Still working on the Metrognomes Database. I keep these continuity databases so that I don't make any mistakes. It helps me keep track of what has been published, so that I don't accidentally conradict it. I even have it color-coded so I can tell what's set in stone and what's reworkable. So I want to have all the "Worse than a Gremlin" stuff in there before I finish the latest draft of the novel. It's tedious, but my new system, doing it as a web file in MS Publisher, makes it go so much faster than when I used to do it in Word and have to scroll all over the place.

I spent a great deal of time updating my personal Metrognomes Database with all the "facts" from "Worse than a Gremlin." I hope to have it all enetered by the end of the week, but I make no promises. Only that my new draft of the novel will be ready by the 12th of next month.

Molly and I met at the Book Stop where we met to pay our respects. The store is closing it's doors for good. Ellen Heavner was there as well, working. I bought up all the remaining copies of my books on my way out the door. While we were there, Molly and I went over some of her character sketches and my ideas abut others. Ellen took a look and was amazed by Molly's work. So was I. I also worked out the cultural looks of the different gnome tribes. Well, the general looks. Molly will provide all the details with her illustrations. I now have until the 12th of February to finish my latest draft of the manuscript. I really must get back to work!

It's been almost two weeks since I've written a word of fiction. So, today I wrote another scene in "Dance Macabre" and realized I'd left an important element out of the outline. I also thought up some more things I might like to put in the story to flesh out the character better and forshadow future stories I have in mind to write with him. I'm taking 18 hours of school this semester and working at UPS loading trucks to pay for it. That's my new standing excuse for when I go two weeks without writing a word of fiction. Fortunately, the new Erasure CD came out yesterday, and I've been listening to it, and those guys always motivate me. They're the only two of my personal muses that I've never formally met. Their music always makes me feel like writing stories.

I met with Jay to talk about how we're going to use the ad in The Gay & Lesbian Review. We also talked about the upcoming meeting with Molly and where we're at with financing the next book.

Molly e-mailed me back. The I e-mailed her back. Now we're thoroughly confused, but the meeting is still on.

I e-mailed Molly about our February 12 meeting to go over her character designs for Metrognomes.

I did some more work on "Dance Macabre" and got the final version of the ad for The Gay & Lesbian Review in my e-mail. Also found out iUniverse is going to send me a copy of the magazine when they get it in. Swell! Now I don't have to go hunting for it.

I sent out an e-mail newsletter for January announcing "Worse than a Gremlin" and detailing some of the plans for 2005 publications. I also did some more work on "Dance Macabre."

I started yet another short story today. I have no idea what it's going to be called. I'm writing it in the style of a Native American myth. I now have three unfinished short stories on my plate, which is very unlike me. It's a testament to how scatter-brained I've been lately. I suppose I'll have to start finishing things. Not to mention the final draft of Metrognomes.

I did an outline for "Dance Macabre" at like 2 AM. Now I know how to make it work. It's a mystery story, so it gets twisty-turny. I got the proof for the iUniverse ad in my e-mail today. The Great Debate is on the top row, right in the center. Very visible. It looks great. So, look for it on the back of The Gay & Lesbian Review in March!

I started work on a new short story today. It's been in my head for a while. In fact, I started another short story a while back with the same character, but it just didn't quite work. Now I have the character down I think. This story is maybe gonna be called "Dance Macabre." I now have two stories in the works that I need to finish. The other one is highly allegorical and likely to be called "Breath."

My new short story "Worse than a Gremlin" was published today on the Web site. I am really excited about this one, because it introduces some of my favorite supporting characters from Metrognomes, my forthcoming novel. Among them are Kazkal No'tall, the brave warrior, and his jealous apprentice An'sep No'tall. This story also shows a different side of the gnome culture than "Music of the Metrognomes" did. It shows the gritty good versus evil side of the gnome world. It's got action and bloodshed. I hope you'll enjoy it, and I hope you'll like Kazkal, because he's one of my favorite characters in the book. I wanted to do three short stories as preludes to the novel, but the third one never really came together for me. It was going to be about the villain and the Darkgnomes. Maybe it will still come together at some point. The book should be out by the end of this year, and as for short stories, gnome-related or not, I want to have a new one for you every quarter. There are several I've been tinkering with, and about five that are more like "scenes" than whole stories. Maybe I'll put up some of those. I'm not sure. Well, I should stop rambling now, I suppose. I hope you'll let me know what you think of the new story, and I hope everyone reading this will have a very happy 2005!