Almost there!

After a year's work, my book, The Fingerprint of Jack, is almost through the editing process.  My two gracious editors gave lots of comments and now I am in the process of polishing.   The next step will be to have five lucky people read it from start to finish...  Those who find the five golden tickets in chocolate bars will have the honor of reading my book...

No, sorry, not really... I was just having a Willy Wonka moment.   The five people have already been selected.

After that, I have no idea...  Amazon offers print-on-demand and direct to Kindle.  I've been reading about other authors who have chosen this route and they were not dissappointed...

Whatever route, I am excited!    Plus, the next book is under way... Sam and Mrs. Steers travel back in time to see...  Well, you'll have to wait and see...

Very Sad News

I am very sad to report the death of one of my favorite authors -- Dorothy Gilman.   Here's her obituary from the New York Times.   She has influenced my own writing.   No more Mrs. Pollifax.

A Hard Road to Travel -- Part 5

This multi-part short story fascinates me.   I got the idea from wondering what life would be like after some major national, yet natural, disaster.   Somehow, I just couldn't picture mass destruction.   Too heart-breaking.   One of my favorite writing styles are letters, like de Loclos' Les Liaisons Dangereuses.   I think this type of writing style allows for more imagination.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

A Hard Road to Travel -- Part 5

 

March 7

Indianapolis, Indiana

 

Dear Marianne,

 

Hope all is well and the winter hasn't been too bad.  The winter here has been a little rough.  They say we're having a harder winter because we're getting "lake effect snows" from the new lakes.   We had 3 feet of snow and the temperatures were below freezing for several days.  The kids stayed home from school for 4 days.   I got out all of Grandma's knitting needles and Janet and I are knitting.   We got lots of yarn a couple of weeks ago when we went shopping.  

Do you remember me writing about Karen and Jack, the dentist?  They left several weeks ago and arrived in Reno.   I got a letter from Karen.   She said the trip was long.   The railroad out of Chicago has reconnected with several cities -- Sioux Falls and Des Moines -- she mentioned they have lots of lake front property in those areas now.  She ran into an old friend of hers from Little Rock -- also now has lots of lake front property.   The friend said that Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are mainly gone.  St. Louis for the most part is under water.   She said the arch literally sank into the ground along with most of the city.  She found an article in the Chicago Trib while they were there where scientists thought that the quake caused more sinking than actually shaking.

 

Well, anyway.  I have to go.  I write soon.

Love Sal

 

****

 

March 15

 

Keene, New Hampshire

 

Dear Sal

 

 All is well here except for the 6 feet of snow, but the temps have been about 30.  Mama got a letter from a friend whose visiting in Florida.  She says not much has changed down there except the water levels at the beaches.  Says the beaches out into the gulf about half mile further out.   Her friend told her when the whole area sank it sucked all the water out of the gulf and at first they were about a mile out, but the water level has come back up. 

I was going to ask you about the utility bills there and how much they run.  I've been waiting for a response about our applications.  I haven't heard anything yet.   We have someone interested in buying the house, so we just have to wait.

 

Love Marianne

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan, a stately pleasure-dome decree...

After taking a short break from writing, I am back to it!  

The sequel to my first book, which has yet to be published, is pouring out of my brain onto the electronic pages of my computer.    At first, I thought "I'll never be able to match what I did with the first book...", well, now I'm worried that I may have too much!

Finally I wrote a short blurb about my book, but still have yet to give up any chapters here.  That copyright fear keeps rearing it's head.    I just know you are all waiting patiently!  Anyway, here's the blurb --

"Eleven-year old Sam Henry had no idea how mysterious Mrs. Lottie Steers was when he and his Mom rented an apartment from her.  An old newspaper with a single fingerprint, a book of spells, and a group of unique characters take Sam on an extraordinary trip back in time to come face to face with one of history's most notorious serial killer.  What Sam didn't realize was he would find himself involved in a bigger mystery to help save time..."

Some of my short stories keep waiting for me to finish them --
What really happened in the plains of the now physically divided United States?   Sally and Marianne need to keep those letters coming...  Not to mention, the story I call The Stone Throwers Club...  Or even other partially-outlined books that keep flowing from somewhere in my imagination!

I need a millionaire to take care of me, so I can stay home and write!  

Happy Valentine's Day!

The Next Book and Other Projects

Book Two, a.k.a. The Sequel to The Fingerprint of Jack, is now rolling.   I have outlined some chapters and, like its predecessor, I can tell that it will grow... and grow... and grow! 

I also had a revelation.  At first, I couldn't get past the idea that no one is going to like the book.  Something just kept dragging me into that thought pattern.   Then it hit me and I said to myself...   "You are telling a good story...  That's all that matters!"   That did it!   I gained about a zillion percent in the confidence level.

Anyway...
I am now starting other projects -- some great story ideas, both long and short.   Keep reading, if you're out there, but also be patient.   I am aiming for better writing.