So, It's Been Eight Months

Hi, this blog is actually not dead.  It may not be interesting, but it's not dead. 

Sadly, I don't have a major list of exciting things that have happened since my last post, but here's a little bit of a recap. 

After being laid off from Helgeson Enterprises (which has since been sold and renamed) last April, I went three and a half months being unemployed, which was absolutely fantastic.  I was able to do some house projects (previously covered in this blog), and just enjoy not having to go to work.  But, life costs money, so eventually I had to get a job.  After several interviews over the summer, I started a six month contract at Rust Consulting in Minneapolis, doing SQL database programming and development.  It's been a good job, and the people are great to work with.  I had been hoping I would be hired on full time when my contract ended in February, but instead, my contract was extended by three months.  So, it won't be too long and this contract will near an end as well.  Rust could hire me on then, or extend the contract again.  I'm also keeping my eyes open for other opportunities, especially any that are closer to home, as Rust is in downtown Minneapolis, and I have a 45 minute bus ride to work every day.  But, it's a good job, so no real complaints.

I have done a bit of work on my Reclamation card game.  It's no longer a customizable card game, but is now a card-based board game.  A lot has changed, and I'm excited to test it out, which I should be doing soon.  The game has changed enough where a different name may be needed, and I'm considering Parable of the Talents, or something to that effect.

While I failed miserably at doing this during NaNoWriMo, I am now ramping up my work on my next novel, presently titled Override.  It is different from my first two, as it is more science fiction and written in the first person.  It also may be a bit darker.  I still have a bit of outlining to do, including considering whether to write it as a standalone book or perhaps the first of a trilogy.  I am excited to keep working on it.

I submitted my fantasy novel Queen of Men to literary agents a few months ago, but got no response.  I am going to try and improve my query letter, and then send out another round of queries, including a bunch of snail mailing.  So we'll see.

I'm sure other things have happened since last July, but, that's all for now. :)