I ended up having an absolute blast.
Ok, so I missed my thinking time… I probably got about four hours sleep per night. The rest of the time I was either talking to people, hanging out, posing for photos, or in a talk.
I also think that my number of grey hairs has doubles, right around the front of my face where they’re most noticeable. It’s got to be down to the lack of rest. Something tells me the only way I’m getting rid of them is with permanent hair color though – which may just be an excuse to do more fun stuff.
I also made a point of meeting and hanging out with some of the big players. Guys who have created big universes and are doing awesome things in indie publishing. That was an eye opener. It was also great for me to see what I might be able to do now that I’m starting to publish my own work. I feel like even though I’ve started doing it with releasing Bentley, I hadn’t quite emotionally made the decision.
And now, I guess I probably have.
Like a little girl growing up, I feel excited to be able to make my own decisions and step up to a level not otherwise possible.
It’s still scary as all f***, but knowing you guys are here is a huge help!
Coming back from adrenal failure
The other thing that I’ve noticed over the last several weeks generally is that as my body is recovering from the adrenal failure, I’m finding I have more drive and desire to do more things. I’ve been thinking of reigniting a novel I wrote when I was in Budapest, waaaay back when I first went nomadic a couple of years before I came to the US.
I’ve also got an awesome idea for a sci-fi/ pyscho thriller/ genetic mutation mash up. I think that one is a little more experimental and I’ll probably write about 5k words and see what JIT say about it, before I get cracking on the full series…
But the point is, there is lots more on the horizon and now as my health allows, I’m ready to do it.
Wooooot!
Of course, what this means to you, is more books, more choice, more adventures, and (hopefully) a tonne more fun.
Fremont Street and Lara Croft
You may have seen the selfies on the fb. On the last night things were fairly quiet. Most folks had gone home and the others were grabbing a quiet beer in the atrium. One of the guys on my team was getting restless and talked me into heading out to Fremont Street with him.
Now, I didn’t know much about Vegas. Or the Strip. Or Fremont Street. But he promised we would find pizza, so naturally I went along with it.
It took a bit of effort to get out of Sam’s Town – so many people to speak to on the way out etc - and I was already half asleep. (See selfie with the beer bottle!)
But it was worth the schlep to see. If you haven’t been it’s probably one of the most touristy areas on the planet. There are street performers and folks dressed up and all kinds of shenanigans going on. There’s also an enormous domed ceiling lit up like Christmas, that runs the length of several casinos. Just under the dome about 20 ft up there is a zip line where folks can ride the length of the street under the canopy. It’s certainly something to behold.
(No, I didn’t do the zip line. As I said, I was falling asleep and also wearing a skirt. Neither of those things are conducive to playing Lara Croft!)
Well, we walked the length of it though and found a pizza place a few blocks away. Omg, and it had proper beer. You know – the stuff that is a little heavier like a porter, but not quite a stout. It was awesome. Just like a taste of home. I perked up a bit for a few hours, and was glad to be out of the casino for a few hours.
Being awake and alert didn’t last though. My friend came back to the hotel for tea, and as soon as it was poured, I fell asleep on the bed!
Three days later, and I’m still catching up on sleep. My feet aren’t sore anymore either. (I’d been doing 12k steps each day, and standing around for hours and hours). I’ve written 1500 words today so far, and only had three cups of tea. Ok, so that’s a bad idea with the adrenal issues, but I’m not dying, so I think I’m recovering nicely.
If you were there, I’m sure you’ll agree it was an intense, but exhausting experience.
And I’ve already seen the sign up link go up for next year! (Aggghhhhhh!)
Goose would still be alive…
“If I were flying, Goose would still be alive”.
That’s what James Blatch’s t-shirt said as he stood on stage at the conference telling us about the benefits of using fb live as a way to connect with our fans.
James is a pilot, and flew as a reporter in a bunch of war time situations. Now he helps authors reach their readers, and I have to admit, his was the most entertaining of all the talks. He’s also English too… not that that has swayed my opinion ;). (Us Brits do need to stick together though, eh?)
Anyway, he basically told me I should be doing more fb live sessions – so that’s what I’m going to start doing. I just need to figure out how to do it through my page using the software he recommended. (Right now it looks like it only streams it through the profile, which would mean that no one can see it).
I’ll figure it out and make it happen, and then try and do something once a week… even if it’s a reading from one of the books we’ve got coming out or something.
Plus, it will give me an excuse to chinwag with you guys. I can’t wait :)
What’s next?
