Having a child

I have a very dear friend of mine-- we've known each other since we trolloped around as college kids---- and while we have kept in touch, we rarely see each, outside of once every few years. He lives just outside Tulsa; me, a little further west.  But lately, his one and only registered for, and began attending, Colorado State University. We talked for a while about how hard it was to let go, but he thought over how he was able to celebrate her accomplishments, as they happened over the first 18 years.

I feel that way right now with 'Legacy'. And today, I'm proud to announce another small milestone and  new achievement for my first born. Thanks to my brother from another mother Pat McNulty (a fine author in his own right (write?) with greatmusicradio.com ) who put his own sordid reputation on the line for me, I can now say we'll be featured in The Tattered Cover as one of 'Colorado's homegrown authors'. Tattered Cover is THE big independent bookstore in Colorado and it's a privilege to be part of their featured section, in no small ways thanks to Pat. Big step for a self-pub like me.

My child is growing a little every day. For that, I have you, the readers to thank. You ask questions, send your feedback, poke me gently with criticism and are overly kind with praise. Thanks for helping spreading the word. If you're in Denver, say starting around September 1 or later, check the Tattered Cover for a copy of the book. If you're not, tell a friend who lives here or who  might be passing through town.

My child is growing, and I'm proud to share each step with you, the ones who help make it possible. Now, if I could only only teach a book how to hit a baseball, we'd really have something..     :)

The movie?

I'm about number 112,000 on the Amazon best sellers list so there's a ways to go before People Magazine begins to notice----but never say authors don't have moxie or dream big. I've already started to think about how I would cast 'Hidden Legacy' if it ever became a movie. 

Inspector Murphy-----Rupert Graves, most recently seen as Inspector Lestrade in 'Sherlock'; also in Doctor Who.

Sam Jacobs/ Holmes --- Diane Lane. Would love to see what she could do  with that character. Strong character, strong actress. Robin Weigert----another strong woman who fits the part well. I like the kind of power she projects in her roles. 

Sam Jacobs is a nice challenge because she's not the pretty girl, 20-something who's riddled with angst and trying to define her own sexuality, all while trying to find herself while proving how independent she is. Sam Jacobs knows who she is---- and because of that, brings a strength to a 1940's woman that doesn't always come through in other stories. I'm proud of who she is, and I'm really enjoying working with her again in the new Murphy/ Jacobs story. 

Murph is more of a puzzlement. I like what Graves brings to the screen when he's in a scene and I think he could make this character really come alive. I know a hundred guys like Murph-- not colorful, not flashy, not dynamic--- just driven in a way that simmers under the surface. And sometimes, he's able to really step up and really stand out. Yet he's also capable of falling into the trap of being so by-the-book, he frustrates Jacobs to no end. A nice dynamic you'll see more of as we go on.

Need suggestions though. How about secondary characters like Ears, Cheshy, Bryson (who, in my mind, reminds me a little of Inspector Fenwick from "Dudley Dooright") and Sykes? I'd like your thoughts.

The Heartbeat of a Story

Can a story have a heartbeat? Of course it can.

I was trying to explain this to my 15 year old daughter who, initially after two years of telling me how she had no good ideas, was embarking on her second novel. I read her draft for the first seven chapters and told her what a nice heartbeat and pace I thought her story had. She gave me one of those teenage looks like she wasn't sure if her dad was an idiot, or whether there was really something to what he was saying.  She decided to choose the 'idiot' option. I ask her to reconsider.

Like a person, a story's heartbeat keeps it alive. Now before you all start cracking wise (and I KNOW who reads this blog, OK?) ----no, a story doesn't also have a liver, a kidney and a spleen. But the heartbeat is what an author can never forget. It's the part of the story that gives it life, drives it, that keeps readers checking back in to see what happened--- or creating a situation where they can't put your book down.

In 'Hidden Legacy', to me, the heartbeat was always the murders. I love stories that battle the clock-- maybe that's why I'm such a huge football fan. It's a race against time--- you have to score more points than the other guys before time runs out. In 'Legacy', Murphy is faced with that same dilemma. Time is running out. He's got no more audibles to call. He's looking at losing the game. The heartbeat gets faster and faster and faster until it hits that climatic point----- and from there, the denouement, which sometimes can feel like a letdown. It's hard to make sure it doesn't. 

The goal in 'Legacy' was, of course, to get you to feel the heartbeat, to give your pulse a jump start and feel the pressure Murph felt as he tried to beat the clock and catch a killer.  It doesn't always have to be a frenetic pace--- and my daughter's  is not a frenzy. But she's got the idea, and that makes me proud.  And while I can't promise every book is clear as to what makes it tick, it doesn't mean the author isn't trying. 

Did you feel my heartbeat when you read 'Legacy'?

Friends and Family

Thank you.

When you write a book without the benefit of a large publisher behind you, there's many times you can feel like you're on an island, alone, deserted. That's when friends and family pick you up. 

