I am not a narcissist but I think it’s time I told the readers of my blog a little bit about me. I’m an outsider, an observer, a thinker and (after all this time) finally, a writer, with one self-published novel to my credit, The Obeahman’s Dagger. I’m working on a new book, The Omega Hypothesis, a sci-fi genre story set in a dystopian future. The young protagonist’s search for her treasonous father is closely watched by the Secret Police and when she is caught up in the struggle for possession of the Omega Hypothesis, she is catapulted into a war for Freedom in America and the world.

I had imagined that I’d have completed the novel by now but the thing keeps growing and changing as I write, and read. For example, I’m presently reading, for the umpteenth time, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. This is a problem because the excellence of Bradbury’s writing makes me cringe when I read my own stuff. Then I go back to my manuscript and rip out pages, sections, chapters and decide that I must do better. When do I stop?

When I’m satisfied, that’s when. In the meantime, I have to eat. Like Bradbury, I have a very understanding and supportive mate who is willing to support what must seem to her like my addiction to writing. I spend a lot of time on it and we all know that time is money. Except in my case. Thanks to the Internet though, I’m able to make a small contribution to our income – I recently set up an online store through which I’m able to sell items we find at estate sales and thrift shops. With my handyman skills and tools, I’m usually able to repair and refurbish the vintage appliances and sewing machines we find.

So I’m back at my writing desk, working on making The Omega Hypothesis the best book I can. The draft I’m discarding is over sixty thousand words; I hope I don’t have to throw it all away but I will if I must. I’m already seventy years old, a fact that I do my best to ignore but secretly I’m just hopeful that I will have enough time to finish the book before I get the call.

I feel a bit like Schrodinger’s cat just now.