Where is Mike?

It occurred to me last night (late...very late...far too late to act on the revelation) while I was shining up and putting the final touches on my interview with Alicia Kobishop (author of The Fine Line) that I have been quite absent from my blog lately. I mean, I've been here. I manage the site myself, so I'm the one doing all the posting and whatnot. However, everything I've been posting has been about other people and their work. It's been quite a while since I've posted an update about what I'm up to. That doesn't mean I've been sitting idle. I've actually been quite busy.

There's my day job. It isn't very exciting...not much to report there. I manage the digital operation for a web to print shop with some pretty popular websites filling my presses with work. Need a business card? Anyway, like I said...not terribly exciting. But hey, I've gotta' sleep sometime.

A little better than a month ago, I was able to try my hand at acting. Now that was pretty exciting! It was for a pilot called Rumpel4skin. No...it's not a porno. It is riotously funny though. I brought the bass part to a barbershop quartet and I got to wear a fake mustache! What could be better than that?!?! I hate excessive punctuation. I'm sorry I did that. I'll try not to do it again. I had so much fun it was probably worth the extra punctuation. I got to meet and work with some really talented people too.

Meanwhile...back at the desk... I've been editing Lake of Dragons: Kallum's Fury. It is the second book in the Lake of Dragons series, and I can't wait to share it with you. The story takes place five summers after the events of Lake of Dragons. Maelich has just finished writing the book and Ouloos has entered a golden age of peace and prosperity. Or...at least it should have. Unfortunately, things haven't really changed that much. And when three dead-eyed men pay a visit to the forest just outside the castle at Havenstahl, all hell breaks loose. Well...if there were a hell on Ouloos it would definitely break loose. I suppose the concept of hell doesn't really exist there. It can't really break loose then, can it? Fine, things get really, really, really bad...but hell doesn't break loose. 

While all of those shenanigans are going on, I've also joined a screenplay writers critique group. Yes...I'm also working on a screenplay. I'm in the rough, rough draft phase, but it is coming along pretty nicely. I am learning a ton from the feedback I'm getting from the group. I love writing groups, and this one boasts some very talented writers. It was a huge honor for me to be invited to join.

Then there are the interviews. I love doing them. I've hosted four fantastic writers so far, and it has been a great experience. Getting a peek inside such creative minds is truly enlightening. On top of that, I feel like I'm helping them spread the word about their work in my own small way. I'm really glad I decided to launch the interview segment. I hope everyone enjoys learning about the authors I'm interviewing as much as I do.

Finally...giveaways! Dude! Sorry...is that too informal? Anyway...dude, I have been running tons of giveaways. Okay...not literally tons, but there have been quite a few. I love giveaways! And I have recently discovered Amazon's "Give as Gift" feature. Somebody better stop me! I gave away five Kindle copies of Lake of Dragons (the book that started it all for me) in August, and for September, I'm giving away five Kindle copies of Hell and the Hunger. That giveaway is live right now. You can enter it here. Meanwhile, ReadAways.com is running a giveaway for a signed, paperback copy of Hell and the Hunger. You can enter that one here. Wow! I'm not sure what next month looks like just yet, but I'll come up with something.

I think that's it for now. Thanks for checking out my blog. Happy Reading!