow. 

Now it's off to work to earn a living. 

Last weekend I returned to one of my favorite places on earth - Amelia Island, Florida.

The annual Amelia Island Book Festival, located just north of Jacksonville, Florida, happened last Saturday, 18 February. It had been been six years since I last  attended. This is one of my favorite book festivals, and one of my favorite places. The Atlantic coastline from Savannah, Georgia to St. Augustine, Florida is a playground of great beaches, state parks, and places to see.  I met a lot of great people, including authors and readers. I'd also like to shout out to the Amelia Indie Authors for inviting me to join their group. 

The next day my sister and I hiked the seashore in several state parks located south of Amelia Island. The South Georgia/North Florida Atlantic shoreline is amazing, and I love capturing it with my camera.  I would attend the Amelia Island Book Festival even if I didn't sell one book. I enjoy going there that much. 

Here are a few images from my adventure. 

I am sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've got four extensive blog posts in draft and I'm trying to finish them up. FYI, my next book signing is tentatively 25 March back in my hometown of Enterprise at the Spring Festival at the Monument. Hopefully, I'll see you there.