Writing updates and resolutions

Here it is, the last day of my "vacation", and I've managed to finish the scheduled writing, revision, and layout in the nick of time (i.e., before the usual work crunch begins again tomorrow morning). That took nearly 2 weeks of continuous effort, but I'm pleased with the results.

My book of essays on scientific communication, Exchanges, is now ready in near-final form. All that remains to be done is:

Finalize the cover (which I hope my daughter Alison will be able to do for me soon). If not, I have an alternative that should work.

Insert the Cataloguing in Publication (CIP) data once that arrives from the National Library (hopefully within a week or two).

Order a couple copies from Lulu.com to ensure that it prints correctly before I expose anyone else to it.

Produce an ePub version for various reading devices. I'm told that should be quick and painless; I'll believe that when I see it.

A Higher Power and other stories, my first collection of short stories, is now laid out and soon to be ready for public consumption. I'm waiting on the CIP data (hopefully by late January) and permission from a graphic artist to use their stock illustration for the cover. The collection includes the murder mystery Blood in the Snow, a novella or short novel that's an hommage (if you're being kind) or a pastiche (if not) of the traditional "and then there were none" style of murder mystery.

My new year's resolutions: to blog more often, and to revise (or create from scratch) enough stories in the coming year that I can publish a second collection next year at this time.

Hey, it could happen.