The week of atonement
A short interlude.
Hello, everyone.
Here in America, it’s the week in which—as penance for our past colonial sins—we try, as a nation, to wrestle a decent meal out of one of the world’s least edible birds; further alienate our extended families with pointless political arguments; and offer up blood sacrifices in the Best Buy check-out line, while trying to get a 75% discount on a Friends DVD collection at 5:00 a.m.
(Being snarky about Thanksgiving is also part of the ritual observance. It’s tradition.)
Despite being within throwing distance of finishing “All Green,” I have to take this week off from writing. I’ve got family obligations for the holiday. The kids are home from school. There’s also a crunch of work coming up for my day job.
The story is completely written in my head, and has been since last year. I’m not going to leave it hanging until next year (unless things get truly hectic). All that’s left is the mechanical process of transcribing it. But that’s taking a bit too much out of me right now.
I promise that this is the last time I’ll start a serialized fiction series without having the whole thing done and dusted before I start publishing. Once again—like with “The Sea Witch”—I got lulled into a false sense of security by knowing how the story ends, and expecting that actually writing it out would be a snap. Thank you so very much to everybody who’s had the patience to stick with it so far. I promise I’ll make good and wrap things up as soon as possible.
Also, just a reminder that the reason I’m paywalling the final segments is not because I’m a greedy, sadistic bastard: subscriber-only posts are the only way I can think of to keep the whole story from being immediately scraped and recycled by Our Machine Overlords. If you’re really enjoying the story, and can’t come up with the scratch to subscribe for the ending, DM me and we’ll work something out (as long as you’re verifiably human and not a pirate1).
Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers. Safe travels to all those who are on the road this week. May your turkey be moist, your political debates cordial, and your deal-hunting bloodless.
More coming soon.
Which is not to suggest that pirates aren’t people too. I fully respect the humanity of all those who sail beneath the black flag. Just don’t steal my stuff, or—as per usual—I will send the Nine Princes of Hell after you.