Well, so, stuff is happening.

Hey all.

So, for the first time since September, I queried an agent. A few minutes later, I submitted the Sand Master to Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine.

Now, we wait.

Building back into writing everyday has been a slow process as I have been sick, we just moved and I start a new job tomorrow. I have written 7,486 words since the year started (24 days not including today), but am far off from my goal of 500 a day. (4,514 behind schedule). We will get back there.

In other--sadder news.

Neil Peart died. Sad. I love Rush and his drumming was legendary.

Terry Jones of Monty Python passed away as well. Another sad loss as Monty Python is a big influence on my writing.

This morning we lost Kobe Bryant, his daughter, Gianna, John Altobelli with his wife and daughter and Christina Mauser to a helicopter crash. This is a horrific loss in general and is made worse by the fact that children were involved. 

And finally, Army Specialist Antonio Moore died in a roll over accident in Syria.

I saw some interesting remarks about theses deaths. Some people wonder why we mourn celebrities... Here's the thing. Maybe it was a Rush song that got you through the day or a Monty Python skit that made you laugh when you were down or maybe it was your team getting those points at the last minutes in the championships? Whatever it was, the musicians, actors and sports icons we see everyday have an impact on our lives. This is why we mourn them.

SPC Moore is mourned as a brother in arms. We may not have served together, but we both served in the Army and in combat which connects us. Every soldier lost is like losing a friend.

Sorry, to be a downer here, but people dying sucks.

Good news is my new job presents me with different writing hours, so that should be fun. It's also more money...

Anyway, hope everyone is well. Be kind to each other.

Joe