New Release: The Man by the Lake
The Man by the Lake
I never entirely stopped writing, although my production was low. Moreover, I never published anything I’d written. I’m going to repair that and start with a short story, a thriller. Baby steps.
As per usual I’m doing it all wrong. Common writer wisdom has it that you should write in the genre that readers expect from you. “They” seem to think that readers are simpletons who can’t (under)stand a change in pace or a new perspective. I explicitly disagree. Readers are smart people, and all smart people are readers. But, anyway, according to traditional writing wisdom I’m doing it wrong. Again.
Allow me to elaborate.
The Man by the Lake is set in the world of Just Don’t Mess with Us: Family Matters, a series of interconnected stories. I had just finished A Dish Served Cold, and I urgently needed some levity and fun after the grim dystopian world I had written about.
The stories of Just Don’t Mess with Us: Family Matters were never meant to be taken seriously. They are satire, light fare, to be forgotten as soon as read. I had great fun writing them, and, a very select public of readers had fun reading them.
The five stories relate the adventures of four guys living together in a polyamorous relationship. They try to keep their true relationship out of the spotlight by posing as brothers. The Spencer boys are very protective of their little family. It is vaguely hinted that this is because all of them, except the oldest, Matt, have a troubled past.
After Just Don’t Mess with Us: Family Matters I started writing Dark Tales of Randamor the Recluse>. Although these books were on an epic scale, with a cast numbering in the hundreds and an intricate plot and convoluted sub-plots, I never entirely forgot about the Spencer boys.
Especially their possible backstory intrigued me. This story, The Man by the Lake, reveals one of these painful and distressing pasts.
And here is why I’m doing it wrong.
Just Don’t Mess with Us: Family Matters was over the top, verging on the absurd, frivolous and nonsensical amusement. By all rights you are entitled to expect more of the same. Well, you’re not getting it. This story is nothing like that. You will recognize some tropes and characteristics, but that’s about it. This story is much darker and hardly humorous. It asks some tough questions and leaves it to the reader to answer them. Also, while gay relationships are implied, there is no on-screen sex.
See? Completely wrong.
Ah well, I nevertheless hope you’ll enjoy it.
All buying options
I never entirely stopped writing, although my production was low. Moreover, I never published anything I’d written. I’m going to repair that and start with a short story, a thriller. Baby steps.
As per usual I’m doing it all wrong. Common writer wisdom has it that you should write in the genre that readers expect from you. “They” seem to think that readers are simpletons who can’t (under)stand a change in pace or a new perspective. I explicitly disagree. Readers are smart people, and all smart people are readers. But, anyway, according to traditional writing wisdom I’m doing it wrong. Again.
Allow me to elaborate.
The Man by the Lake is set in the world of Just Don’t Mess with Us: Family Matters, a series of interconnected stories. I had just finished A Dish Served Cold, and I urgently needed some levity and fun after the grim dystopian world I had written about.
The stories of Just Don’t Mess with Us: Family Matters were never meant to be taken seriously. They are satire, light fare, to be forgotten as soon as read. I had great fun writing them, and, a very select public of readers had fun reading them.
The five stories relate the adventures of four guys living together in a polyamorous relationship. They try to keep their true relationship out of the spotlight by posing as brothers. The Spencer boys are very protective of their little family. It is vaguely hinted that this is because all of them, except the oldest, Matt, have a troubled past.
After Just Don’t Mess with Us: Family Matters I started writing Dark Tales of Randamor the Recluse>. Although these books were on an epic scale, with a cast numbering in the hundreds and an intricate plot and convoluted sub-plots, I never entirely forgot about the Spencer boys.
Especially their possible backstory intrigued me. This story, The Man by the Lake, reveals one of these painful and distressing pasts.
And here is why I’m doing it wrong.
Just Don’t Mess with Us: Family Matters was over the top, verging on the absurd, frivolous and nonsensical amusement. By all rights you are entitled to expect more of the same. Well, you’re not getting it. This story is nothing like that. You will recognize some tropes and characteristics, but that’s about it. This story is much darker and hardly humorous. It asks some tough questions and leaves it to the reader to answer them. Also, while gay relationships are implied, there is no on-screen sex.
See? Completely wrong.
Ah well, I nevertheless hope you’ll enjoy it.
All buying options
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