Knee status.

Now that I am 7 weeks (53 days) post surgery, I am getting back into my normal routine. Coffee, writing, projects, working out, going for walks, reading, and watching scifi.

The very last thing for me to get back to normal is riding my bike. It has been recommended that I wait until the 100 day mark to risk the mountain bike. 47 days to go...

Back to work...

 

We got another dog! Meet Huxley! That makes 2 dogs and 2 cats! Oh the humanity!

 

Monkey Wrenches...

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later.

I got Covid. 

I was on my first day of vacation. I just got our camp set up, and BAM. I test positive for Covid. We left our camp set up. We were camping with 30 other people, so I didn't want to contaminate them.

Luckily my wife did not test positive. So I am now sequestered in the guest room. 

So far, it's mild. A dry cough. No fever or other symptoms.

So it's fives days of Netflix and cough...

I Lost a Week!

I fell ill on Saturday, September 19th. 

The real kind of ill. I had a fever of 103, chills, nausea, puking,  fatigue, dizziness, fogged mind, body aches. 

We immediately thought it was COVID because I had not been sick in over 30 years. We called the Doc, got a COVID test, and took fever reducers every 4 hours while trying to stay hydrated. 

The COVID test came back NEGATIVE on Wednesday but my fever kept spiking. It hit 103.4 and my doc sent me to the hospital. They took me right in, rapidly took a huge number of vials of blood for testing. IV fluids, antibiotics, and antivirals were pumped into me. COVID, Flu, Mono, Hep A B &C, were all eliminated within hours.

Blood analytics began to reveal more clues. I had an in-office exam on Thursday and more tests. All the combined clues has it looking like a TICK born viral infection.

They took several more vials of blood. Best Phlebotomist Ever! We are not waiting for the results. Aggressive Treatment has ensued. 

Nothing like celebrating your 15th wedding anniversary in the hospital.

I'm on the mend. I've come out of the fog. Only fatigue and body aches remain. I'm glad I had an existing doc that will take a call and render advice at all hours. And a wife to make those calls.

--Now back to work... maybe after a nap.

Summer Writing

This has been an odd summer so far. COVID has canceled all of my normal summer road trips and vacations. All my camping trips have been canceled as well. So we are staying home, staying in. Can't even go on our weekly summer movie dates at 11am on Tuesdays.

I have fallen into a new writing routine.

Instead of morning writing until lunch I am doing projects first thing to beat the heat. That is great for projects, but afternoon writing is not my best time.

I can still crank out a chapter but I miss the coffee. I don't want to make and drink a second pot a day so on Monday I will wait until noon to make a pot of coffee and see how that works.

--At least it's not 100 degrees in my den...

I Moved!

My wife and I recently moved to a new home!

One of the best parts of that move is that I get to build out my new writers den exactly the way I want.

The renovation has begun.

It starts with paint and new flooring. Next week there will be custom cabinets, counters, shelves, my massive white-board. lights, voice control, and even a window-seat for Bailey to hang out and watch squirrels! I even have a new computer system and printer.

I also will have a totally awesome BOSE sound system.

--I will keep you informed!

Rerun: I defeated that Antagonist

Moving...

Posting is going to be thin for a bit.

The wife, cats and I are moving and selling the house. All my stuff will be in boxes for probably six months while we sell, buy and move. Well, not ALL my stuff.

Every author needs a few things at close hand:

• Coffee pot
• Computer
• Cats

Please note that Pants did not make the list.

I am still on track for my writing goal of 1,000 words a day. February was not as good as January. This whole packing and moving thing got in the way.

March is back on track.

Today was a BIG Day

I retired today to become a Full-Time Author.

It is really kind of surreal.

It was three years ago today that I received the very first proof in the mail of my first novel, STILL FALLING.

So much has changed since then. Three more novels, four anthologies, a big pile of short stories and four Audible books.

There has been over a thousand blog posts in that three years. Book signings, literary conferences, newspaper interviews, the creation of Tannhauser Press and The Ventura Theater. So many projects, in so little time. It kind of amazes me all that I got done in addition to having a full time job with a long commute.

Looking back, getting my spine fixed, losing over 100 pounds, getting fit, writing book after book, raising two kids that are fully functional adult human being out on their own...

So now my dream has come true. I have all my time to do with what I will.

--Wow. I think I'm going to Drink Coffee and Make Stuff Up.

Busy days, dammit.

It's Friday and there is a ton of things happening in Wilsey World currently.

Getting things wrapped up at work for retirement.

Working on my next novel, SHADOWS OF THE SENTINEL.

Working on the next Apoc Anthology, SILENCE OF THE APOC.

Working on a Sci-Fi short story submission that takes place in the Solctice 31 universe.

Setting up a new system for writing.

Working on the new Website.

--Making stuff happen.

