It’s been a while

shlomi on July 4, 2026

Life has a way of slipping time through one’s fingers; it’s time for an update.

Writing: The book I’ve been a collaborator on, Horngard, is off to the publisher. It was a blast working with Elizabeth Moon and, after I post this, it’s back to the manuscript for whatever comes next; she’s published some short story collections, and I hope to be in a future one.

The annual Agents and Editors Conference, sponsored by Writers League of Texas, was an interesting three days. It’s not my first time attending, nor the first time pitching to an agent, but I spent some time people-watching others and soaking in where they were in their careers. My pitch went well, I thought, and I submitted my query + pages for their assessment. I’m going to need an agent anyway if certain projects come up.

On. personal note, I spent a couple of weeks in the hospital, and a couple of weeks recovering. All is well–now. Ah, the joys of aging!

Amid, Among, Between, Betwixt

shlomi on May 23, 2018

H/t to Ashwin Mudigonda for non-commercial use

Just signed up for the 2018 Agents & Editors Conference here in Austin. Last minute. Second year going. Wasn’t going to, but after working on a single query letter for the better part of the day, I might as well see if I can’t catch an agent’s eye. Researching each participating agent and editor took a few hours, but that’ll come in handy as I stalk the Wild Agent at the conference. I’m also gonna do a toss-at-the-buzzer pitch of my larger novel, Last Run, to one or two victims agents that might have an appetite for it. Of course, that means cleaning that puppy up too, before June’s end.

This interrupted writing madly a piece to submit for the ArmadilloCon Writers’ Workshop. I think this is my last year that I’ll submit. I’ve gotten quite a lot out of it but the panel sessions were where I got the most bang for my conference buck. And hopefully I can assist next year.

All this while getting the first “Angels” book cleaned up enough to send to agents. Meeting tonight with one of my writing groups for dinner and last revisions before last cleanup. And find a title. It’d be great if I had something to call it aside from a word unrelated to the story.

Book two in the series is done, at least in first draft. And #3 is already starting to come into focus in my head, so I’m getting character journeys and the larger arc or three sketched out.

And all the above is while my fascination with a paying, full-time day job increases. Doing an application right can take an hour or two for each one.

Life. Gotta love it.