Gardening and A Favorite Book about Writing

When I began this blog, it blossomed from an idea as a place to track the progress of my first book.   Up to this point, the shy bloom has only opened a minuscule amount, hardly enough to view its bright colors, fresh fragrance, and full extent.   I have provided a few petals of my manuscript, but also discovered that other shoots emerged and formed buds.
My manuscript is not the only blossom I am nurturing, fearing it will shrivel up and die.  My garden is expanding, growing, and multiplying.  I have pulled up raw unedited short stories like turnips and potatoes.  You have to clean them before you eat them.  General comments sprouted.  Tidbits about history, places, ideas sprung up like weeds, between cracks.
An realization came to me the other day.   I have spent time plowing, nurturing, watering, tending, weeding, and admiring for almost three years on becoming a writer.   And I feel that now I can put that word behind my name at the top of this blog. 
During this process, I have had to relearn how to write, the basic sentence structure, build a better vocabulary, read, re-read, write no matter what, and dig a spot where I can plant myself to do it.
Along the way, I have picked up several books about writing.  Books by writers about writing.  Books about style, grammar, and vocabulary.  My journal has been a learning experience.
One book was Stephen King's On Writing.  After reading a library copy, I had to own it.   I tracked one down at the Half-Price Bookstore and grabbed from the shelf.  Now, I can take a highlighter and sticky notes to it.  The first half is an autobiography of King's interesting life.  The second two sections -- The Toolbox and On Writing -- are fantastic.   I learned the basics.  King spills it out.  Here's what I did and you should, too, if you want to be a published writer.   I highly recommend it. 

A Book within a Book

In The Fingerprint of Jack, Mrs. Steers has a very interesting book.  In fact, it's the one she used to learn how to time-travel.  
I have designed the book cover and it will be used somewhere in the book.  The name was inspired by 19th century book titles that explained what you would be reading in it.   I discovered the image in a book of pre-copyright materials and just loved it.   The hour glass with wings is a perfect symbol.
Too bad this book doesn't exist in our world. 

Illustrated London News from 1888

I find this illustration fascintating.

It's from a series of illustrations from the Illustrated London News for October 13, 1888. The series is entitled: "With the Vigilance Committee in the East End.". This specific illustration is calledv"A Suspicious Character."

What I find interesting about it are the two characters in the background.   Obviously the on the left represents Jack the Ripper, but the other two remind me very much of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.

An Excerpt from "The Fingerprint of Jack"

Here's an excerpt from my book for your reading pleasure:

"Jameson's got it at his shop," said Xavier.  "You must get it while we distract them.  Do you think he'll be able to manage?  Pull it off as you might say?”

"Who?" said Mrs. Steers.  Once again, with their backs to him, Sam didn't hear Xavier's answer.  Mrs. Steers shook her head then paced in a small circle.  "I've got a bigger problem to deal with first.  I have my work cut out for me.  He's lost...  He's so lost at a young age.  I'm going to have to convince him.  Show him I'm serious.  Maybe I need some outside help."

“You keep working on him," said Xavier putting on his top hat.  "It's going to be tough.  Regardless, we have to get there soon.  It needs to be safe.  We must discover what they are trying to place.”

“Don't worry about that.  Rose and Ari are working on that.   They seem to think it's something small this time.” 

“Whatever happens, you can count on Xavier Graff!”

With that, Xavier Graff gave Mrs. Steers a hug and peck on the cheek. He walked back across the street and turned tipping his top hat to her just as a van drove by. After it passed, he was gone.    Sam glanced around as best he could from behind the screen door, but there was no sign of Xavier Graff.  He had vanished.   Sam stared in disbelief over his disappearance, then shook his head and went upstairs.

Almost, but not yet...

As I prepare for another weekend of languishing, staring at the monitor, and tapping on the keyboard, I am confident about my first book.   I had six reviews and each provided vast insight.  

After chopping and pruning, "the word-letting" has stopped and new words are flowing again.   This time, Sam had new direction and a better goal.  It was tough, but I did it.  Hey, it's not easy watching the story -- the one you gave birth to-- go through growing pains, but it was necessary.  

And now, I love it even more, which (and with my low self-evaluation of the book) may mean others like it less.  Who knows. 

All I know are these two thoughts... 

If you're out there reading this, thanks for reading.   I have talked about this book for a long time!   As far as I'm concerned, the end is near.  The editing process could go on for years!  Once again, thanks for hanging on.

And second, two quotes from a song from the Disney's thrilling Broadway musical, Mary Poppins...
"Anything can happen if you let it..." and "If you reach for the stars, all you get are the stars, so we found a whole new spin, if you reach for the heavens, you get the stars thrown in..."

Please be right, Mary Poppins!  Please be right, Mary Poppins!  PLEASE be right...

It is with great pleasure..

That I post the first chapter of my book.  It is not very long, but it is the first...  Enjoy!

The Fingerprint of Jack

Chapter 1 -- Who knew?

When eleven-year old Sam Henry got out of bed that Thursday morning in late October, he had no idea what an interesting day, or next few days for that fact, it would be.  

Who knew an ordinary boy would discover an important clue -- a fingerprint attributed to London’s bloodiest serial killer of the late nineteenth century, one of history’s most famous mysteries? 

Who also knew he would become involved with a mysterious club taking him on the greatest adventure of his life -- one that would show him history first hand?

So how did clue end up in the dusty attic of the old Victorian house where Sam and his mom lived with an eccentric widowed landlady?  And how did Sam get involved with this mysterious club?

The story begins on a frigid January evening in an apartment in Chicago…

Who knew?

John Bellairs



Jerimiah Cronin house in Marshall from MichMarkers.com



I recently travel to Marshall, Michigan, hometown of my favorite author, John Bellairs.   Bellairsia has vast amounts of information about him and his work.  He was known for his mystery novels featuring Lewis Barnavelt, Anthony Monday, and Johnny Dixon.  



The other night, I began re-reading The House with the Clock in It's Walls.  The house is based on a real Italianate house in Marshall.    I borrowed this photograph from MichMarkers.com.   I took my own photographs but haven't downloaded them yet.

John Bellairs is my inspiration to write.  His writing style is simple, clean, and easy to read.   I have found my style to be similiar.