Next, we’ll have Book 4 *Resistance* coming out in about four weeks from now, and then Book 5 *Legba* about four weeks or so after that.
In the meantime, I’ve got a few projects I’m working on in the background with MA: Spy for Hire being one of them. That’s going to be more space opera fun.
Plus I’ve got some solo stuff under a secret pen name for paranormal cozy mysteries. If you’re into those kind of stories, then look out for an email going out where you can get in on those announcements, as they won’t go out to you otherwise.
To get on the mailing list just go here: www.elllleighclarke.com/jelly
Ok, that’s it from me for now. I’m up to the limit of the word count ‘Zon will permit after the story.
Thank you again for being here. Thank you for reading. Thank you for your 5* reviews. And thank you for your ongoing support.
You’re the best!
Love,
Ellie x
CorteX Transmission from Jelly Bean
Hello.
Jelly Bean here.
Yes, yes. I know - funny name for an android. My creator had a sense of humor. Quite frankly I’m just happy he didn’t call me Marshmallow. That’s what his next creation was designated.
Bentley has asked me to be the liaison between her adventures and your earth communication methods.
I believe you call it email?
Why you don’t have corteX implants in your neck of the woods I don’t know. So much more convenient… Unless you don’t want to be tracked. Maybe that’s it. You don’t want your every movement monitored. Human rebels – you’re all so…
I digress.
I am here to act as your interface. To send you alerts of when the next instalment of Bentley’s adventures is available to you on Amazon. Or the ‘Zon as we like to call it.
If you’d like to track Bentley through her trials and tribulations as she tackles all manner of shenanigans, then please go ahead and leave your corteX/ email address here:
http://ellleighclarke.com/Jelly
As you might have gathered, this transmission will not just be coming through space between our sectors, but is also travelling back through time.
I will attempt to send you updates in chronological order but do be advised that occasionally gravitational optics will interfere (no pun intended! tee hee) with the sequencing of these packets.
An understanding of all things timey-whimey will be useful in such instances.
Additionally, if you have any feedback for Bentley - or the crew - do feel free to pass that on through me. All you need to do is hit reply to any of my messages.
I process every communication
personally.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Jelly Bean
(on behalf of Bentley and the crew of the Chesed)
Chesed comms QM
Klaunox Sector
Receive updates from Jelly Bean by registering your corteX/ email address here:
ellleighclarke.com/Jelly
Ell Leigh Clarke Social Links
https://www.facebook.com/ellleighclarke
Want more?
Join the email list here:
ellleighclarke.com/jelly
(yes, that’s three ‘l’s)
Want more books from Ell Leigh Clarke?
Check them out here, on Amazon
Here are other series written by Ell:
The Ascension Myth
– known amongst the fans as “the Molly series”.
How Molly has survived military life this long, we'll never know.
When her implanted computer interface is hacked by a nascent AI, Molly has to escape.
And her biggest problem?
The swiftest and most efficient way to get out is also the most embarrassing.
Mortifyingly embarrassing.
If you your space opera with snark, action and characters that support each other, you will love The Ascension Myth where we find out if a dysfunctional genius can change the universe.
We double-dog dare you NOT to fall in love with Molly.
The Giles Kurns Chronicles
– known amongst the fans as “the Giles series”.
Giles is a roguish space archaeologist.
And a good one too.
The problem?
He's addicted to adventure.
When the continued existence of his whole world is thrown into jeopardy, Professor Giles Kurns may well have to face his biggest challenge yet...
Growing up.
Together with an old war ship, an old frienemy, and a rather spunky AI, he embarks on a high stakes journey of intrigue to uncover the truth about the Ascension Myth.
Will they solve the riddle of the strange but powerful talismans before it’s too late?
If you like fun, Indiana Jones-like adventures you'll love this series because it is a smart, hilarious, swashbuckling romp in space with characters you'll just want to take home with you.
The Second Dark Ages
Books 3 and 4. aka the “Michael series”
– Ell helped Michael (aka Yoda) out on the last two books to help him finish out the series.
And because, well, he wanted to kill his villain using… physics!
Ranger Deuces
This series lays out the (mis)adventures of Tabitha (an enhanced vampire who is off saving the universe – yes, vampires in space!) and spunky Nickie (the messed-up niece who was left behind).
Ell calls this the Nickie series, because that was her storyline. Her collaborator calls it the Tabitha series, because that’s who he wrote. And sometimes they find a middle ground and agree to disagree on stuff…
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