Daily Journal 2/12/26
Finished new story “In The Dark” yesterday and submitted it to the editor who requested it. Still not 100% sure about the ending. I’d intended to let the suspense and dread build and build and build and then — SURPRISE — it has a happy ending, which you weren’t suspecting from me. Except I’m not sure it comes across that way. I suspect that’s just because I rarely write happy endings, so I’m not sure this one is effective.
Had hoped this morning to link to the new editions of TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME, ut only Apple and Kobo actually have it live as of this writing. Amazon has it live, but the editions are unlinked, and there’s some sort of new automatic error (anyone who uses Amazon for indie publishing can tell you all about the random automatic errors that pop up all the time). This is one I’ve never encountered before — it lists the paperback and Kindle editions as ineligible for the Amazon Associates program, so I’m loathe to link to it here and begin promoting it until that’s fixed. And Nook… well, I’ve seen Nook take as long as 15 days from the time you upload something until the time it’s on sale.
The rest of this morning will be spent on new story “Forty Miles West of Sidewinder, Right Next Door To Hell”, which I think I can safely say now is a prequel to The Shining, and takes place years before the Overlook is built. This afternoon, I’ll switch over to working on OPERATION: LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK. I also have to pick Mary up from the train station and have a Scares That Care board meeting this evening.
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Currently Listening
Was raving about this EP to Joe Hill yesterday, because I suspect he’ll love it as much as I have in the last 24 hours. Before this past Tuesday, my only familiarity with country-rock-folk artist Stephen Wilson Jr. was the song he contributed to The Long Walk movie. But his appearance, performance, and interview on The Howard Stern Show moved me so much on Tuesday that I immediately sought out his entire discography, and landed on this EP and have listened to it nonstop ever since. He says his two biggest influences are Willie Nelson and Soundgarden, and that comes through loud and clear. Amazin gartist, with an amazing catalog, and great background music while writing, particularly if what you’re writing is dark or gloomy.