Sign up maybe win a Million$!

I am have an Email Notification list that I will use to keep you informed of new releases, book signings or other events. I promise not to spam the hell out of you!

Plus you will have a chance to will $1,000,000 twice a week! Seriously!

*indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name

--Fun stuff!

Tuesday Tips: Just do it

If you read this blog you already know my brother died this week.

I always tell people to write every day, even if you don't feel like it. To say I don't feel like it today is a massive understatement.

I hope to begin getting back into my regular routine today. I have already dropped a family member off at the airport today, at 3:30am. Groan... I pick up my brothers ashes today. I get his death certificates and finish the closure of a life. I will probably nap. I will cook dinner.

I will also write for two hours.

The pain that remains from the process of escorting my brother to oblivion will likely loom large into today's chapter.

It has made it easy to know who will be in the dedication of my next novel.

--Lessons in life are said to make me a better writer. I'd rather be a crappy writer and have my brother back...

A good day in the life

Bailey is proofreading my chapter.

Today is looking up to be a good day.

I slept in. All the way to 6:25am!

I slid out of bed and in my favorite red flannel nightshirt and old black bathrobe, I quietly made my way downstairs followed by my faithful cat, Bailey.

I fed him, so he will decided to murder me another day.

I started the coffee and realized I was hungry. There was Bison left overs so by the time my coffee was ready my stomach was digesting Buffalo Meat!

It makes me mighty.

Coffee in hand I sat in my comfy chair and started writing. Bailey of course has t supervise while sitting on my chest. My team of specially trained squirrels were deployed to draw away his attention so I could misuse there, they're and there tomy hearts content.

Later I am having brunch with a group of other authors. There is actually a slight chance we might actually talk about writing!  I am visiting a friend after that and the home to write another chapter followed by dinner and a movie in the home theater.

--Life is good.

So I got in a car wreck...

A few days ago I got rear ended in my car. Apparently I was not as uninjured as I thought.

I spent today in various doctors offices. It turns out I have a ruptured bicep tendon.

Joy.

Basically, When I clenched the wheel and stiffened up just prior to impact I broke a main cable in my arm.

My wife says I now have a Popeye arm!

--Good thing I can still type!

Holy Crap! It's Real!

I received the proofs today from my publisher and actually got to hold it in my hand.

I think it was a bigger deal for me than I realized.

Writing a novel has been a life long dream for me. I have few things on my bucket list and this was one of them.

Today, holding the book made it real. The dream, realized.

There is still work to do. The publisher has given me formatting advice regarding headers and page numbers and copyright pages, acknowledgements and a pile of other little things I never though of when all I was going to do was ePub the thing.

I got two of the proofs. They are dated February 9, 2015. The very first printings. They will have places of honor in my personal library. But damn. I have got to fix a pile of stuff...

--Soon to be collectors items!!

Traveling

One of the things I like about traveling for work is that I have A LOT of time to write without distractions.

I will have my evenings all free. I might go see a movie but other than that, I will have a ton of time.

The odd thing about this trip is I am going to Utah, way west of here. I will probably be waking up at 2am every day and might get my writing in during the morning hours in stead of fighting jet lag.

I have books packed, laptop, iPad, iPhone, some movies and even snacks!

--I am ready for adventure!

Getting close

Only 3 chapters left to edit. I have to add 3 or 6 chapters as well.

This weekend my wife is taking a trip so I will be able to focus.

I am such an optimist.

I will be going to see Godzilla with my brother and I am also having some friends over for beer, burgers, bourbon, cigars and firepit.

--The light at the end of the tunnel might be a firepit!

Writing this Weekend

My wife and I went camping this weekend with some friends. We have a 16 foot camper trailer that we took on it's first shakedown cruise since we bought it.


The camper we had just before this one was nice and helped us figure out what we really wanted in a camper trailer.

• No leaks if it rains
• A bigger double bed
• A booth in addition to that bed
• The ability for my wife to sleep in even if I can't
• Coffee

These were hard and fast requirements so I could quietly slide out of bed, make coffee, and sit at the booth with my laptop. The trailer passed with flying colors.

I would wake at 6am, drink coffee, eat Strawberry Frosted Poptarts and work on my book! There was no Internet there and barely a cell signal. I spent the whole weekend off-line.

I got through six chapters this weekend! It was very productive. More fun and less like work too. I can meet my self imposed deadline if I manage just one chapter a day going forward.

--Maybe it was the Poptarts! Who knew!

Roadtrip

I am headed out soon for a roadtrip so writing and blogging might be thin through Sunday.

I am going to the annual NRA convention!

I am hoping that the people watching and the floor of the convention will inspire.

Guns play a big part of my book.

I will be taking my computer along on this trip but I am not sure I will get any work don on my book.

--I will likely get reading done!