Randomness

Currently reading Monsoon by Wilbur Smith and I am enjoying it immensely as it combines many of my favorite things in one novel, i.e. Nautical fiction, hints of Africa, the Spice Trade, and it's close enough to my favorite period in history (the Elizabethan Age) that I feel at home. It's a huge book but it's so enjoyable to read.

I just finished reading John Jakes' first volume in the Kent Family Chronicles, The Bastard, another excellent historical novel. I'll probably read the second Kent Family Chronicles volume The Rebel when I'm done Monsoon. At this point I can't even conceive of writing a novel like these but maybe someday. It would be fun just to have an excuse to immerse myself in the research. Right now I just want to get some headway on a stripped down 200 page novel that plays to my current writing strengths and at least get one completed novel under my belt before I try something more ambitious...