The second book ("The Dead Whisper On") is done. Still doing some tweaks and such, and I'm sure Dave, my editor, will have some great suggestions, but it's done, and I'll be handing it in next week.

So the angst begins anew.

Nice to have the book done, but now I start wondering about the reaction it will get...especially because "Waking Lazarus" has been so well-received. The bar feels high; can I jump it? The second book is quite a bit different--same general genre, but more action-oriented, and not nearly as dark in tone. I'm hoping to capture a bit of the classic noir feel for some of the dialogue and characters. Also, I'm cleansing the palate a bit after WL; if I came out with another dark and brooding tale, I think people would always expect dark and brooding tales from me. And I'm really not an uber-brooder, when it comes down to it.

Since we're on the subject of "Waking Lazarus" (and yes, I realize we've been largely on the subject of "Waking Lazarus" for well-nigh a year now), I received some wonderful news last Friday: we've gone through the first printing. So, the book is going into a second printing even as we speak, which should be rolling off the presses some time this week.

Believe me, it feels great to go to a second printing. It means my dear mother has bought many, many more copies than I thought she would.