Weekly Goals - November 3, 2018

Currently attempting to meet my November goals. Here's the recap for this past week:

1. Write 1000 words on my Aston novel, Before the Dawn. - Didn't get anything written toward this goal.
2. Write 1000 words on my "Demonkiller" story. Completed around 600 words on this goal.

Now, my goals for the coming week:
1. Write 1000 words on my Aston novel, Before the Dawn.
2. Write 1000 words on my "Demonkiller" story.

November 2018 Writing Goals

Quickly approaching the end of the year...it's now been ten months since I first started working toward my writing goals. Things have been a bit better this month, including some work on the next Aston novel.

So, here are the results for October:

1. Complete 1,500 words on my "Demonkiller" WIP.- Didn't complete this goal, but did get around 900 words written this month.

2. Complete 1,500 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel. - Didn't get anything written on this goal this month.

3. Write 500 words on a new Aston West short story.  - Didn't get anything written on this goal this month.

4. Didn't originally have a goal for Before the Dawn, but was able to write around 1800 words this month.

Here are my goals for the month of November:

1. Complete 1,500 words on my "Demonkiller" WIP.

2. Complete 1,500 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel.

3. Complete 1,500 words on Before the Dawn.

Weekly Goals - October 27, 2018

Currently attempting to meet my October goals. Here's the recap for this past week:

1. Write 1000 words on my Aston novel, Before the Dawn. Completed around 1800 words on this goal.
2. Write 1000 words on my "Demonkiller" story. Completed around 500 words on this goal.

Now, my goals for the coming week:
1. Write 1000 words on my Aston novel, Before the Dawn.
2. Write 1000 words on my "Demonkiller" story.

Weekly Goals - October 20, 2018

Well, it's been a while since I've provided a weekly update. Given the chaos during the week, figured I would switch up to providing updates on Saturdays instead of Mondays. Currently attempting to meet my October goals. Here's the recap for this past week:

1. Completed around 400 words on my "Demonkiller" story.

Now, my goals for the coming week:
1. Write 1000 words on my Aston novel, Before the Dawn.
2. Write 1000 words on my "Demonkiller" story.

October 2018 Writing Goals

Unfortunately, with my journey to Siouxpercon and the subsequent vacation across South Dakota, and then the inevitable chaos to sort through at work and home afterward, my timing on getting this post out is a bit off. It's now been nine (and a half) months since I first started working toward my writing goals. Unfortunately, due to some health issues that kept me sidelined, and from other vacations, things were a bit slow on the writing front this past month.

So, here are the results for September:

1. Complete 3,000 words on Before the Dawn. - Didn't get anything written on this goal this month.

2. Complete 3,000 words on my "Demonkiller" WIP.  - Didn't complete this goal, but did get around 2000 words written this month.

3. Complete 3,000 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel. - Didn't get anything written on this goal this month.

4. Write 2,500 words on a new Aston West short story.  - Didn't get anything written on this goal this month.

Here are my goals for the month of October (trimmed down due to timing):

1. Complete 1,500 words on my "Demonkiller" WIP.

2. Complete 1,500 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel.

3. Write 500 words on a new Aston West short story.

Thanks, Siouxpercon!

Had a great time at Siouxpercon this past weekend. Can honestly say that this 3-day convention was the best I've had, both in terms of enjoyment at the event and in terms of books sold. So, thank you everyone who stopped by and picked up some of my books! Looking forward to coming back next year...

Here was the Sioux Falls Convention Center where we were set up...

My wife behind the table in her "Mistress of Mystery" outfit...

And with one of her brand new corsets from another vendor at the event...

Plenty of folks in costume this weekend...didn't catch them all, of course, but here are just a few...

Welcome to Siouxpercon!

Welcome to everyone stopping by the website after picking up materials at Siouxpercon! Having a great time at this, my first visit. Friday was an atypical first day for a 3-day con, with things a bit slow for most of the day until everyone got off work. And then business picked up, and had one of the better first days (sales-wise) than I'd had in a while. Here's hoping for a great rest of the weekend...stop on by and pick up copies of my titles, including my latest, Stormrunner (which is making its con debut this weekend).

 This fellow below (his name is Steve) is our neighbor across the aisle, courtesy of the folks at the Fear Asylum. He seems to sleep a lot, until someone inevitably wakes him up, and then he gets all loud and cranky (but don't we all!). It's always fun to see the reactions the crowd has when he awakens.

Another first this weekend is that I was able to meet my writer friend (whom I've known online for some time), Doug White. Stop by his table and check out his books as well!

Lots of good stuff to see here at Siouxpercon...and good thing they put these guys next to the Fear Asylum crew...because who else are you gonna call?

