This has been reeeeeeeeeeeealllllly long coming. If you're not in the know (somehow) then, last week, I've finally published the third instalment in my cyber-gothic horror serial, Blood on the Matrix, which has been in the works, on and off, for my first two years of college. So, it being done is something that feels admittedly almost unreal. I've already said it in my postscript, but it's been such an omnipresent force in my life and such a big motivator to finish my goddamn exams that it's going to be a bit odd not having it waiting for me to work on in between long strings of busy work, assignments, and studying. But now, it's out! I really hope everyone enjoys it, since, again, I really have poured a lot of love into it and I did genuinely have a good time making it. Also, quite a LONG time making it, as well. I feel like I've finally finished everything pretty danger-close to when I have to go back to school and pledge my free time to "the man" once again.
Finishing Virtual Shade has also been a milestone of my life in general, I feel, not just as a writer. At time of writing I've finished my second year of university and am about to go back in for my third; it's a bit oddly funny how this novel seems to have marked the halfway point of a four-year college degree. I've already spoken about it in the postscript for Virtual Shade, but it has all been a very interesting experience. I've definitely broadened my horizons and gone into things I otherwise probably wouldn't have done. Don't get me wrong, though; it's not like I'm at a party school - this has been hard work, all the time. I have been able to snatch a few moments of levity and fun with some colleagues, particularly in the university's board games club (which, if your college has one, you should definitely join, because it's a great way to overcome the hardest part of playing traditional games; finding four other nerds with to play with.) but that's generally been the exception to the rule, and most of the time it's been study, study, study. What have I learned? A lot, actually. Accounting is, (please, do try to keep a straight face) a very interesting practice and body of knowledge when you really get down to it. It's both generally useful for having a job, period - things like knowing how a business is structured and how budgets work, how projects are evaluated, and being able to track the flow of costs - and also just more practical stuff like how investments and the financial system work. I hadn't intended to go into accounting, but now that I am pursuing it, I think it was a good idea.
I'm not opposed to doing side stories and other smaller spotlight pieces in the BotM setting - as a matter of fact, I've actually brainstormed a short story that takes place right after Virtual Shade's ending. As for full-length novels - BotM or not, don't expect anything for a while, because I really do want to take a break from long, involved projects. Especially while I've got two more years of university to worry about.
So, as to exactly what I've got planned... Besides studying, I want to do more drawings - which, if you followed me on social media (and if you don't, then you totally should) you'd see I've been fairly slow on. That's because I devoted every iota of time on my summer break (for the most part) on getting Virtual Shade out and done before the school year starts back up again. Last summer (of '24), I was still kind of coming down from the shock of going from zero-to-hero in my first year, and, not only was I less serious about actually working on my novel, I was genuinely so tired that I was bedridden for like half the summer break. I didn't want a repeat of that +_+ so, I was a lot more serious and a lot more driven to finish it on time, and consequently, that meant I was a lot less draw-y than usual this summer. Besides that, I want to try my hand at shorter, more bite-sized stuff, like short stories and one-off comics. Especially stuff that can more easily fit in a magazine (or, a 'zine) The way I handled The Digital Garden in March of 2024 is sort of what I'm talking about; I'm quite happy with how that turned out, both in format and as an actual story. I also want to update and generally pretty-up my website. Alot of stuff here, especially the blog page, is still fairly barebones and has the 'default html settings' look about it. I also do want to add more entries and stuff to read in general.
In the further future... Well, there's the BIG project. The one I've alluded to a few times in this blog. The one that I'd wanted to actually have as a thing by now, but university got in the way, and, at the time, I was torn between either finishing Eternal Life or it - and I went with the former because it'd be quicker. Might as well drop another hint; it's a comic. In fact I actually decided on the name of this website in anticipation of publishing it. That's... Definitely not going to actually be a thing, though, until I'm done with university. Maybe not even then; I've been weighing up (and feeling more towards 'do it' at the moment) pursuing a Chartered Professional Accountant designation when I'm done with school, which is more hard work. Aside from that, I've got a few concepts for novels outside the BotM series that I may try to develop into full stories, and, in the long term, as every artist does I do hope to get professionally published and be compensated for my work, but, just from a glance at 'the industry' it feels like it's much, much harder to 'break into' the mainstream if you're not already famous or, 'one of them.' I had also considered starting a business for that purpose (and for tax purposes :P, still deciding if it'd be better for it to be incorporated or not. Who says school can't teach you anything practical?) but, again, really long-term stuff that's going to be up in the air for years. Anyways, I do hate to end on a low note, so I'll finish this off by saying that it's been a very fun two years and, despite university getting me down, I do want to try and add more stuff to this website, so, keep your eye on it!... Or, just subscribe to my RSS feed.