Well, That's Done

After 20 years, I finally did it.

This past Labour Day Weekend, I entered the 3 Day Novel Contest and wrote book 3 of my trilogy.  The first book, Bred In The Bone got the self publish treatment back when I ran the store. 

The second book turned out to be a two day novel because I still had that store and was open on the Saturday, so not really writing.

Decades later, I finally found the 'in' for the third book and pretty last minute decided to enter and hammer it out.

I never win and I don't much care.  The $50 entry fee is enough of a hit to my wallet to push me to actually finish a book in 3 days and that alone is worth it.  It will be until summer or later before I get official word that the final volume of "Morgan's Lament" didn't win and at that point, I'll be doing a print on demand version of the complete trilogy.

Book 1 ran about 28,000 words, book 2 19,000 and this last clocks in at 24,500 or so. 71,000-ish words is a book about 300 pages or so.  I look forward to plopping that sucker on my bookshelf.  If I'm the only customer, I'll still be okay with the effort.

I actually re-read the two earlier books (seriously, 20-28,000 words is a novella, not a novel - but "The 3 Day Novella Contest" is just not as punchy) and honestly enjoyed the experience.  They hold up surprisingly well 20 years later.  The capstone volume actually picked up some threads and I found what I think is a satisfying way to tie up the whole thing.

If anyone is interested, I'm happy to call you a 'test reader' and shoot you a pdf of one or all the stories.  I can't publish until I know for sure I didn't win, but there's no problem getting individual reader feedback.

It was a hoot.  I may do it again, I may not, but that silly little contest has pushed me to finish 4 books over the last 20 years and that is something to celebrate!

Oh and the titles of those 3 books in the MORGAN'S LAMENT trilogy?

Bred In The Bone

An Oath As Strong As Bone (I may change this to Bone Bound)

Bones of Contention