Oh, now what!?

It's been awhile since I've been here. In fact, I'm assuming I'm just writing this for myself. The only way I know the BBS is alive is by all the spam notifications I get every day.

My regular web site has died. I let my domain lapse. I know, I know, how could I? It was my actual name. But, the bottom line is that GoDaddy is impossible to deal with. Their site is just so convoluted and difficult to navigate. I couldn't get to my files or edit my pages without slamming into a wall that asks me to spend more money.

I just didn't have the time to mess with it.

So, what now? Do I forgo the whole web site thing and simply concentrate once again on the Baby Blue Spider? Do I try to get another web domain going? What do I do?

Must go and ponder.

IT'S ALIVE!!!

I'm proud to announce the first chapter of the first blognovel in a LONG TIME is now live over at the Heart of Bronze site!

I hope you'll give it a read, I hope you'll follow each new chapter as they're posted every Wednesday, and I hope you'll leave comments for me at my facebook page. This is where I'd post a link to my facebook page, but I'll be derned if I can figure out how to get to it (I have two, both with my name on them). Tell you what, find Michael Rigg on facebook and if the picture is either the cover of "Heart of Bronze" or the covers of "August Winter" or "An Angel for Sara Dawn," you found me.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

HEART OF BRONZE IS LAUNCHED

Nuff said.

See it here!

Heart of Bronze 001

It's time to check in.

My new blognovel, Heart of Bronze (formerly "Brass Heart") begins this week. I'm hoping to have the introduction and acknowledgments up and running by Wednesday, and I'll be posting up chapter 1 a week from Wednesday, following up each week after that with a new chapter every week until the whole story is written.

I'd like to announce the first Heart of Bronze contest winner!

I've selected a cover to launch the new novel. Ethan Richards' cover, which I've dubbed 'Flag' is my selection to launch the story. Naturally, as the story progresses (Like "August Winter" it will flow from the hearts of the characters. There's no outline or notes. The story will just move on its own. I can't even say how long it will be) the feel behind the cover may change. Will 'Heart' become more of a war story, more straightforward Steampunk, more of a romance?

Time and typing will tell. And, as the story progresses, I'll be happy to see your art and designs, so keep 'em coming. I'll leave the contest open for the first five chapters, so you essentially have until mid-June.

In the meantime, here is Ethan's cover. I hope you'll enjoy the story. Stay tuned.


Above: Ethan Richards' cover elements for Heart of Bronze. Author's note: I made some changes to Ethan's submission to more closely conform it to my own vision during launch week. Still, the basis of his intentions are close to my own in a lot of the elements.

Ethan now gets to submit a character who will make an appearance in the story. I haven't decided yet whether or not to tell you who that will be ;)

You really should follow this....

Periodic check-in #1.

I just wanted to let you all know that the NOVEL COVER CONTEST is still on. The details are still up at MichaelRigg.com and, if you comb back through a few Spider entries, you'll find the promised snippets of chapters 1 and 2.

Get your entries in ;)

Talk to you soon!

Mike

Wha?

Where have I been?

Or, more accurately, where am I going?

I haven't posted in awhile because I recently went back into the hospital for treatment of atrial fibrillation. I'm under fresh care, traded out some BP drugs for some drugs to give me rhythm, but the bottom line is that I need SLEEEEEEP.

In order to get the sleep I need, I have to cut some things out of my morning routine. The first to go, I'm sorry to say, was the Baby Blue Spider.

I have to be honest with myself and honesty tells me that no one is really reading this. Even as I look back on my 'reboot', I have to say honestly, "If you've been keeping up with this... why?" It's not like it used to be. The humor is gone, and so is the focus.

So, I'm taking another hiatus from the BBS.

I may be back from time to time with little updates, but truth be told I need find a focus for myself. I'm not through with blogging, just like I'm not through with the podcasting career I never started. I just need to find the time, find the energy, and find the focus.

Still want to follow me?

Sure, I welcome all stalkers. Watch for me to increase my presence on facebook. You can find me as, who else, Michael Rigg (the one from Chicago).

Take care and I'll talk to you soon.

HUGE PS: Watch for the new blognovel coming in May. You can keep up with that at MichaelRigg.com.

Weekend Report

FRIDAY
The weekend kicked off with a great dinner with my wife and mother-in-law at a local Polish buffet restaurant. This marked the first time I didn't come home sick from blintzitis. It was a nice evening with mom, very relaxing and pleasant with no disasters.

SATURDAY
The highlight was venturing out with my wife to the Lincoln Oasis to see a mini bicycle conference. This held two special things for me, the first being that I remember when I was about 6 years old and my father taking us on vacation. We stopped at the oasis as a treat so I could watch the cars on the expressway zooming past under my feet. It was cool bringing back that memory. The other specialty was being with my wife and getting pumped about biking again. The weather touched the 80s, so it was the perfect inspiration. I learned a few things about bicycle checking, got tons of maps, and snagged a few business cards for local bicycling clubs. It's going to be a sprocket summer, that's for sure!

SUNDAY
Hot, hot, hot. It was officially the first day of AC usage as the weather touched the 80s. While my wife went to work, I took mom-in-law home. I hit a bike trail out in Portage, then my wife and I decided to head out for a two-mile hike at Wicker Park. The real treat? We did NOT stop for ice-cream. It was awesome getting in all that exercise this weekend and I can't wait until the next heat wave hits.