#rivervale_lodge

"I heard about some of the unreasonable expecations you have. In that, not so different from teaching. And my writing agent is this close to dropping me"

"Unreasonable expectations?" an eyebrow.

"My output is down. And there's a fear my fans will move onto other writers. I swear I don't know how Rick Riordin and Brian Sanderson do it... they just speew out book, quality stuff too, like they were breathing. Stephen King ain't far behind ... Me I've got a trilogy done, then fell behind"

"I meant to ask about what unreasonable expectations you have heard that I have. I can see how the lack of time and focus is frustrating to you as an author."

"Oh, for truckers Well, I hear they set you guys up so you have to deliver things in a time span that FORCES you to break the speed limit the entire way, deprive yourself of sleep quite often, and then if you get arrested for speeding it's on you. Or is that more company guys?"

"No, it's pretty much industry-wide." Frank agrees "There's the rampant drug use, as well."

"Geez. Okay, I take back half my gripes about being an author"

"Not a contest, Vali. Not for me, anyway."

"More a recogition that your shoes might be tight if I walked in them" a nod "And a lot of sympathy":

"Thank you for that."

"Understand, though, I enjoy the work I do."

"I gathered.Sometimes you come back looking positively recharged." he says

"Mm." he nods.

"must be like when I crank out a chapter hitting that groove" a sip

"Something like it, I think."

"Actually, I was wondering what you thought about Fantasy western? Cowboys and Wizards kind of combo.." And he explains his latest idea, having in frank a possibly captive ear to bounce ideas off of

(Fade to Frank giving his opinion on Magnificent Seven with a few wizards thrown in)