Hey, everybody.

So, I've been meaning to give some sort of an update, however small/basic, since the start of the year or at most not long after. Even if it was just something like noting what growth in views I’d gotten or something else that was fairly basic, or simply being like "hey everyone, I’m still alive and looking to do more stuff, but most if not all of it is still very tentative,” I had it at least somewhat in mind to post a little something about how things are or have been.
And here I am, nearing five months into the year, and I haven't done so until now.

So first things first, I want to thank all the new watchers who've come in, and personally thank  helixthefallen for his signal-boost that brought you all over. My view-count had already grown a fair bit by the start of the year, and it's only grown more since, and I had gotten a watcher or two here and there as well, but you newcomers certainly boosted those stats up these past several days. So, again, thank you.
And of course, I want to thank those who have already been watching for however-long, and those who have given my Saga of Fidonhaal works a look to any degree. This setting went through several significant changes during its initial construction, which began back when I was in high school, and has been effectively half of my life in the making and is still ongoing. Then there was the handful of years that went into building up my first novel for that world, Daughters of the East, which started with a handful of notes and ideas that originally came from a prior "beta build" that were then reworked and from there slowly grew into the novel that can now be found in both e-book and paperback formats on Amazon and other platforms. In short, whether you're someone who's been following my setting and novel to any degree for the past couple of years, or have just recently dropped by and have given any of what I’ve posted a look-over (Fidonhaal-related or not), know that I am truly grateful for your interest and support; you all know who you are.

Yet, even with all that, I'm still struggling with fatigue and uncertainty/indecisiveness, as far as where I'm looking to go from here. Admittedly, this has been an issue of mine pretty much since the publication of the first book, if not even somewhat before, back when I went through it with my editor and publisher to make sure the i's were dotted and the t's crossed. Since then, I've been trying to embark on the next "thing," whatever exactly that ended up being, but the handful of "starts" I've set out on so far have fizzled out and pulled over to the side of the road, not utterly quitting the trip, at least not yet, but not in any hurry to get going again.
I started efforts on a short story compilation, but then it ended up being largely shelved up to the present, with only a rough-typed draft of the first story currently being available for free reading. I then started working on another short story, one separate from the previously intended collection, only for the burnout to strike again after only two chapters, despite the “high” I’d say I initially felt, and it’s now been “dormant” for months.
And I’ve since become fairly sure of what my basic idea for the next “big story” is, but I look at what I’ve stuttered on so far, and see how comparatively big and complex this one is looking to be, and the mental mess just gets all the bigger and more tangled.
Then I tried a couple of pieces based off of prompts, hoping the variety from Fidonhaal would shake things up a bit and maybe reinvigorate things. Instead, I just ended up getting all the more burnt-out. I suppose, if one were intent on seeing a silver lining with this, it could be said that this has convinced me that I need to keep what energy and willpower I still have for writing reserved for Fidonhaal material, but it still feels dispiriting at present.

And all of that is just in regards to writing. Then there’s my life as a whole, with a number of incoming changes I’m trying to at least accept, if not “embrace,” readjustments I’m wrestling with myself to try to reinforce to at least some degree, and some weighty regrets. I’m trying to view this time in an at least net-positive light, but even if things do indeed pan out in that direction overall, the bag is still quite mixed, especially at the present.
I know. That’s life however-much of the time. And I know that many people out there have it much harder. But what can I say, I still feel what I feel, and I still feel it how I feel it.
But enough of that. At least for now.

Aside from the thanks and the venting, I just wanted to confirm that I do indeed still have a pulse, that I am still on here, and that I am still looking to do more both here and beyond. Just know that much of it is currently still up in the air as I try to work things out, both specifically in my writing “sphere” as well as with my life overall.
With that said, the current matter on my to-do list is to finish up an art-bit that I’m doing for  chakatwindshear to use at his spot during this year’s Anthrocon. He’s looking to have some copies of Daughters of the East handy over there (thanks so much!) and we’re just looking to have a nice little graphic-arty piece up to hopefully help draw some more eyes toward it.
From there, it’s pretty tentative at the moment, though I reckon I’ll try to regain focus on A Crown of Bones again after that, and then try to take it from there, whatever exactly that ends up meaning and whenever such things begin to (re)gain some more momentum.
Thank you all again so very much for your interest and support. I’m sorry if I went on a bit overmuch here, but know that whatever stuff I might be grappling with at the moment, I really appreciate you all for swinging by.

Feel free to browse my gallery as/if you’d like. For a bit of convenience to any interested, here’s folder-links to my Fidonhaal material:

The Saga of Fidonhaal: Daughters of the East – Features sample-chapters from the published novel, as well as maps of the setting and commissioned artwork related to the story.

Vile Wings – The complete, rough-typed draft of a short story about a wandering group of tribespeople who embark on a quest to slay a large brood of harpies. This is intended to be the first short story in a compilation that I’m intending to eventually write and get published, which tells of the deeds of Zongar Highsun, an adventurer and esteemed warrior from a great tribe within the world of Fidonhaal.

A Crown of Bones – Currently a WIP, this short story tells of a “paladin” and his squire, along with several other companions, who set out to investigate the source of an attack by undead on a local village.

Until next time. Take care, everybody!
~ Wulfe/Lucas