Hi readers,

So, it's that time of year again...time for another hiatus update!

I got my stuff sorted out with a cushy new data scientist job that requires a little more extra attention right now and started my M.S. program with Georgia Tech and all is smooth sailing health and relationship wise.

So...time to go back to writing new chapters, right? Nope. Not quite there yet. As I was learning Java for my new gig, I thought I would try to have some fun while learning with a Game dev library - Libgdx which was a rabbit hole that led me to thinking about what kind of game I wanted to make. I didn't want to make a trash game, so I designed up a whopper. The problem is, implementing that in Java would be hell, so I looked into game engine options. Now I'm learning Godot on the side as well as learning how to draw art with future focus on pixel art. Might invest in anime style too as a personal interest for story purposes. Keep in mind that I've only drawn stick figures poorly up until now.

I don't expect to reach a artistically good level to make good looking stuff, but hopefully at some point be able to create tile sets and concept art ideas for a better artist to flesh out. If I invest in the art skills, this can also mean that I can sketch out future scenes much better for my story artist to draw in his style, rather than me writing it in text form, and he comprehends it in a different way. Speaking of artist, he will be unavailable for 2 years or so. There was some art he was working on for me he hasn't finished that should come out before that timeframe. I should be expecting the cover art to be redone, a CH34 scene, and a future scene. Sounds like he's got some stuff going on in life too, so all the timelines may be pushed back.

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We haven't reached a point where Rocky is reintroduced in the story, but the artwork is up on the art page. I also have a new Leila (Princess Irene) pic which I don't recall if I mentioned before. There is one other art piece done that is a bit of a spoiler, so I'm keeping that private until it's time.

Anyway, I want to at least jump start the game dev process, so I can normalize my time between writing, game dev, learning to draw, school, work, relationship, other stuff. I'm going pretty hard on this, so I should be ready to start development within a month. At that point I hope it will only take a few weeks until normalization. After that, I need to start reviewing notes for the story plus time to write the next chapter. Seeing how my previous estimates have been wrong, I'll be more conservative this time. My goal for next chapter release is around May or June, but my optimistic timeline is April.

I know this is my longest hiatus yet, but it wasn't for nothing. I spent almost 100% of that time doing something fairly productive, so it's all going to save time in the long run. Promise there are no other possible roadblocks, unless something dramatic happens... Keeping my fingers crossed.

-Skywind