mooderino

October 2020 Update

Hello. So obviously I’ve been a bit AWOL recently, for which I feel I owe people a bit of an explanation. This is the quick version (hopefully).

So, as some of you know, I live with my sister and her family. The main reason for this was because my mum lived here too and I looked after her. She had dementia and needed constant supervision. She also had cancer although it didn’t really have much of an effect. She was supposed to have died two years ago tops but she’d neve...

DD: Temp change to schedule

I think I'm going to have to change the DD schedule to twice a week, Wed and Fri. I'm finding I don't have the time atm with everyone at home and requiring looking after (my sisters kids mainly).

This will only be temporary (assuming the world won't end) but it's a bit too hectic round my place to get the chapters out on time.

I am getting stuff written but my writing time has always been a bit limited and the constant interruptions make it hard to get into a flow, which makes hit...

Unavoidable 24hr delay

Deeper Darker: Next chapter will be up tomorrow. Something something coronavirus. Not because of new POE league. Definitely not that.

March 2020 Update

Most of you will know I have decided to reboot Book 10 as I wasn't very happy with how it was going. Colin back on Earth just got a bit meandering and messy (for all sorts of irl reasons) and rather than rush to whatever ending I could come up with and then fix it in rewrites for the eBook version (which is what I was initially thinking) I'm going to start again with Colin's arrival home. This is the end of the whole series, so I want it to be as good as possible.

Now that IÂ...

February 2020 Update

IÂ’ve had a week off writing HTADDB and I slowly feel like my brain is decompressing back to its original shape. HereÂ’s my plan going forward.

I looked over what IÂ’d written for Book 10 and frankly it isnÂ’t good. The general direction is fine but the execution is all over the place. The narrative isnÂ’t very compelling and the plot isnÂ’t very clear. And itÂ’s not as funny as it should be.

I knew I wasnÂ’t doing great but I had hoped to tie up all the loose ends and then...

January 2020 Update: Happy New Year

Back from break, starting up Patreon chapters this week.

The start of a new decade (for however long it lasts) and IÂ’m emerging from my winter hibernation to get things rolling in Mooderino world, a world of song and dance and rivers of chocolateÂ… oh, wait, thatÂ’s Willy WonkaÂ’s factory. Well, itÂ’ll be similar, just with fewer sweets and more Oompa Loompas. A lot more. Thousands. With spears.

IÂ’ll be restarting Deeper Darker from tomorrow (6th January) her...

November 2019 Update

Okay, here we go, updating like a professional. Consistency is my middle name from here on out.

Missed last monthÂ’s update because I was swamped, plus not much to say. This month, though, seems to be back on track. HavenÂ’t missed any chapter posts for any of my stories, which makes a nice change. The current schedule seems to be holding.

I didn't live up to the standards I set for myself. I failed in my purpose. And for that, I'm sorry, and I accept accountability — oh, ...

HTADDB 10 update

So I planned to restart HTADDB on Patreon today but I don't feel I'm quite ready. Actually, I'm nowhere near ready. I brought back Biadet and I can't even remember when we last saw her and what she was up to, so I need to go back and check up on that.

I also don't want to feel like I'm rushing like I usually do, so I'm going to take it a little slower with HTADDB while I sort out the other two stories.

Which is all to say that I'm pushing the return of HTADDB back by two weeks. Wi...

September 2019 Update

Here to give you the details of when each of my stories restart.

This monthÂ’s update is slightly late as I wanted to see how I felt after my break before committing to any dates. Been off for a couple of weeks and IÂ’m just about recovered. ItÂ’s been nice not to wake up in a panic about all the things I need to get done, but all good things must end. Ah, mental health, we hardly knew ye...

Completing the first arc of Deeper Darker felt like a pretty big accomplis...

August 2019 Update

Hello and welcome to the midsummer update. I am melt. Still writing, though.

Currently, I am plugging away at my three stories. Got a bit stuck on The Good Student for a couple of weeks (apologies), but seem to be back on track now.

HTADDB is moving along smoothly towards the climax. I also got contacted by a Korean translation group to post a Korean version of ColinÂ’s adventures on a Korean site. They seem to like it over there (I might even make some money out...

July 2019 Update

Heatwave and lazy days. Some small changes to my schedule.

