Just days before 2010 and I wanted to announce the publication of the new collection of fiction, Accidents Happen. The book, which features two mini-books in one, will be released in early March. The exact date will be announced soon along with pre-order details and awesome bonuses!

A new mini-website will be up and running after the new year, and as always, you can follow the news updates right here and on facebook.

At the conclusion of a three week, 50-page writing challenge, I am looking at the fiction story that resulted. It currently clocks in closer to 40 pages total and needs a little editing (but what draft doesn’t?)

In a month or so, I’ll have the release details so you will know how you can get your hands on it. Stay tuned!

About 25 pages into my 50-page writing challenge. The goal was to write a complete story from beginning to end in approximately three weeks, coming at or above 50 pages. There is one week and two days left so I may have to crank up the productivity to make the mark. So far it’s shaping up to be a good one. Already there’s a dead man, his funeral, a mysterious employer and a couple of crazy so-called superheroes.

Regardless of how the challenge turns out (come on, you know there is no way I’m not cranking out 50 pages!) I’ll find a way to share with you the final result. Stay tuned.

I challenged a friend of mine (in front of witnesses) to write a 50 page (or more) fully developed story in the next three weeks. It’s coming up on National Novel Writing Month (November) and I thought it was a nifty idea in the spirit of NaNoWriMo.

The prize for this challenge, if his book is completed and meets the criteria, is that I agreed to front the money to publish his completed work and go through the various publication steps to get his book out there, including the editing, design and distribution.

But why let him have all the glory? It’s a welcome creative challenge for me as well. I’m two days behind, but a more prolific writer than he is, so I should be able to catch up. Whatever I write, I’ll share the results with you in a month or so.

I participated in NaNoWriMo a few years ago, and I’m sorry to say that although I completed that assignment (50,000 words in 30 days) I have no idea what happened to that manuscript. I may have to dig it up and see what I had done.

Stay tuned. 2 weeks and 5 days and counting…

What’s the new project?

AM: It’s a full-length novel.

So fiction this time?

AM: Yes, fiction this time.

Do we get to know the title now, or is it too early?

AM: It’s too early. It needs a round of editing before I settle on a title.

Did you make a conscious decision to switch to a fictional storyline after publishing What Do You Say to the DJ?

AM: It definitely was a choice to say that I needed to move into a different genre for this one. Plus, DJ really worked because of the interplay with Dara [Shifrer, his co-author] and I’m on my own this time. The memoir was fun but I kept thinking that my life would way more exciting if I took a little creative license with the story.

I think you referred to it as “mostly autobiographical”? Probably a little bit of your trademark sarcasm in there. When you write, do you edit as you work, or do you wait till the end and then polish?

AM: There’s one full length draft where I do a minimal amount of editing. There is definitely rewriting throughout the entire writing because it’s a continuous process of discovery of the characters and the plot. No matter how much I think I know about a character when I really get into the storytelling, things get fine tuned.

Do you have any little quirks when you are writing?

AM: I developed a fine talent for writing with a beer in my hand. It doesn’t disrupt the writing process as much as you might think.

I’ll let that one go. In DJ, part of the story revolves around your dating life. Is the scene better now for you?

AM: Are you asking me out on a date?

No, well, maybe, we’ll talk after. What kind of themes can we expect in the new book?

AM: Thematically, this is almost written as part two of What Do You Say to the DJ? Anyone who has read that will find some similarities in the themes and the angst that drives the characters. It’s about growing older and reaching this point in your late twenties where all of a sudden you have to act like an adult with adult responsibilities and adult relationships. I’m still amazed at how much more complicated life gets as you get older. Many things don’t come easily with adulthood, and part of growing up is learning to deal with it.

You planning on having accompanying art in the book?

AM: I liked the interpretation that artwork brings to the story, so yeah, it’s being planned for inclusion.

So when can we expect the new book?

AM: It will be on sale this winter.