So, looking forward to a great weekend here at Siouxpercon, and hope to see you all at the table! And if you've already come by, check out the links near the top of the page (or the drop-down on mobile devices) where you can find excerpts from my novels/novellas and collections, and then head on over to Amazon, where you can buy any of my books (or you can stop by the table this weekend and get them at a discounted rate)

September 2018 Writing Goals

Well, it's been eight months since I first started working toward my writing goals. Things were on an upward trend this month, but still a bit weak.

So, here are the results for August:

1. Complete 3,000 words on Before the Dawn. - Didn't get anything written on this goal this month.

2. Complete 3,000 words on my "Demonkiller" WIP.  - Completed this goal with over 3100 words written this month.

3. Complete 3,000 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel. - Didn't complete this goal, but did get around 500 words written this month.

4. Write 2,500 words on a new Aston West short story.  - Didn't get anything written on this goal this month.

Here are my goals for the month of September (along with this next week's goals):

1. Complete 3,000 words on Before the Dawn. This will require 750 words per week, or around 375 words per day, writing two days per week.

2. Complete 3,000 words on my "Demonkiller" WIP. This comes up to 750 words per week, or 375 words per day if I write two days per week.

3. Complete 3,000 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel. This will require 750 words per week, or 375 words per day if I write two days per week.

4. Write 2,500 words on a new Aston West short story. This will require 625 words per week, which should be able to be completed in a single day.

Weekly Goals - August 27, 2018

Currently attempting to meet my August goals. Here's the recap:

1. Write 750 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel. - Didn't quite complete this goal, but did get over 500 words this week.
2. Write 750 words on my "Demonkiller" story. - Didn't start this goal.

Now, my goals for the coming week:
1. Write 750 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel.
2. Write 750 words on my "Demonkiller" story.

Weekly Goals - August 20, 2018

Unfortunately, it's been a rough few weeks, but I have been able to get some writing done (even if I've been slacking on the weekly recap). Currently attempting to meet my August goals. Here's the recap:

1. Write 750 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel. - Wasn't able to work this goal.
2. Write 750 words on my "Demonkiller" story. - Completed this goal with around 2500 words on this one (over 3 weeks, still comes up above the weekly goal for an average).

Now, my goals for the coming week:
1. Write 750 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel.
2. Write 750 words on my "Demonkiller" story.

August 2018 Writing Goals

Well, it's been seven months since I first started working toward my writing goals. Things were still a bit weak this month, but on an upward trend. I also completed all of my edits on Stormrunner, which completed one of my annual goals.

So, here are the results for July:

1. Complete 3,000 words on Before the Dawn. - Didn't get anything written on this goal this month.

2. Complete 3,000 words on my "Demonkiller" WIP.  - Didn't complete this goal, but did get around 1500 words written this month.

3. Complete 3,000 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel. - Didn't complete this goal, but did get around 1900 words written this month.

4. Write 2,500 words on a new Aston West short story.  - Didn't get anything written on this goal this month.

5. Published Stormrunner in e-book format, with the paperback getting close. [extra results beyond the original goals]

Here are my goals for the month of August:

1. Complete 3,000 words on Before the Dawn. This will require 750 words per week, or around 375 words per day, writing two days per week.

2. Complete 3,000 words on my "Demonkiller" WIP. This comes up to 750 words per week, or 375 words per day if I write two days per week.

3. Complete 3,000 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel. This will require 750 words per week, or 375 words per day if I write two days per week.

4. Write 2,500 words on a new Aston West short story. This will require 625 words per week, which should be able to be completed in a single day.

Weekly Goals - July 30, 2018

Currently attempting to meet my July goals. Had a pretty decent week this time. Here's the recap:

1. Write 1500 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel. - Completed this goal with around 1500 words on this one.

Now, my goals for the coming week:
1. Write 750 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel.
2. Write 750 words on my "Demonkiller" story.
 

Weekly Goals - July 23, 2018

Currently attempting to meet my July goals. Missed last week's recap due to other responsibilities, so this one will cover two week's worth of output. Here's the recap:

1. Write 750 words on Before the Dawn. - Didn't get anything written on this one.
2. Write 750 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel. - Didn't get anything written on this one.
3. Write 625 words on a new Aston West short story. - Didn't get anything written on this one.
4. Write 750 words on my "Demonkiller" story. - Wrote around 1500 words on this one.

Now, my goals for the coming week:
1. Write 1500 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel.

STORMRUNNER Excerpt

Stormrunner is now officially released for the Kindle, and is available over at Amazon.

Go ahead and check out this excerpt.

Life tends to throw you for a loop when you least expect it. Unfortunately, it sometimes throws me for a loop, even when I expect it all the time.

I was staring at the long-range navigational charts on my side console screens, and kicking myself for not scoping out the details of this job before I took it. That was the trouble with consistently having a cash flow problem, that you tend not to be choosy.

