Patrick Swenson

Yes, it’s been just over a year since I blogged. I’m not a great blogger. I think it’s been even longer since I did a newsletter. WEIRDLY, there were a bunch of folks who signed up for the newsletter over the course of a few months, without me doing anything. Of course, maybe I should go look to see if they’re all real people.

So I at least owe you an update on what I’m writing, just in case you’re not privy to my social media platforms. (Not that I’m much better there disseminating news.) That post a year ago? In it I said I was about halfway through a dark fantasy called Rain Music. It is, in fact, now finished! It is off to readers, and it’s off to my agent. It’s different for me (no space opera noir here), so we’ll see how that goes. It’s set out in the Olympic Rainforest, where I used to live and work, and where my annual writers retreat still takes place. My protagonist? He’s a lot like me, except he comes out there for a year to write some music. Me? I took a year and a half off from teaching and went back there just to write a novel. Of course, none of the magic and bad stuff happened to me while I was there. Wellll, there was that one time. . .

I also sold a short story to an anthology called Unfettered III.  Yes, there were two previous volumes. Great ones, too, with wonderful names in the fantasy field. So indeed, this story is a fantasy story. But it’s a fantasy mystery. You know me so well. It’ll be a beautiful hardcover, with cover art by my buddy (and fellow Bonney Lake inhabitant) Todd Lockwood. It also helps fund a fabulous cause. It should be out later this year. Check it out by clicking here.

Summer has been in full swing almost a month. With my Fairwood Press hat on, I’m working on new projects, finalizing and getting them ready for some August conventions. With my writing hat on, now that Rain Music is in my agent’s hands, I’ve started book three of the Union of Worlds novels. I’ve been a captive audience since last week, spending time in Redmond and Kirkland while my son is doing a class. Since last week, and counting today, I’ve put down the first three chapters. Dave Crowell is back, as is his alien partner Tem Forno. There will be some other familiar characters here and there. I’ve not yet decided on a title, which will follow the pattern of the first two. The Ultra Something Something. (But wait…the Ultras? Aren’t they…you know…?)  Not having a title to start with is different for me with this series. In the first two books, the titles came first. Okay, I’ll fess up and say I have TWO possible titles. But I’m keeping them to myself for now.

Want a taste? Crowell meets a new client:

Morgan was a big man, wide in the shoulders, seemingly all muscle, and taller than me by a good six inches. He wore a nice suit, a three-piece, but it didn’t cover up the fact that he was built like a jump slot mechanic. Seriously. You had to have some heft and power to manipulate slot beams and wheels.

He wasn’t bigger than my alien partner Tem Forno, of course, who was hiding in my bedroom on the other side of the plywood wall separating the two rooms. Forno was a Second Clan Helk, and I didn’t like him scaring away potential customers. I had a feeling, though, that this guy wouldn’t blink at the presence of a Helk. 

As usual, I never quite know how Crowell’s cases are going to turn out until … well, until he’s on the case. So far, though, I’m enjoying getting back into this universe.