Almost forgot to post this monthÂ’s update! Shows how swamped IÂ’m getting.

IÂ’ve been (just about) keeping pace with my current schedule, but IÂ’m finding it hard to get anything else done. I feel like I need to make some adjustments if want to finish the editing and eBook releases waiting on my desktop.

IÂ’m going to move Deeper Darker to later in the day. At the moment IÂ’m posting it at midday my ...

June 2019 Update

Hello and welcome to the monthly update where I let you know what I've been up to lately.

All three stories are up and running, now I just have to keep them going!

Deeper Darker has become quite popular and mostly well-received, with Ubik emerging as the fan-favourite. As with all of my stories, IÂ’ve been getting some flack from people who donÂ’t like various elements (in particular the all-female Seneca Corps) which is fine and what I expected, but it can still b...

DEEPER DARKER Ch. 53

53. System Breach

Fourth Quadrant.

Planet Fountain.

Gorbol Training Academy.

Simulation Room.

Figaro was held firmly in the multidroidÂ’s grip. It was as if the ship had reached out a giant hand and grabbed him. This was not like the previous time. Then, it was a delicate pinch on the end of his extremities, like he was an unpleasant find the droids were taking away to dispose of.

Th...

May 2019 Update

Deeper Darker has passed the fifty chapter mark and is doing very well! I know, IÂ’m as surprised as you are.

People were a bit sceptical about whether I could make a three MC story work, but I think itÂ’s worked out okay so far.

Ubik seems to be the fan favourite at the moment, weÂ’ll see how that goes as the story unfolds. I still feel like IÂ’m in the very start of the story with the character intros out of the way but the real plot yet to start. I see this as a...

DEEPER DARKER Ch. 52

52. Isolated

Fourth Quadrant.

Planet Fountain.

Gorbol Training Academy.

Origin - Sim-U

Figaro checked his suit was responsive and brought up the HUD inside his helmet. There was no point activating voice command, he had three other people with him in the airlock and he would need to keep his channel open to speak to them. And to listen to them. He had a feeling things werenÂ’t exactly as h...

DEEPER DARKER Ch. 51

51. Enough Rope

Fourth Quadrant.

Planet Fountain.

Gorbol Training Academy.

Point-Two took a breath and let his irritation go, or as much of it that he could. He was mainly annoyed at himself. He had known the risk of seeking aid from Ubik, but it had seemed a very isolated, specific task that had no real benefit for Ubik. He should have known better — everything had a benefit for Ubik.

Now he was ...

The Good Student Book 2: Ch. 22

The Librarian led the way back to the stairs. She raised the lantern high, as if to show Nic what he had in store — a lot of steps — and drew herself up as well, becoming Periwinkle. His clothes filled out at the same time, taking on the more masculine shape of a rugged man who used his brawn to accomplish tasks. Looks could be deceiving and in Nic’s recent experience almost always were.

“Does your device have a way to take us back up?” he asked.

“No,” said Periwinkl...

DEEPER DARKER Ch. 50

50. Take Out

Fourth Quadrant.

Planet Fountain.

Gorbol Training Academy.

Princep Galeli didnÂ’t like leaving Trainee Matton alone with Captain Hickory but this new development required his immediate attention. For the last few years, his life had been reasonably dull and comfortable. He liked it like that. The time heÂ’d spent in the field leading a team into dangerous and sometimes desperate sit...

DEEPER DARKER Ch. 49

49. Team Elite

Fourth Quadrant.

Planet Fountain.

Gorbol Training Academy.

Figaro was used to wearing the finest clothing. His outfits back home didnÂ’t always allow him to breathe but they held everything together so well you hardly felt you needed to. Posture was rigorously maintained through excellent tailoring.

The FVG greys, by contrast, were loose and informal — your posture was yo...

DEEPER DARKER CH. 48

48. Refreshed

Fourth Quadrant.

Planet Fountain.

Gorbol Training Academy.

Medical Bay.

Figaro woke knowing he was okay. The moment his eyes opened, he was aware of his body being back to normal. He didnÂ’t have to touch himself or look in a mirror, which was convenient since he could do neither.

He was in a bed in the medical bay, naked with a thin sheet over him up to his chest. The ...

