So here I am, innocently writing away on Reboot. I’m doing a particularly difficult scene emotionally, and my writing tends to slow into short bursts when that happens.

I’m staring at the screen, my brain deep in the story, trying to get into the heads of the characters. Who would say what? What are they feeling right now? What would their reactions be? The usual. Totally focused.

And in waltzes my muse, a rolled up manuscript in her hand (my current editorial draft of Vhantalya, of course), and whaps it across the back of my skull.

BAM!

Just like that, I’m getting all sorts of ideas for a brand new book, a prequel to my Immortal Elements series. Characters, details, setting, plot; lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

Ok, ok, fine. I indulge my muse, flipping over to my bible for the series and jotting down some quick notes. Maybe if I get it out of my head and stored somewhere safe, I can get back to concentrating on Reboot. If I *do* write a prequel book to an already planned ten book series, it’s going on the end of my publishing timeline. There’s no rush.

Done, back to Reboot. Get another hundred words down.

My muse, the wonderful and hateful bitch that she is, is not to be daunted. The Immortal Elements series – of which Vhantalya is the first book – is a favorite of hers. In fact, Vhantalya itself came in the same way; with that glorious, furious nymph backhanding me over the head out of nowhere.

Honestly, I think she only talks to me at all so I’ll write this series. Allowing me to do my other books is something she (barely) tolerates in exchange.

So she hits me again. ‘Oh! I could do this in the prequel, that would explain that character in the main series!’

Jot it down again, start to look back at Reboot. My muse braces herself, lifts the manuscript high…

So, now I have a headache, and about ten more ideas written down for this prequel, and not another word of Reboot written. I’m afraid to look at it now. She hits wicked hard.

Hopefully if I placate her she’ll go back to sleep for a little while and I can get back to it. For now, I need to dig up my ibuprofen and probably some neosporin for all these papercuts on my scalp. Oh, also, I’ll be adding The Ruhkend Blade up on my book timeline of works in progress.

I’m afraid she’ll bludgeon me senseless if I don’t.