August 2024 - Update

A scene from Manayunk, PA.

Live each day as though it were your last, without turmoil, without listlessness and without pretense.
-Marcus Aurelius

Dear Reader,

Thank you for joining me on my writing adventures. The image newsletter subscribers received is the third of three reveals. Otherwise, if you are reading this, then you'll have to wait until October to see the full cover.

​Important note - I had mentioned this in a previous message:

October is the scheduled release timeframe for The Blighter’s Shadow! I’ve still not chosen the final date yet, as there are still numerous moving parts involved: writing and editing must be finalized, advanced readers’ input pored over, the text must be formatted, and then it must be published.

With that in mind, I must offer an update: October’s release will not occur, unfortunately.

For that I apologize.

In my excitement earlier this year, I set an unrealistic goal for myself. To avoid further confusion and disappointment, I will not offer a tentative release date again until I have reached a more definite timeframe. But know that I am getting closer each day.

Writing Highlights:

• The final draft for the upcoming anthology, Mystic Springs, is being reviewed by the anthology’s editors. It will be released in November, which is around the corner.
• I made further progress on The Blighter’s Shadow. While I didn’t reach the end of the first full draft, I have made great strides toward the completion.
• I attended the Writers of Warrensburg writers’ workshop on Saturday, June 1. The workshop offered an excellent chance to gain knowledge and help build my skills.
• Writing Project #1 is still in the works, which I referred to in the last update, but it had no progress other than general outlining.

I have a few Beta Readers committed to assisting with reading the entire book prior to its final publication. There is still time to assist. If you are interested, please let me know via email. I’ll get you details on the next steps as soon as I finish the first full draft.

You may be thinking: How can I help an author? 

It’s easy really – share this update or other authors’ newsletters with your friends. Encourage them to sign up for newsletters/updates of the authors they enjoy reading.

Write a review of the book you finished. You don’t have to write much at all. “I enjoyed this book” is a simple, yet effective method and takes a few seconds.

Inspiration: 
This section has expanded to be much more fleshed out, just in another place. You can find a series of recent essays at Substack. Visit this link to subscribe or just read my various inspirations:
Substack is a relatively new place for social media without all the ads you’ll see elsewhere.

Thus, without the ads, there is much less distraction, which allows greater focus.

To give you an idea of one short essay:
Judging a book by its cover…
Don’t judge a book by its cover…

How many times have we heard that? It is a nice sentiment, but it offers nothing realistic.
Humans have evolved to judge instantly based on what our eyes observe. It meant life or death in a literal sense throughout all of human history.

I read “Kindred Spirits” when I was a child, and that cover is what drew me in. Tanis Half-elven and Flint Fireforge stand waiting to defend themselves from what waits ahead. Their heroic deeds saved their world. And yet…

A less likely pair could seemingly only exist in fiction, specifically in the world of Dragonlance.

A place I dreamt about visiting as a child.

A place of valiant knights who rode atop friendly dragons fighting wars against evil with magical lances. A place of wizards seeking to become gods, dwarves who spend their elder years lovingly whittling trinkets for the local children, and leaders, such as Tanis, a person of mixed heritage in a world with clearly defined racial boundaries, who realize that they must act for the betterment of those who need it.

Yet, is it far-fetched to believe that people of all ethnicities could work together to better society? And themselves?
Not really. Take a look around. And believe in the humans around you. We are all in this together.

Clyde Caldwell's cover art for Kindred Spirits can be found at https://clydecaldwell.com/portfolio/kindred-spirits/

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What am I reading, watching, and listening to?

Check https://www.danbrigman.com/what-im-reading.html for more information on my recent recommendations.

​Challenge for September and October:
As we transition from summer to fall, at least in the Northern Hemisphere, take time to pay attention to the seasonal transition. When do you notice the first leaves falling or changing color? When do you notice the first crisp fall morning/evening? The tiniest things can bring you peace.

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Please be sure to check out my website for continuous updates on my progress.

If you have questions for future newsletters/updates, please be sure to send them to [email protected]. There are numerous media links for your convenience: on Facebook at Dan Brigman, Author or on my website www.danbrigman.com.

I'd really appreciate you passing on my newsletter to those who you think would be interested.

Thanks again for your support! Besides taking the time to read my updates, please visit the following links to create a review of The Alterator’s Light, The Point of Woes, The Tower of Dread, and/or Hawthorn Creek, if you’ve read those stories.
Reviews are quick to create!

They offer potential readers insight into what you thought about the book. They also help get the word out about the stories and the author. You can simply search for the title of each of my books on Goodreads and/or Amazon or follow the links below.

For Amazon, please click here.
For Goodreads, please click here.
You can also check my work out at BookBub by clicking here.

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Until next time, take care of yourself. May the next month bring you solace.