…The Beginning

Today I went back to my secret writing spot (well, semi-secret – one of my old teachers from primary school wandered in and recognised me today) and started work on book 14, which I have given the temporary title of The Final War. I’m not completely happy with that title, so I’m just calling it that for the time being. I’m sure that if it ever gets published, the editor will have some suggestions.

On the publishing front, yesterday I sent the synopsis for trilogy number three to my American agent. If he likes it he’ll have a go at selling it to the US publisher, so wish us luck!

~KJT, tired and seriously wondering about that RSI thing now

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The End

Well, I’ve outdone myself at last. Today, in an even longer than usual eight and a half hour writing session, I wrote a ridiculous 34 pages and finished book 13. It took me one month and five days – a new record!

It came in at 202 typed pages, 115,325 words and 25 chapters. I tend to aim for 200 pages minimum when I write a new book, so I’m satisfied. (If you’re wondering, I’ve found that when in print a book generally has twice as much pages as it did as a manuscript – so if it gets published it’ll be about 404 pages long in print).

…Actually, I’m mostly just completely exhausted. I had made plans to take two writing days this week, because I thought that’s what I would need if I wanted to finish it this week. Looks like I get Wednesday off, though I don’t know what I’ll do with it; go to the movies or something, maybe. In any case, the little holiday I’m going on this weekend will feel very well-earned indeed.

~KJT, feeling a little dizzy and suffering possible RSI in her left wrist, and no wonder.

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Book Thirteen Update

Today, during a marathon 7-hour session at my undisclosed writing spot, I hit page 145 in The Burning Death. I estimate that two or three more sessions like that should be enough to finish the book. I am on fire, baby! Perhaps one day in the quite literal sense if I keep bragging like this.

~KJT, being insufferable again.

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Reordering

As of today, previous visitors to the site will have noticed that this is no longer the first page you see on arriving here. I’ve changed a setting so you now see the “About the Author” page first, since as people have pointed out, it’s a bit less bewildering to first-time visitors. The management apologises for any inconvenience and/or confusion this may cause, etc.

In the meantime, I have a question for anyone reading this: would you like it if I wrote more short prequel stories for the site? I haven’t done any in quite a while, but I’ve been thinking that perhaps I should go back to it. Is there a character you’d like to learn more about, or something else you’d like to see expanded? Don’t be shy; I want to know what you think.

~KJT, who is now close to 100 pages into book 13, and slightly scared.

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The Fach and the Fawr

Today I adopted a second rat to be Puzzle’s cagemate. He’s also a male, of course, and where Puzzle is a teenager by rat standards, the new guy is just a baby. The size difference between them is pretty striking, which is why I’ve been referring to them as “the Fach and the Fawr”, which is Welsh for “the little and the big”. So far, though, the new guy doesn’t have a name. I’ve been thinking of calling him Enigma, but I don’t know if it really fits.

Anyone have any suggestions? Something that goes with Puzzle would be good, and nothing too cute.

So, can you guess which one is the little and which one is the big? It's a toughie!

So, can you guess which one is the little and which one is the big? It’s a toughie!

~KJT, whose shoulders are occupied again.

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Back to Work

I have now started book thirteen and am getting through it at an alarming rate. In the meantime, the publisher is currently looking at trilogy number three so there should be some news on that front within the next month or so.

Here is a picture of me aged five, playing with a snake. I remember I was sick at the time, but that snake cheered me right up.

What can I say? I like snakes, and they like me back. Although that could be because I'm hot-blooded.

What can I say? I like snakes, and they like me back. Although that could be because I’m hot-blooded.

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