Back to the Keyboard

If you’ve been wondering where I’ve been lately, the short answer is simple, life happened.

Over the past several months, blogging has taken a back seat to work, family responsibilities, and the ongoing development of Book Two of the Starborn Trilogy. While I haven’t been writing blog posts, I certainly haven’t stopped writing.

When I wrote Galaxy’s Child, I was fortunate enough to be on sabbatical. Writing often became a full-time job in itself. Some days, I would spend six hours or more immersed in Philip Anders’ world, developing characters, solving story problems, and watching the adventure unfold one chapter at a time.

Today, things look very different.

Like many writers, I now balance my creative pursuits with a full-time career. Earlier this year, I returned to the workforce and began a new chapter in my professional life. It’s been both rewarding and demanding, but it has also forced me to rethink how and when I write.

Finding time to write is no longer as simple as sitting down for six uninterrupted hours. Some days, progress comes in small pieces. A few pages here. A few notes there. An idea scribbled down before it disappears. It’s a different rhythm than before, but it’s a rhythm I’m slowly learning to embrace.

The good news is that Book Two is very much alive.

While progress has been slower than it was during the writing of Galaxy’s Child, the story continues to move forward. Much of my time has been spent developing new characters, refining story arcs, and expanding the world that readers will soon discover beyond the events of the first novel.

One of the biggest differences this time around is the amount of planning involved. When I wrote Galaxy’s Child, many parts of the story evolved naturally as I wrote. With Book Two, I’ve found myself spending far more time outlining, brainstorming, and world-building before putting words on the page.

Part of that is because I want the second book to feel fresh.

I don’t want it to simply be Galaxy’s Child Part Two. I want it to stand on its own while remaining true to the characters, themes, and universe that started this journey. That has meant exploring new ideas, introducing new perspectives, and taking the time to ensure that the story grows in meaningful ways.

In many respects, writing a sequel is more challenging than writing the first book. Readers already know the world. They know the characters. Expectations exist. The challenge is no longer introducing something new. The challenge is expanding it without losing what made it special in the first place.

Despite the slower pace, I remain as excited about this story as ever.

In fact, some days I find myself more excited than when I first began writing Galaxy’s Child. There is something incredibly rewarding about watching a universe grow beyond the boundaries of a single novel. Ideas that have been living in my imagination for years are finally beginning to take shape on the page.

Although my blogging schedule may never be as regular as it once was, I haven’t forgotten about the readers who have followed this journey from the beginning.

I’ll continue sharing updates whenever I can, whether they’re about the writing process, the science fiction concepts that inspire me, or simply the challenges and joys of balancing creativity with everyday life.

For now, I’m happy to say that the journey continues.

The keyboard is still warm. The ideas are still flowing. And somewhere beyond the stars, Philip Anders’ next adventure is waiting to be told. And I can promise that book two will deliver an even greater cliffhanger than Galaxy’s Child did. I can’t wait to share it with you.

Until next time!