"MERLIN & ARTHUR: THE AWAKENING" - Manuscript Finished!

The manuscript of my latest SciFi/Fantasy novel, Merlin & Arthur: The Awakening is done. It is over 162,000 words and has thirty-four chapters, plus a Prologue.

I began the research for this novel, which I originally entitled "M", in March of 2016. After three months of preparation, I actually started writing it in June of 2016, and just finished it yesterday, August 26, 2019.

It has been an unbelievable journey that has included some wonderful characters such as Merlin and Arthur, of course, but also many, many others. The plot takes place across the globe in such places as Carmarthen Wales, Glastonbury England, many cities and villages across Russia, and in Alaska. It has magic as well as science fiction, real places mixed with fictional scenes, humor, great sorrow and pain, international intrigue, love, joy, adventure, and events based on current politics, history, legend, and imagination.

I am extremely proud of all the hard work, sweat, tears, and dreams that have gone into this, and I hope to be able to share it with you in the not-too-distant future. But my approach with publishing this book will be different than with my others. I just sent it off to be edited, and in the meantime, I'm leaving on a trip to Europe where I'll be gone for a year. We'll get the manuscript into its final form, and then I'll send it off to as many agents as I can. Then while I'm in Europe, I'll attempt to meet with some agents and publishers there, as well as enter it in some writing competitions.

If I can find a publisher or an agent, I will go that route to publish the book. If not, I'll publish it independently as I have my others.

While I'm in Europe, I've also decided to step away from writing prose for a time and work on my poetry. Many of you have read some of my poems on the blog. I'd love to write more and publish a book of poetry. It was my first love after leaving the music business. Now I'm anxious to get back into it.

Just yesterday, I noticed that my blog is now being read in 70 countries, and I wanted to thank all of you for your interest and support of my work. When I started all this, my goal was to share my struggles as well as my writing. I didn't want to merely try to impress; I wanted to be real and honest.

I'm looking forward to improving everyday, gaining more readers, and producing work that I can continue to be proud of. If you want to read any of my other books, you can get a printed copy or download it onto your Kindle through any of Amazon's websites around the world. Just do a search on Amazon with my name in quotes: "Bob Stegner". I wish my books were written in other languages, but for now they're only in English.

So...keep watching my blog. I'll let you know what's going on with my writing, what's happening with Merlin & Arthur: The Awakening, and when it will be available. I'll also be publishing some of my new poetry on my blog, so keep an eye out for that.

Thanks for taking this journey with me!

Bob Stegner

As of today, my blog is now being read in 72 countries!!!

I want to say hello to everyone around the world who is reading my blog! Kenya, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan and Armenia just joined us and are the 69th, 70th, 71st, and 72nd countries on the list! Welcome! 

Here's a complete list of the countries.

• United States
• Poland
• Ukraine
• France
• Turkey
• Germany
• Denmark
• China
• Russia
• United Kingdom
• Spain
• Netherlands
• Belgium
• Romania
• Taiwan
• Saudi Arabia
• Italy
• Canada
• Brazil
• Indonesia
• Mexico
• Vietnam
• Thailand
• Colombia
• Austria
• Macau
• Ireland
• India
• Singapore
• Moldova
• Pakistan
• Netherlands Antilles
• South Africa
• Philippines
• Czech Republic
• Finland
• Malaysia
• Kenya
• Australia
• Estonia
• Japan
• United Arab Emirates
• Greece
• Nepal
• Bangladesh
• Switzerland
• Hungary
• Portugal
• Slovenia
• Bulgaria
• Israel
• Mongolia
• Puerto Rico
• Iraq
• Latvia
• Serbia
• Sweden
• Georgia
• Azerbaijan
• Iceland
• Croatia
• Egypt
• Algeria
• Turkmenistan
• Cypress
• South Korea
• Ecuador
• Kenya
• Ethiopia
• Kazakhstan
• Armenia

My Favorite Poem!

"The Road Not Taken"

by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Another Of My Favorite Poets: Seamus Heaney from Ireland

"Bogland"

by Seamus Heaney

We have no prairies 

To slice a big sun at evening-- 

Everywhere the eye concedes to 

Encrouching horizon, 

Is wooed into the cyclops' eye 

Of a tarn. Our unfenced country 

Is bog that keeps crusting 

Between the sights of the sun. 

They've taken the skeleton 

Of the Great Irish Elk 

Out of the peat, set it up 

An astounding crate full of air. 

Butter sunk under 

More than a hundred years 

Was recovered salty and white. 

The ground itself is kind, black butter 

Melting and opening underfoot, 

Missing its last definition 

By millions of years. 

They'll never dig coal here, 

Only the waterlogged trunks 

Of great firs, soft as pulp. 

Our pioneers keep striking 

Inwards and downwards, 

Every layer they strip 

Seems camped on before. 

The bogholes might be Atlantic seepage. 

The wet centre is bottomless. 

MERLIN & ARTHUR: The Awakening -- Almost finished!

I'm finally working on the last chapter of my new SciFi/Fantasy novel, Merlin & Arthur: The Awakening. Once chapter 30 is done, I'll write the epilogue, and then the book will go into editing. I can't believe I'm this close to finishing the first draft! It's been quite a journey!

Writing the climax of the book has been an incredible experience, not only because of the book's complexity but also because of how hard I've labored to keep the tension building to the very end. It's been a challenge, but I'm extremely pleased with how it's coming together.

I'm looking forward to sharing Merlin & Arthur: The Awakening with you! It will still be awhile before it's published but keep checking my blog for updates. When it's done and when it's published, you'll be the first to know!

One Of My Favorite Poets

Mary Oliver

Mary Oliver is one of my favorite poets. Sadly she passed away in January of this year. I'll miss her voice.

Update: My New Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novel

In my new Sci-Fi/Fantasy novel, Merlin & Arthur: The Awakening, I'm currently working on chapter 26. I've written over 123,000 words so far and just recently entered the build up to the climax.  It will take place over several chapters, and there will be an epilogue at the end to tie it all together.

I'll be leaving for Scotland again, probably in September, so I'm hoping to complete the book within a couple of months or so.

This particular novel has not been an easy one to write. I started it on October 16, 2016, and have been working on it since. Three months before that, I did a great deal of research to prepare, and it didn't stop there. In every chapter since, I've had to continue to do additional research. In fact, the other day it took two hours to complete one paragraph due to the need to look up information.

The story has elements of the Merlin and Arthur legend in it that I wanted to carry on within the plot, but most of it is told slightly in the future. It takes place in various locations around the world and has an important strand of international intrigue built in as well. Throughout the plot there's a large cast of characters, several government agencies from different countries, and aspects of fantasy and science fiction woven throughout.

As you can imagine, it's been an incredible amount of work, but I've loved every minute of it and have approached this book somewhat differently than my others. From the start, I set out to have each chapter be mini-story of sorts, yet still write it in such a way as to encourage the reader to wonder about what would happen next. I also incorporated a similar writing philosophy within each sentence and paragraph, attempting to end them with the most important word or phrase - not burying the lead, so to speak.

One last tidbit that I wanted to share with you was that I've been struggling mightily with the climax and ending of the book. However, two days ago I was working on chapter 26, and it all started coming together. I was relieved and extremely excited! I take a great deal of pride in how my books end, and I didn't want to let myself, the characters, or you down with this one. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I'm looking forward to sharing Merlin & Arthur: The Awakening with you!

Keep checking my blog for updates. When it's done, you'll be the first to know!