Why some books are late

[Kevin]

Why some books are late

Here’s an example why some books are late.

Mysteries of Magic™ was coming along well. My artists got all their art done right on schedule and it looks great. Cover was done a month ahead of time. We are rocking n’ rollin’.

Business and scheduling art for other titles delayed me a bit on the writing and editing. I wanted to have the book ready for final edit by Alex and Wayne before I left for my daughter’s wedding, August 3, 2009. That didn’t happen. The wedding was wonderful.

When I got back to work August 10, I expected to dive right back into the book. A number of business issues stole some of my time. When getting back to writing it’s like trudging through mud. I’m mired with jet lag or writer’s block – or both. The week is rough. I feel a bit down and frustrated. I decided to visit my father, Hank, on Sunday rather than try to work. I got the good news that his recent medical exam was good. He’s been dealing with a few medical issues. One issue has been bladder cancer. The doctors think they caught it early and he’s looking good. We had a nice visit.

Monday morning, August 17, my morning starts with a call from my Dad’s long-time girlfriend, Arlene (my Mom died in 1989 from cancer, I hate the disease. It’s taken way too many loved ones.) She got a call from the doctor. Apparently, there was some suspicious scarring from the last surgery and the doc took a biopsy. Turns out it is cancer. They don’t think it’s serious. They want Dad to come to the hospital in a couple weeks and have it removed. Dad doesn’t know yet. This news doesn’t do a lot for my mood or my writing.

Monday evening, August 17, I have a scheduled podcast. I’m in a bit of a sour mood, though I’ve gotten a few nice emails from some friends that have lifted my spirit a bit. Within 10 minutes of the podcast I’m on a roll. It goes very well. Although I rant a bit, I’m told it was an excellent episode. Very dynamic. I’m glad. It went an hour longer than I intended – three hours, but that’s cool. I feel tired and call it a day after only 12 hours of work. Poor Carmen popped in that morning. I say, “poor Carmen” because I was in a pretty foul mood, so we didn’t have the fun, positive visit I think he was expecting. Sorry, Carm.

Tuesday, August 18, I feel good. Positive. I’ve convinced myself everything will be fine with Dad, and I’m ready to write. My ranting on the podcast was cathartic and my writer's block seems to be gone. I do a brief Murmur, pay bills (a little depressing as online sales have been soft this week and money is tight), and do a bit of writing. The writing feels good and I want to immerse myself in it, however, I spend 80% of my day working with freelancers, approving art, assigning art, setting up schedules, and general communications.

Wednesday is more of the same as I deal with various business issues, conventions, communications and freelance stuff. Part of my time is spent selecting and signing books for Conquest, a convention in San Francisco. A handful of Palladium gamers, coordinated by a fan named Gary (ingexthefuryhunter on the Palladium forums), are running a whopping 16 Palladium games at Conquest, Sept. 4-7, and has requested books for prizes. We are pumped up and sending a big box of product filled with prizes to make the event that much more fun for all who participate. I also spend a few hours talking to Jeff and Jason as we discuss the writing and design of Warpath: Urban Jungle. The guys are on the right path and I think the game is going to be fantastic. We are working hard to get it out this Fall, probably November. Their finished manuscript is due the end of September. Half the book is already written, all of it has been plotted.

I do put in 4-5 hours of writing and I’ve cleared my plate. Starting first thing Thursday morning, it is writing all day long until the book is finished. At least that’s the plan.

By Midnight, Wednesday, my stomach ache has turned into full blown food poisoning or stomach flu. I spend the next three hours in the bathroom. Cramps, low fever and a few runs to the bathroom makes sleeping restless at best.

Thursday morning, I’m tired and feverish, but feeling a bit better. I successfully hold down food without any dramatically increased bathroom visits, I do some laundry, and I doze a lot. By 4:00 PM, I decide to run a couple quick errands and go to the office to get in 4-5 hours of writing. However, it turns out the recent afternoon storm has knocked out the power. It’s not expected back till 9:00 PM. I take this as a sign from higher powers to go home and rest.

It’s Friday, August 21. I’m feeling pretty good. Stomach is a little queezy, but overall, I feel okay. I got up at 6:15 AM and got to the office by 7:00 AM.

I’ve answered my emails, I’ve written a couple Murmurs and after I work on today’s press release, I anticipate writing ALL DAY and through the weekend. I want Wayne laying out Mysteries of Magic™ by Monday.

Even if the weekend goes according to plan, I’m behind two weeks. Not just Mysteries of Magic™, but the next few books as well. It’s frustrating and disappointing, but it happens, darn it. I hope you understand. I’m happy to say Mysteries of Magic™ is going to be another great book!

Working hard to catch up. The books we have in the pipeline are all awesome! More news and stuff coming up in the Press Release. Keep those imaginations burning bright.

Sincerely,
Kevin Siembieda

Sincerely,
Kevin Siembieda
Publisher, Writer & Game Designer
Palladium Books®, Inc. – 28 years of RPG Publishing

© Copyright August 21, 2009 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.

Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Palladium Books®, Phase World®, Palladium Books®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Megaverse®, Nightbane®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars® and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. Heroes Unlimited™, Beyond the Supernatural, Dead Reign, Warpath, Shemarrian Nation, Fleets of the Three Galaxies, Mysteries of Magic, and other published book titles, names, slogans and likenesses are trademarks of Palladium Books Inc., and Kevin Siembieda.

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