Weekends are non-writing times (also, I need a break from all the sewing I’ve been doing this week) so I’m currently beta reading an SF novel for my friend Bill Ledbetter. Level Seven is the third in a series and I’m really enjoying where he’s going with the story.

I am also steadfastly ignoring the Muse who keeps popping up with SF story ideas, the sodden wench. They’re great and maybe at some point I’ll get a chance to write them, but at the moment I am so damn swamped with work I really can’t take on anything else, much as I would like to.

Speaking of work, I’m now on Act III of Crystal Blade and everything is pretty much heading downhill at a good clip towards the big confrontation and the resolution. For those of you who know I used to be a SFWA Musketeer and own my own fencing epeés, you won’t be surprised at the big climax. I did call the book Crystal Blade for a reason, after all.

I also have the Hidden Empire Vella novella completely plotted out and in progress, and the Paladins of Crystal Vella novella (tentatively titled Crystal Clear) is also taking shape. Surprise—it’s a YA academy Why Choose romance. Why? Because Nicola’s house needs repairs and this is an insanely popular genre so why not write in it? Besides, it gives me a chance to flesh out the Academy of the Elements and Chancellor Toldin (who in my head looks like Colin Firth) a bit more for the master series.