Ryan M. Patrick

Not one of my busiest months, but it was up there. Still was incredibly successful across my writing, reading, and gaming! I did get a writing-related post in here (my list of helpful writing resources!) but I didn’t quite get my GPS/PNT one done. That’ll come next month.

Writing

I went from 90,000 words on The Europan Deception to 130,000. I’m not quite done, but I’m really, really, really close. Maybe a chapter or two to finish the draft. Didn’t work on anything else, just that book.

The next steps get complicated.

I’m going to do some editing – clear up some character motivation, make sure my timelines match up, etc – and then query a small press I’ve developed a relationship with. If they take it, great, I’ll go with their process. But if they don’t, I’m going to fire it over to the Pentagon while at the same time sending out to beta readers to see if I have any big issues (I shouldn’t).

While either process plays out, I’ll be working on Crush Depth – feeling pretty confident on that one too. I might be able to get it done this year…and depending on how The Europan Deception goes, may try some small presses before going the self-pub route. I LOVE self-publishing, but I’m realizing that I may have some hard limits in terms of my ability to self-promote. But, if no presses or publishers are interested, I might go down that route again.

I have a couple of short stories I’m working on (more on that next month!) but haven’t been able to finish them, all of my time is on The Europan Deception.

Reading

This month I read:

• Cosmic Strife: Assault by Steve Gavin. 4 stars, great debut from a new author.
• The Pale Horseman by Bernard Cornwell. 5 stars, the second in one of my favorite historical fiction series. Incredibly well done.
• The Vanished Diamond by Jules Verne. 3 stars. Not one of his best.
• Conqueror’s Pride by Timothy Zahn. One of the best books by one of my favorite sci-fi authors. 5 stars.
• Chapterhouse Dune by Frank Herbert. A fitting end to the series. 5 stars.
• Arkangel by James Rollins. Another great Sigma Force novel. 5 stars.

Bit different than what I had planned but had some DNFs in there.

Video Games

I am so close to beating Star Wars Bounty Hunter. I had played it on PS2 when I was in middle school and had a blast, and the remake on Xbox Series X|S is great. Just one more level and I’m done.

Still working on Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb – I’m about two locations in.

Haven’t done much on 100%ing Dragon Age: Inquisition, will probably do a bit more next month.

My friends and I have been playing Apex Legends’ Quad mode. The game has been getting a lot of hate lately but given that we’ve had 4 people most game nights it’s been a blast. Have only gotten a couple of wins but am having a ton of fun.

Thanks and I hope all of you had great Augusts!