Hello everyone, it’s the first of the month and time for my usual update.
This July has been a busy one for me on multiple fronts. First and foremost, I made significant progress on my current project: the sequel to my as-yet-unpublished fantasy novel, “Beyond the Grey”. In the past month, I added a whopping 15,714 words to the draft. It’s exhilarating to be shaping this story word by word each day!
I also read a lot of CS Lewis. See below.
Book Reviews
Their angular limbs, their jerky movements, their dry, metallic noises, all suggest either machines that have come to life or life degenerating into mechanism.
CS Lewis, Surprised by Joy
In between writing sessions, I also managed to dive into quite a few books. Here’s a little about each of them.
- “Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life” by C.S. Lewis: This is an autobiographical work by the acclaimed author of “The Chronicles of Narnia”. It outlines Lewis’s early life and his journey from staunch atheism to becoming one of the most influential Christian theologians of his time.
I read this at the suggestion of a friend, who really enjoys CS Lewis (well–I do too). I’ve got… uh.. a lot of highlights, but above is the one that I’m still thinking about.
Uck. I hate these things.
- “The Posh Prepper” by Todd Knight: This was a fun variation on your usual flu-virus-end-of-the-world-SHTF scenario.
- “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck: I hate to say this: I’d never read it before, I didn’t particularly get it, and I also didn’t care very much in the end. Higher hopes for Grapes of Wrath.
- “Contain (Bunker 12, #1)” by Saul Tanpepper: The first in the Bunker 12 series, this book lays the foundation for a post-apocalyptic world where the survivors have taken refuge in an underground bunker to escape a deadly artificial virus.
- “Condemn (Bunker 12, #2)” by Saul Tanpepper: This is the second book in the Bunker 12 series. It continues the post-apocalyptic narrative from the first book, delving deeper into the human struggle for survival in a world devastated by an artificial virus.
- I also started Bunker 12 Book #3 and… lost interest. I wish they’d get to figuring out the broader world instead of being stuck in one tiny area for so long.
- “The Problem of Pain” by C.S. Lewis: This philosophical work attempts to provide a reasoned basis for Christianity by addressing one of its most difficult issues—the question of why God allows people to suffer.
I also read this at the urging of the same friend, so we could discuss it together. Lots to chew on.
Goals for the Next Month
Looking ahead, I am excited for the month of July. The goal is to reach 30,000 words for “Beyond the Grey”. That’s just about 15,286 words to go. I relish the challenge and look forward to each word that will bring me closer to this goal.
In addition, I aim to read another four books next month. There’s something special about getting lost in a good book, and I can’t wait to see what adventures I’ll find myself on next.
Last, but certainly not least, I plan to revisit “Into The Grey”. It’s always helpful to refresh my memory and ensure that I’m staying true to the story’s roots while providing a satisfying continuation in the sequel.
That’s all for this month’s update. It’s back to the world of “Beyond the Grey” for me. Until next time, happy reading!
