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More stories are on the way—I’m not just sitting on my ass (well, metaphorically speaking)

I should note that I am, literally, sitting on my ass, if only because it’s more comfortable than sitting on my face, though, when so doing, my nose does make for a nice, one-legged George Jetson-like chair support.

Of late, I’ve had a few folks politely inquire as to when I’ll be putting out some new stuff (and by “politely inquire,� I mean eloquent inquiries such as, “Hey, jagoff, stop being a lazy asshole and write something new, will you? There are only so many times I can torture myself with your prior mediocrities.�). (Being a writer is the best, I tell you. And I mean that sincerely—no matter offensively phrased, when someone wants to read more of your stuff, it’s a good feeling.)

So, I thought I’d provide a quick and probably unsatisfying update (stow it, peanut gallery, before you start cracking jokes about how my updates are like my lovemaking—being correct and being nice aren’t always the same thing, you know). When you’ve got a crazy-busy full-time gig and little ones, as many of you know, free time is at a premium, which makes the writing process a lot slower than I’d like it to be. And, even when stories have been written, the whole trying-to-get-a-book-deal thing means that they spend a lot of time circulating amongst agents who, I think, look at my work like I do asparagus at a dinner party: smile politely, shake your head, and say, “Wow, that looks great, but I really don’t like it when my pee smells.�

So, while I do have a new Heloise book written, it’s not yet ready to share with the general public, though maybe I’ll post a few pages at some point in the near future if enough people indicate that it’s likely that they will die if they’re unable to read it (I mean, the Hippocratic oath applies to writers, right?). I’m hard at work on a new story as well, and I’ll provide some updates on that when and if I think it’s going to stick. (No, it’s not the long-awaited Camelot Shadow sequel, but I promise that will happen down the road.)

“Well, that’s all well and good,� I hear the polite inquirers saying, “but what am I supposed to do in the meantime if I need to read something soporific on those nights I’m tossing and turning in bed?�

Were I a less well-mannered individual, I might suggest that you suck it; fortunately, I’m exceedingly courteous, so I will provide a few helpful suggestions.

If you’ve already worked your way through The Chronicle of Heloise & Grimple, The Camelot Shadow, and The Strange Task Before Me: Being an Excerpt from the Journal of William J. Upton (and I hope that, if you’ve read and enjoyed The Camelot Shadow, you’ve checked out Strange Task—it sets up some things that will bear fruit in future sequels), you might want to check out the following reviews, which are basically short stories/scripts. I like to exercise the creative writing muscles on GR now and again, so keep your eyes peeled (but not literally, because gross) for similar output in the future.

A pilot script for "Doctor, Doctor," a sitcom starring Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom

A pilot script for "Days of our (Future) Lives," a teen dramedy starring the Uncanny X-Men

An account of my abduction by aliens who wanted me to explain human mating habits

If you’re still incredibly desperate for reading material, I’d also suggest digging through the archives of this blog, where you’ll find flights of wit, fancy, and wonder, mainly from the commenters who are taking shots at the material.

I am so incredibly grateful to all of you who have taken time to hang out with my stories and who continue to support me and show an interest in future work—I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: every writer, no matter what they say, writes to be read, and the reason I do that is because I’m so indebted to the many incredible writers who have made me think, laugh, cry, or just generally entertained me over the years. If I can do the same for someone somewhere along the way, then I’m a happy cat.

As Stan Lee famously said in Mallrats, “You keep reading ‘em, I’ll keep writing ‘em.�
24 likes ·   •  35 comments  •  flag
Published on October 18, 2018 18:33 Tags: camelot-shadow, cheesecalibur, heloise-grimple, strange-task-before-me, writing
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message 1: by Shainlock (new)

Shainlock Great update.
Awesome use for a nose when sitting on yer face.


message 2: by Shainlock (new)

Shainlock Plus George Jetson.... ok.. I haven’t laughed that much in a while.


message 3: by Sean (new)

Sean Gibson I like to keep the people happy, whether or not it involves face sitting.

(Hmmm...I think this just took a weird turn.)


message 4: by Shainlock (new)

Shainlock It always does ... ooh .. can you see squirrels sitting propped on your nose like that, George.


message 5: by Sean (new)

Sean Gibson Shaina wrote: "It always does ... ooh .. can you see squirrels sitting propped on your nose like that, George."

Oh, I can see a lot of things sitting like that.


message 6: by Aja: (new)

Aja: The Narcoleptic Ninja You know, some of your readers *cough* me *cough* may be happy to help proofread or act as beta readers for some of your unfinished works. Then you can scratch their itch for more of your work and you get a proofreading sla- prisoner with a job.

Obviously not the general public, but some of the more adoring public, I mean.


message 7: by Sean (new)

Sean Gibson You let me know who those members of my adoring public are and I'll take that under consideration...


message 8: by Trish (new)

Trish Aja: wrote: "You know, some of your readers *cough* me *cough* may be happy to help proofread or act as beta readers for some of your unfinished works. Then you can scratch their itch for more of your work and ..."

Me 2.




So glad to hear from you in your official awkward capacity again by the way. But you forgot to mention the long-awaited Cheesecalibur. ;P


message 9: by Sean (last edited Oct 19, 2018 12:45PM) (new)

Sean Gibson Take it easy over there, Hermione! I see you.

Bret is diligently working away, but work is killing him, so drawing time is at a premium, sadly. Rest assured that I won't let him rest until we've inflicted that project on the world, however.


message 10: by Aja: (new)

Aja: The Narcoleptic Ninja See? Two members of the adoring public already!


message 11: by Shainlock (new)

Shainlock I adore, also. I bet they would make awesome betas.

