I’m hunkered on my spot on the couch, my creative place. It’s a brown leather loveseat, I’m on the left cushion, on the right is a stack of books I’m reading, including a book my main character finds in my latest story. A pile of paper. DVDs. Scraps. On my left, is a coffee table. It too is covered in work stuff.

I was sitting in this spot, working, when illustrator Val Lawton (http://vallawton.blogspot.ca) sent me a note to ask if I’d participate in the “My Writing Process” blog tour. Sure, I wrote back. Who wouldn’t?

Val Lawton is an illustrator extraordinaire, with several picture book projects on the go. We met again this year at the Calgary Young Writers Conference, where we both offered workshops on our respective fields.

On my hard drive, at the moment, are two things that require my effort. First, is a draft of a young adult novel, due for release in Spring 2015: Kill Shot. It’s in decent shape. It’s had a first go through by Bitingduck Press’s editor. In a purple folder, under my coffee table, lurks another full manuscript of revisions, which I need to address. I might be able to start that today.

The cover art is being done, as we speak. I’ve discussed it in another blog post: https://billbunn.net/2014/05/02/the-art-of-cover-art/

I’ve been writing a new YA story, which is yet unnamed. I’ve finished a rough draft, last week, and this week have begun to go through and sort out the story and deal with its many warts and blemishes. I had a breakthrough last week. I got the story’s opening line, and some of the premise that will help me sort out this dog’s breakfast.

To be honest, I don’t know exactly why I write. Michael Paul Michaud (https://www.facebook.com/MichaelPaulMichaud) posted a George Orwell quote last week that fits: “All writers are vain, selfish and lazy, and at the very bottom of their motives lies a mystery.” There’s more than a little truth in this.

I’m attracted to stories loaded with mystery. I’m attracted to main characters who are down on their luck, and need to find a gritty way to succeed on their own terms. Why? I’ve always blamed my horrible junior high experience for these tendencies. I’ve also had a few too many head injuries.

My post is in response to Val’s request. Next week, on the 19th, Mike’s post will go up on his Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/MichaelPaulMichaud). He’ll tag one or two authors in his post, too.

Let me introduce Mike properly. Here’s what he looks like.

Happy-looking, don’t you think? He’s a crown prosecutor who has written and is about to publish his first young adult novel: Billy Tabbs (& the Glorious Darrow), which will be out November 1, 2014. Here’s what the cover looks like:

Here’s a blurb on his story: Billy Tabbs has been living in the streets for as long as he can remember. He’s recruited into a bizarre homeless sect living in the underbelly of high society. Here he meets Darrow — the mysterious and volatile leader of an organization committed to escalating acts of civil disobedience.

Equal parts harrowing, controversial, and humorous, Billy Tabbs explores decadence, homelessness, and the lack of compassion exhibited toward society’s most vulnerable.