If I had actually done some homework first, I would have noticed the fact there was only one direct path from my last stop to my next, Rubicon. Giant areas of plasma storms called the Tycho fields stagnated between here and there, making it impassable as far as a direct route goes. Someone finally built a transport with technology that could navigate through the expanse, making it a bit more feasible. The only way to get to Rubicon was to circumnavigate the Tycho fields until you reached the planet from the other direction, which meant a huge delay in arrival, and likely a huge cut in my pay, if I even received any at all.

Given the minimal cash I always had, I probably would have taken the job anyway, even without the transport.

Jeanie, my ship’s computer, broke my concentration. “The orbital station is transmitting an automated message.”

“Put it through.”

A female voice announced in broken, mechanical-like diction, “Next scheduled departure is imminent. All vessels wishing to traverse the Tycho fields should make contact with the comptroller to arrange for payment.”

I asked Jeanie, even though I already knew the answer, “And you’re sure we’re not better off going around it?”

“Travel on the transport is slightly cheaper than the fuel burn required for circumnavigation of the storms. You will not make much profit with this job, either way. But the on-time arrival will at least help build goodwill with the client.”

I sighed. “Make contact and arrange payment.”

Then I looked over toward the station sitting just this side of the phenomena’s edge. The round, spherical structure was fairly non-descript, with its shiny silver outer hull. For what it was worth, it was dwarfed by the actual transport ship resting nearby.

The vessel seemed like it may have been modified from an old Ursulan freighter, with its squashed hexagon form, and the large spherical dome on top of the forward end of the ship where the bridge would have been located. It didn’t seem to have a full complement of cargo bay doors along the entire length of the ship, though, and had several curved, blade-like appendages mounted all over the outer hull. It wouldn’t win any beauty contests anytime soon, but if it did its job of getting through the expanse in one piece, it didn’t need to be pretty.

The mechanical female voice returned. “Aston West, you and your vessel are now approved for passage through the Tycho fields. Please proceed to the transport vessel. Arrival information has been transmitted to your navigation computer.”

Jeanie alerted me, “Information is loaded. Proceeding to the transport vessel.”

We altered course a bit to the right, where I focused instead on the plasma storm field itself. It was rather hard to see anything out there, but if you strained your eyes, you could make out a large blurring of the stars, as if there were thin clouds of gas in the way. Every so often, I would see streams of light zigzag in the blur.

“Doesn’t seem all that impressive to me. Sure we couldn’t have just made a run for it?”

Jeanie was matter-of-fact, as always. “Those small light streams you see are powerful charges transmitting within the phenomenon. When metallic structures, such as ships, pass through, they attract the charges and end up severely damaged as a result, if not destroyed.”

I leaned back in my chair, admitting defeat to myself. But then, I wondered aloud, “So how do they take a huge ship like that through?”

“They keep the technology tightly guarded, to prevent other ships from learning how to traverse the phenomenon by themselves.”

It seemed wrong on so many levels, but I probably would have done the same thing. Cash flow is king in the depths of space.

We continued toward the transport, as one of the side panels lifted and opened wide for us. Jeanie did her usual expert job of taking us in, giving me a brief glimpse into the landing bay just before we rotated back around and drifted backward between two similar-sized vessels already docked inside.

My landing skids touched down gracefully, and the outer door closed while another automated message came through. “All travelers shall remain on their vessels until the transport vessel enters the Tycho fields, at which point an all-clear message will be provided and permission to move about the ship granted. Anyone found violating this order shall be required to leave the transport vessel and all monies shall be forfeited. Anyone who resists shall be subject to deadly force.”

“Friendly,” I muttered.

“I do not believe they are exaggerating,” Jeanie told me. “Individuals in pressure suits are standing guard at various spots in the hangar, including all exits, armed with automatic burst rifles.”

Suddenly I wasn’t sure this was the greatest idea.

Buy a Copy From These Stores:

Print	E-Book
Amazon	Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Weekly Goals - July 9, 2018

Currently attempting to meet my July goals. A real struggle this past week. Here's the recap:

1. Write 750 words on Before the Dawn. - Didn't get anything written on this one.
2. Write 750 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel. - Wrote just under 400 words on this one.
3. Write 625 words on a new Aston West short story. - Didn't get anything written on this one.
4. Write 750 words on my "Demonkiller" story. - Didn't get anything written on this one.

Now, my goals for the coming week:
1. Write 750 words on Before the Dawn.
2. Write 750 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel.
3. Write 625 words on a new Aston West short story.
4. Write 750 words on my "Demonkiller" story.

July 2018 Writing Goals

Well, it's been six months since I first started working toward my writing goals. Things were still a bit weak this month.

