If I’m counting correctly, this makes twenty posts in a row, which seems like way more than it is. I mean, I just started this at the end of April, and that wasn’t that long ago, right? Wait. How did it get to be mid-September already? It feels odd for it be almost fall already. The grass seemed to just stop growing a few weeks ago, and the leaves are really coming down. Temps are still running pretty warm during the day though.
I could have done without the come-from-behind part, but I was glad to see the Saints win their opener, especially against the Falcons. A win is a win.
I really need to get back to reading. I was doing pretty well reading about a book a week, but I’ve sloughed off for a month or more, and it feels like that’s affecting my writing production. We’re heading to Ohio at the end of the month for a friend’s wedding, and I won’t necessarily be driving the whole trip, so I may get some reading in then. My TBR list at Goodreads is at 531 books right now and shows no signs of shrinking any time soon. There’s a “What are you reading?” thread over at SOCNET, and about once a week, I find a book recommended there that I add to my list.
And as much as I’m complaining about having too many books on the list, if anyone has recommendations for paranormal books from the ghost’s POV, I’ll happily receive them.
Michigan looked pretty good against UConn Saturday. They finally achieved their shutout (their first in three seasons), and Blake Corum had an outstanding day, tying a school record with 5 rushing touchdowns. Hassan Haskins previously set the record in the 42-27 UM win over tO$U last year. Yes, I’m going to rub that in.
Cade McNamara apparently injured his foot during the three snaps he played in the second quarter. He took two good shots including a sack, but I thought he looked okay coming off the field.
Michigan is currently one of two FBS teams to shut out their opponents in the first half this season. That’s a nice stat. I’d like to see them maintain it throughout the season, and this defense looks like they could. Granted, they haven’t been truly tested yet, but they haven’t suffered a letdown either. We’ll see. Bring on Maryland.
Writing
Only about 3,000 words on Ghost this week, bringing me up to 38.8k and almost finishing up Chapter 13. Keith’s done some haunting. Now he’s hunting a killer using a very vague description. What could go wrong?
I’ve said before, I think, that this feels like a much darker story than I’ve written before. The language reflects that, certainly. In my previous books, I made it a point to avoid profanity, mostly just because, but also because I didn’t think the characters would talk that way. But Keith is different from Scott in DSB or Danny in TSG. He’s had something of a rougher life and ran with a different crowd than either of the other guys. Consequently, the first line of the story has an f-bomb in it. But I can’t apologize for that. It’s the way he appeared to me. And for this guy who’s spent twelve years in prison for crimes he didn’t commit, who’s been executed for something he didn’t do, and who’s been in and out of the jail system a few times to drop a few cuss words here and there? It makes sense for him to talk that way. One of the things I’ve always tried to do is to be true to my characters in the way I represent them. I hope I’m pulling that off.
And I say that not to entice people to read this and see how much profanity I can sprinkle through the story. That’s not my point here. I just want to be up-front with previous readers who may have an expectation formed from my previous books. Ghost of Innocence is different. But I think it’s a good story.
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