But yes, the mini Seans are important. Especially if they have your nose and such.


message 12: by Trish (new)

Trish Sean wrote: "Take it easy over there, Hermione! I see you.

Bret is diligently working away, but work is killing him, so drawing time is at a premium, sadly. Rest assured that I won't let him rest until we've ..."


Don't you just hate it when real life (especially work) intervenes with what's really important? Urgh!


message 13: by Sean (new)

Sean Gibson Fortunately, Shaina, neither kiddo appears to have inherited my schnoz. Let's hope that continues to true as they get bigger!

(And you can't claim to be adoring until you get through the books...to paraphrase the great Eugene Levy in Vacation, you think you hate them now, but wait 'til you read them!)


message 14: by Shainlock (new)

Shainlock HaHa! But I have read the other things! And I shall. I bet they look like you somehow or do things you do!
And for all you know you’re going along and one day and pop whoah .. one of the kids has my nose!
A bit hurt I can’t be an adoring fan yet.


message 15: by Sean (new)

Sean Gibson They definitely do things I do--case in point: /photo/autho...

And you can totally be an adoring fan; I just don't want to make you feel dirty when you realize that my stories are, in fact, pig excrement.


message 16: by Shainlock (new)

Shainlock Oh, well.. there is that... jk jk!!!


message 17: by Sean (new)

Sean Gibson Shaina wrote: "Oh, well.. there is that... jk jk!!!"

Trust me--it's a legit concern.


message 18: by Sean (new)

Sean Gibson Trish wrote: "Sean wrote: "Take it easy over there, Hermione! I see you.

Bret is diligently working away, but work is killing him, so drawing time is at a premium, sadly. Rest assured that I won't let him rest..."


Yeah--life is annoying like that. Could you take care of that, please?


message 19: by Trish (new)

Trish I'm on it but it proves to be very resilient despite my best attempts and me being a pro. *sighs*


message 20: by Sean (new)

Sean Gibson Trish wrote: "I'm on it but it proves to be very resilient despite my best attempts and me being a pro. *sighs*"

Oh, come on--there's nothing you can't fix by stabbing it, I thought.


message 21: by Trish (new)

Trish Sean wrote: "Trish wrote: "I'm on it but it proves to be very resilient despite my best attempts and me being a pro. *sighs*"

Oh, come on--there's nothing you can't fix by stabbing it, I thought."


Stabbing it, shooting it, running it over with a 4x4, setting it on fire ... it's actually fun to work out which method is best (which might be the true reason why it's taking me this long).


message 22: by Sean (new)

Sean Gibson Trish wrote: "Sean wrote: "Trish wrote: "I'm on it but it proves to be very resilient despite my best attempts and me being a pro. *sighs*"

Oh, come on--there's nothing you can't fix by stabbing it, I thought."..."


Well, come on--Bret and I both need time to make this stuff happen, so please start shooting/stabbing/running over impediments for us.


message 23: by Trish (new)

Trish Sean wrote: "Well, come on--Bret and I both need time to make this stuff happen, so please start shooting/stabbing/running over impediments for us."

You never let me enjoy myself. *sighs* Fiiiine. Line 'em up.


message 24: by Sean (new)

Sean Gibson Trish wrote: "Sean wrote: "Well, come on--Bret and I both need time to make this stuff happen, so please start shooting/stabbing/running over impediments for us."

You never let me enjoy myself. *sighs* Fiiiine...."


Yes, but what method have you chosen?


message 25: by Trish (new)

Trish Sean wrote: "Yes, but what method have you chosen?"

ALL OF THEM.



message 26: by Paula W (new)

Paula W Thanks for the update! I can’t even tell you how excited I am for that new Heloise book. The first one (especially one specific scene) is still probably one of the funniest things I’ve read in years.


message 27: by Sean (new)

Sean Gibson Paula W wrote: "Thanks for the update! I can’t even tell you how excited I am for that new Heloise book. The first one (especially one specific scene) is still probably one of the funniest things I’ve read in years."

Your enthusiasm warms me to the cockles, Paula! Rest assured I'll keep all loyal FOHAGs posted as to status of the new book. :)

(Though now I am, of course, curious as to which scene you're referring to...)


message 28: by Paula W (new)

Paula W Sean wrote: "Paula W wrote: "Thanks for the update! I can’t even tell you how excited I am for that new Heloise book. The first one (especially one specific scene) is still probably one of the funniest things I..."

Grimple in a wig trying out a sort-of German accent. GD brilliant stuff.


message 29: by Sean (new)

Sean Gibson Grimple remains convinced that his accent was flawless.


message 30: by Trish (new)

Trish I was actually flattered it was a German accent of all the possible accents he could have tried his hand at.


message 31: by Sean (new)

Sean Gibson Trish wrote: "I was actually flattered it was a German accent of all the possible accents he could have tried his hand at."

He figured you'd feel that way. Though, to be fair, in Erithea, it's actually a Flarmish accent.


message 32: by Trish (new)

Trish Sean wrote: "Trish wrote: "I was actually flattered it was a German accent of all the possible accents he could have tried his hand at."

He figured you'd feel that way. Though, to be fair, in Erithea, it's act..."


Of course. Well, it defintiely earned Grimple some bonus points. ;)


message 33: by Sean (new)

Sean Gibson Trish wrote: "Sean wrote: "Trish wrote: "I was actually flattered it was a German accent of all the possible accents he could have tried his hand at."

He figured you'd feel that way. Though, to be fair, in Erit..."


He'll take everything he can get.


message 34: by Paul (new)

Paul Scribble, scribble, scribble....


message 35: by Sean (new)

Sean Gibson Paul wrote: "Scribble, scribble, scribble...."

A reductive, albeit strikingly accurate, characterization of my writing.


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