The Good Student Book 2: Ch. 21

Nic had no idea what to expect. He had been imbued with some great power, apparently. For all he knew, its first effect would be to kill him.

The warmth rose through his body. It wasnÂ’t painful or even particularly hot. Heartburn after eating spicy food provided more of a painful reaction. It was unnatural how it moved inside him, though. As if something was working its way around his organs. It was an unsettling sensation.

“What did you do?” said Nic, looking down at hi...

DEEPER DARKER Ch. 47

47. Nighthawks

Fourth Quadrant.

Planet Fountain.

Gorbol Training Academy.

Barracks A.

Point-Two sat cross-legged on his bed in the corner of the dorm. He had gone up to the roof to get some fresh air, clear his mind, but it hadnÂ’t helped. He didnÂ’t really like fresh air, it tasted cold and impersonal. He was used to air that had been through the GaruÂ’s filtration syste...

DEEPER DARKER Ch. 46

46. Nondisclosure Agreement

Fourth Quadrant.

Planet Fountain.

Fraiche City.

DaiÂ’s Curry Palace.

Ubik wasnÂ’t worried. Not yet.

He was in a tight situation, but there was still room for manoeuvre. There was a door and no windows. The door was behind him and the only other person in the room was in front of him.

No need to panic. Not yet....

DEEPER DARKER Ch. 45

45. Honest Work

Fourth Quadrant.

Planet Fountain.

Fraiche City.

Ubik landed softly on the ground, the small jump down from the last handhold on the weathered facade not causing him any issues. Delgados had excellent shock absorbers built-in.

The Academy was situated in a residential zone. The other buildings were newer and locked up tight with darkened windows and smooth fronts you would have a lot...

The Good Student Book 2: Ch. 20

Stairs led down. The Librarian, dressed like Mr Periwinkle and carrying it off quite well, held a lantern to show the way. A magic lantern? A demonic lantern? It burnt with a yellow flame, that was all Nic could say for certain.

The steps descended at a shallow angle for quite some distance, then there was a small landing, followed by more steps going down the other way. The space was narrow, exactly the width of the two staircases, making Nic feel like he was walking down the inside of...

DEEPER DARKER CH. 44

44. Faith Electronic

Gorbol Training Academy.

Barracks: Group A.

Something had changed, Ubik could tell. Where before, Drone A had led them to the dining hall like a butler showing them to their seats, now they were escorted by four drones. The sudden change had made Group A nervous and unsure of itself. They looked to their leader for reassurance, much to the leaderÂ’s annoyance. Even though he had got them killed i...

DEEPER DARKER Ch. 43

43. New Skin

Fourth Quadrant.

Planet Fountain.

Gorbol Training Academy.

Simulation Room.

“It’s okay,” said Figaro, talking quietly like he had been trained to when dealing with frightened grumon beasts. “This is normal.”

The rest of the trainees, their mouths either hanging open or shut tight into a grimace, didnÂ’t respond. They were all frozen in place, unable to comprehend wh...

DEEPER DARKER Ch. 42

42. Chaos Theory

Fourth Quadrant.

Planet Foxtrot-435 aka Fountain.

Gorbol Training Academy.

Ubik climbed the stairs back towards the Group A dorm. He was alone and his attention was mainly on the device attached to his wrist. Occasionally he would look up to check how much further he had to go and to avoid bumping into the wall.

Walking up steps and opening doors with handles — it was all very qua...

The Good Student Book 2: Ch. 19

Nic had a lot of problems that he was objectively failing to deal with. Turning his analytical brain on himself was always an uncomfortable experience. He recognised that he was out of his depth, needed help and couldnÂ’t trust anyone offering to give him any.

Continuing down this path seemed like a bad idea.

Wishing to be someone who could step up when the time called for it was very different to actually being that person. Some people were born with that kind of found...

DEEPER DARKER Ch. 41

41. Hidden Purpose

Fourth Quadrant.

Planet Fountain.

Gorbol Training Academy.

Antecessor Ship: Origin (sim-U).

Figaro didnÂ’t have a great deal of experience with Antecessor spacecraft. He had run maps in three different vessels, none of them heavily armed. There were huge battlecruisers and city ships that had been found, which were the source of many of the most common organic...