My last monthly recap was back in early June, which covered May. I don’t know if it was Covid, a new day job project, or something else, but June and July, from a writing perspective were very dry months. I wrote fewer new words in those two months than I have since early 2019. 

August was better, and I finally completed the first Babylon mystery, mainly by committing to an editorial date and forcing myself to meet it. I haven’t looked at the manuscript since I sent it off on September 1, but will open the covers next week and see what I actually have. The title has changed several times, but seems to have settled as Thieves in the Temple. 

I already know the broad outline for the second book, and need to do some final research before making a start on that. It’s not deep research, just refreshing my thoughts on some of the Babylonian customs around marriage.

Talking of research, if you write any historical fiction, I would strongly recommend academia.edu. It’s free to sign up, although there is a paid option. Once you enter your search criteria, and download some papers, the engine sends you recommendations. 

I spent some time yesterday clearing out my in-box of recommendations. Glancing through the summaries as I downloaded the papers triggered some new ideas, and the realization that even though I’m writing about a place and time nearly three thousand years ago, humanity hasn’t changed that much in the intervening years. 

I’m still trying to work out if that’s a good or bad thing!