>More Cowgirl Stuff

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Studies done for my Cowgirl piece. I think these were probably more fun. I might have to admit that for my current workload and time the whole project might have been too ambitious a project, but live and learn. It’s one reason I quit my job. I’ve got a new career to build. I’m going to turn these into two pieces, both that kind of Old West style badassery where someone poses in front of their wanted poster with bullet holes in it.

>Utter Lack of Humility

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I think that title probably best describes myself in all sectors. Black Phoenix is near ready for publication, halfway through a read through, almost done going through the writers’ group, and a little tweaking here and there(ever ongoing until it hits shelves really) will make it done. So, got into it with some folks about query letters that are sent out to agents. I wrote a letter I thought was pretty exciting, but people want to dull it down my putting the bit and about paragraph at the front. This goes with what some agents have told me, but most I’ve talked to in person say they want it to be exciting. I did make adjustments, chopped it down some, but won’t do this thing they say.
I’ve also seen some pretty unconventional query letters get good reviews and reponses from agents. Most of the good ones over at Query Shark have an exciting body and then a little bit about the book/market at the end. I chose that structure, because I found that more fun too, and I’d want an agent more like myself. The way I see it, if you never stay true to yourself you’re going to wind up surrounded by people you don’t like. One day you’ll snap, dump all your friends, and start over as you go on to live as the person you wanted to be. That’s not something I want to go through with a literary agent.
If all fails, I’ll adjust. But it’s better to do it your way first, and increase your chances of connecting with someone. Otherwise, you’ll just be a pretender. I’ve done that. It’s a living hell. To that, I say, “Never again.”

>Civic Security

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The guys below the Spire, Civic Security, maintain order within the police state Nexus imposes on the Earth. Civic Security began as the military arm, but has since been relegated to the cities when the Guard was established. The first, best specimens of male humanity filled the ranks in the beginning, but 15 years later it’s made of dead enders, undesirable genetic specimens. But they are not sterlized like the general male population. This is considered a perk. The result is that these “Watchmen” keep order through brutality and masochistic abuse. So long as they do their jobs and keep their hands off of citizens marked as “Genetic Priority” they can do pretty much what they want to anyone. Their equipment is essentially leftovers from Nexus’s early years on Earth, so they don’t look much different from 21st century military police forces. They have on call armored personnel carriers, gunships, and transports for support.