So, here are the results for June:

1. Complete 3,000 words on Before the Dawn. - Didn't get anything written on this goal this month.

2. Complete 3,000 words on my "Demonkiller" WIP.  - Didn't complete this goal, but did get around 2,400 words written this month.

3. Complete 3,000 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel. - Didn't get anything written on this goal this month.

4. Write 2,500 words on a new Aston West short story (other than "Toll Road"). This will require 625 words per week, which should be able to be completed in a single day. - Didn't get anything written on this goal this month.

Here are my goals for the month of July (along with my goals for this coming week):

1. Complete 3,000 words on Before the Dawn. This will require 750 words per week, or a little over 250 words per day, writing three days per week. Setting a goal this next week of 750 words.

2. Complete 3,000 words on my "Demonkiller" WIP. This comes up to 750 words per week, or 250 words per day if I write three days per week. Setting a goal this next week of 750 words, after getting nearly 1,000 words over the past two weeks.

3. Complete 3,000 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel. This will require 750 words per week, or 250 words per day if I write three days per week. Setting a goal this next week of 750 words.

4. Write 2,500 words on a new Aston West short story. This will require 625 words per week, which should be able to be completed in a single day. Setting a goal of coming up with a short story plot and writing 625 words this next week.

Welcome, Smallville Fans!

Enjoying my time at Smallville this weekend, and thought I'd pop in to introduce myself to all of the new folks popping by to check out the site...from my bio:

T. M. Hunter has always had a fascination with travel to other worlds, earning a B. S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Kansas. His works have often been compared to the great pulp writers of the last century.

He mainly writes action-adventure stories in his Aston West universe, with a series of novels, standalone novellas and short story collections (all featuring space pirate Aston West). He also has a standalone thriller from the same universe, even though Aston does not make an appearance. In the pipeline, he’s currently working on a paranormal thriller and a near-future mystery (separate from the Aston universe), and also a pair of additional Aston tales.

In the sliver of spare time that he has, when not adoring his wife, working in the aircraft industry, volunteering for his church, or penning new tales, he also plays electric bass as part of a local classic rock band.

Weekly Goals - June 18, 2018

Currently attempting to meet my June goals. Here's the recap:
1. Write 750 words on Before the Dawn. - Didn't get anything written on this one.
2. Write 1500 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel. - Didn't get anything written on this one.
3. Write 625 words on a new Aston West short story. - Didn't get anything written on this one.
4. Write 1000 words on my "Demonkiller" story. - Completed around 600 words on this one.


Now, my goals for the coming week:
1. Write 750 words on Before the Dawn.
2. Write 1500 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel.
3. Write 625 words on a new Aston West short story.
4. Write 1000 words on my "Demonkiller" story.

Weekly Goals - June 11, 2018

Missed putting out last week's results, so will combine the last two weeks. 

Currently attempting to meet my June goals. Here's the recap:
1. Write 750 words on Before the Dawn. - Didn't get anything written on this one.
2. Write 1500 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel. - Wrote around 1400 words on this one.
3. Write 625 words on a new Aston West short story. - Didn't get anything written on this one.
4. Completed 800 words on my "Demonkiller" story.
 
Now, my goals for the coming week:
1. Write 750 words on Before the Dawn.
2. Write 1500 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel.
3. Write 625 words on a new Aston West short story. 
4. Write 1000 words on my "Demonkiller" story.

June 2018 Writing Goals

Well, it's been five months since I first started working toward my writing goals. Things were a bit weak this month, but better than nothing.

So, here are the results for May:




1. Complete edits on "Toll Road" (or whatever the new title will be). - Completed this goal (with the title of Stormrunner). This is now with beta readers, and a cover artist. Hoping to have this ready for Smallville, later this month. But I have this feeling we'll be looking at this for Air Cap instead.

2. Complete 3,000 words on Before the Dawn. - Didn't get anything written on this goal this month.

3. Complete 3,000 words on my "Demonkiller" WIP.  - Didn't complete this goal, but did get around 2,200 words written this month.

4. Complete 3,000 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel. - Didn't complete this goal, but did get around 2,000 words written this month.

5. Write 2,500 words on a new Aston West short story (other than "Toll Road"). This will require 625 words per week, which should be able to be completed in a single day. - Didn't get anything written on this goal this month.

Here are my goals for the month of June:

1. Complete 3,000 words on Before the Dawn. This will require 750 words per week, or a little over 250 words per day, writing three days per week.

2. Complete 3,000 words on my "Demonkiller" WIP. This comes up to 750 words per week, or 250 words per day if I write three days per week.

3. Complete 3,000 words on my sci-fi suspense/mystery novel. This will require 750 words per week, or 250 words per day if I write three days per week.

4. Write 2,500 words on a new Aston West short story. This will require 625 words per week, which should be able to be completed in a single day.