Deadlines Go Whoosh – For Real, This Time

As I’ve mentioned elsewhere on this blog, my non-Sound Round writing endeavors have been increasing steadily over the past few months, and while that was simply down to personal aspirations and goals established either based on conversations with friends or completely arbitrarily, things have just gotten real.

Back in 2007, I published a book called Queen: Complete Works, which sold well but wasn’t promoted all that much. Frankly, I was glad, because while I’m extraordinarily proud of the fact that one of my dreams came true, it was an exhausting process and the last thing I ever wanted to do was to write another book. Of course, that’s changed, and all I want to do nowadays is write; I suppose I figured that if the book wasn’t a success, I wouldn’t have to put myself through that process again. But then, after awhile, I realized I actually missed that process, and so went on to subject myself to more torture by working steadily on a similar book on Elvis Costello’s music.

And so things puttered along nicely, and I genuinely believed that my first book would remain a true rarity, never to be reprinted, until earlier this week. This year is Queen’s 40th anniversary, and also marks 20 years since Freddie Mercury departed this mortal coil, and, sensing a golden opportunity, the publishing company I’m working with now contacted me to announce their intent to run a second edition of Queen: Complete Works. This is especially exciting to me, because this is a new (to me) company and a fresh start with a book that is in dire need of an update.

What does this mean for me? Well, I have a tight deadline to work with again, and the fire has been lit under my ass; I have four months to get this presentable and ready to go, meaning a lot of other hobbies have to take a backseat. This, unfortunately, includes my blogging activities, and, because Sound Round gets most of my attention these days, it also means I’ll now be paying the least amount of attention to it. (Reason being is, I’m already writing extensively about music, so any other blogs I may have will be a nice distraction from that.)

This means I’m leaving several projects in the lurch, most importantly the continuation of my Best of 2010 list, but also concert reviews for the Dum Dum Girls show I saw last weekend, and upcoming concerts for the Pains of Being Pure at Heart (March 31st), Elvis Costello (May 19th), and possibly Weezer (May 20th). I’m trying to get my girlfriend to write these reviews for me, but she has so far been reluctant to do so. (Don’t worry, I’ll work on her.)

But don’t cry for Sound Round, faithful viewers, for it will be back – all in good time. For now, I wish you a fond farewell.