What is Charlie's role?

Anyone who's followed my Facebook Author Page in recent weeks is aware that I've been working really hard to finish A Bone to Pick, the second novel in the XK9 "Bones" Trilogy. I went on a writing retreat August 23-26, and made huge strides--but I still haven't quite finished yet. My goal was to finish by September 1, and I'm so close! But still working.

The new book starts right after What's Bred in the Bone ends. Rex, Shady, and the Pack are back, along with all their friends and allies. But the new book also focuses on Rex's partner Charlie's struggles--and the answer to the question, "What is Charlie's role?"

I hope it's not too much of a spoiler to say that Charlie received traumatic injuries in a space dock accident, directly followed by the "explosive micro-deconstruction" of the spaceship Izgubil, near the beginning of  What's Bred in the Bone. He was out of the picture, in the hospital, during most of Rex's adventures in the first book.

Rex's normal partner, Charlie Morgan, couldn't play much of a role in What's Bred in the Bone. He was gravely injured, and in the hospital. Occasionally, by necessity, Rex teamed up with Lead Special Agent Shiva "Shiv" Shimon,  as seen in this detail from the cover art, © 2019 by Jody A. Lee. 

Although some reviewers have been puzzled or annoyed that he wasn't a big factor in the first book, his absence was the catalyst for a lot of Rex's growth. Rex couldn't stand back and let Charlie handle things, because Charlie wasn't there. Rex had to step up and handle things on his own.

An early concept image of Charlie and Rex,
by artist Jeff Porter.

But now Charlie's out of re-gen, awake, and recovering. What is Charlie's role? Has Rex moved on? Is Charlie now irrelevant? Bringing Charlie's story into the ongoing mystery has given me a chance to explore issues such as post-traumatic stress, depression, and the healing power of having animals (including sapient ones) and supportive humans in one's life. These are issues that are not only relevant to Charlie and the story--they're relevant to many contemporary lives.

Originally conceived as a single book, the Izgubil mystery won't fully unfold until the end of the third XK9 "Bones" book, Bone of Contention. But I hope readers will discover a full story arc and an interesting tale in A Bone to Pick. Publication date is scheduled for next May, from Weird Sisters Publishing LLC.

IMAGE CREDITS: Many thanks to Jody A. Lee, my cover artist for What's Bred in the Bone, and to Jeff Porter (better known for his game illustrations), for the developmental image of Rex and Charlie. You both have been a pleasure to work with!

Finished—Sort of

You may have noticed (If so, bless you!) that I didn’t post much on my blog last week. What’s up with that? Massive stuff going on in my life, that’s what.

My first novel, finished in 1979, actually was written
on one of these.

I very recently finished a full draft of a science fiction novel. This is the fifth novel manuscript for which I’ve been able to write “The End” in my adult life. The working title of the current opus is Going to the XK9s.

XK9s are forensic olfaction specialists, (dogs) whose universe-class noses make them something of a forensic analysis lab on four legs, and whose genetically-modified verbal-logic enhancements have pushed them over "the line" (wherever that lies, exactly) into sapience. 

Rex looks a bit like real-life hero dog Lucas, who
in 2015 saved his partner, Deputy Todd Frazier,
after Frazier was ambushed by three assailants.

My protagonist is Rex, the “Leader of the Pack.” The other POV characters are his opinionated mate Shady and his somewhat beleaguered human partner Charlie.

My logline (still a work in progress) reads: A genetically-engineered police dog must innovate crime-solving approaches on a major case to prove his Pack is sapient and deserves freedom, before enemies—both from the Project that created them and from the criminal underworld—can destroy them.

I’ve mentioned “the novel” in past posts, most notably in the Space Station DIY series (an outgrowth of my research, since a large space station is the primary setting for the novel). 

The XK9s were inspired by recent scientific explorations of dog cognition, recent discoveries of dogs' ability to sense medical conditions by scent, and canine capabilities in search and rescue, drug enforcement, and bomb detection.

Present-day forensic olfaction specialists in training. Photo by Reed Young.

Since I travel in science fiction circles, I meet a lot of people who are “working on a novel.” People who actually have finished one are rarer, but simply finishing a draft doesn’t mean it’s done.

Very few people “take dictation from God” on the very first draft, most certainly including me. Once the novel is “finished,” the editing begins. In my case that means hacking through thickets of luxuriant verbiage to focus, polish, and pare it down to a streamlined, more readable length.

Publishing today: a whole new set
of learning curves!

After that, professionals will review it. And after that . . . Oh, my. Publishing has changed almost beyond recognition since I worked with agents and editors in the 1980s. Lots of large learning curves ahead!

But meanwhile, it’s time to celebrate a nice milestone. 

IMAGES: Many thanks to PenUltimate Editorial Services for the manuscript-finished typewriter image; to ABC News, for the photo of heroic Belgian malinois Lucas (read his story); to Gizmodo, Smithsonian Mag and photographer Reed Young for the photo of bomb-sniffing dogs in training; and to CyberSalt, for the "Good Luck" road sign.