I have an uber small family on my side of the tree, one that increased exponentially when I inherited my wife's side through marriage. My friends list is better and I'm proud to say, has aged well. Some of the people on my holiday card list have been a part of my life for over 40 years; some close to 50.

Point is, I want to say thank you. Publicly. Here and now.  I want to thank anyone, friend or family, complete stranger or casual acquaintance, for taking time to  read or buy my book, and to pass it along to others who might be interested in it. One very precious aunt I inherited through marriage is giving it away as a gift when she has special occasions to recognize. I am so grateful for her support, words don't adequately express it.

It's hard to ask people you know to like and support your work. Sometimes, they don't really like what you've created but care too much about you to say anything. Other times, well, they just can't be bothered because life gets complicated.  But to all who have participated, thank you. I am continuing to try to get people to notice the work. It hasn't been easy-- but thanks to you, it's been easier.

Which do you read more

So we're back to the issue of marketing your work as a self-published author. And here, you can help. A lot.

There's a temptation to want to push the actual, physical book--- you know, those things that contain pages that you carry around with you on airplanes or to the beach?

Of course, as an author, there's also the idea that you want to be available to everyone, at any time. So Kindles, Nooks and other eReaders are so amazingly tempting to concentrate on.

So I want to know---which do you read most? 

I know you might say, what's the difference? Just offer you story on all three and let people choose. Well, it's not that simple. When you market a book to an audience, you try to make it simple as  possible to reach as many in your target audience as you can. 

So, just in a sampling of the 100 or so people I met in the meet and greet I did in April, I got wildly varying answers. They were all shapes and sizes, all ages, genders , economic stations and education. Many continue to love hard and soft bound books. But many also like the freedom of an eReader--- in fact, many older readers were choosing eBooks, which I found fascinating. They claimed it was because they could store many books in one place,a n read a variety of things at their leisure. Got it.

So again, tell me  what you like. Tell me if it makes a difference (except for price). As an author with a limited amount of time to market, I want to make sure I connect with you. This blog is one way-- offering what you want, in the easiest manner to get it, is another.

That doesn't mean I won't be trying to get into my local bookstores here in the Denver area. It just means I want my efforts to pay off in happy readers-- readers I can reach out to, simply, and effectively.

Oh, yes. Thank you.

Secondary characters

I recently got an email from someone who'd just finished the book, and it contained the following very enthusiastic but terse message:

'I loved Cheshy and Ears. I want to see more of them...!'

My answer? I want to see more of them too!

Secondary and transitory characters have a lot more leeway in a story than the main characters  do and they can be as much, if not more fun to write about, than the original stars of your novel. They'll never carry a story mind you--but they add so much color to places where you need to paint with a broad and inspired palette. I love bringing these people into the story, and into our little world of fantasy.

In "Hidden Legacy", they pop up often, and I give them as much room as I can, while still keeping in mind the story isn't centered on them.  

The future? Well, yes, I've already discussed the fact that there will be a second story. Not sure if Cheshy has retired or not, but Ears will play a role in the upcoming sequel for sure. And there's always going to be a new crop to discover and get to know better.

SPOILER ALERT!

I admit, killing off Bentley was one of the harder things to do. After I was done, I felt I could have used his character more in future settings, just because of what I perceived to be a moral compass of sorts in him that would guide the rest of the Yard team. But alas, he served his purpose. Though watch for more our of Sergeant Jefferson I think--- he's based on some colorful characters I've known and I think there's room for some expanded opportunities for him.

Thanks. Looking forward to YOUR feedback as well.

Discover more about "The Case of the Hidden Legacy" at www.hidden-legacy.com 

Finding a Voice

I asked my friend of almost forty years to explore my book and give me his feedback. Being an old ink stained wretch himself, I felt his opinions would be valuable-----plus it's always a good thing to get another set of eyes on your story to help you locate issues you continually miss, because you're just not looking for them. I kid often with Pat McNulty, author of the book 'GreatMusicRadio.com', about how you can read a story a hundred times and still miss typos and glitches. it frustrates him as much as it does me.

One thing my friend Jeff  discussed  as something he felt would improve the story would be to tell it in third person, as opposed to having Murph describe the action as it was happening.  Third person, for those who aren't quite remembering their literature classes from high school, is telling a story as a narrator, a third person, or, using a $20 title, as the omniscient observer. It's the person outside the glass, looking in. Good idea--- just not for this particular work.

This had to be done as first person-- because as the fictional next generation of story teller (being Doctor Watson's son), Murph shares the adventure, becoming part of what is transpiring. In doing that, he takes us along for the ride. It's a fun way to tell a story and it's, in my opinion, a better way to allow this type of adventure to unfold.

So, for those who are writing, I urge you to find your voice. It may be one,or a combination of voices. But find a strong voice and then let it be the one to tell your story. It makes all the difference in how the story flows, and how it's received by the listener.




Discover more about "The Case of the Hidden Legacy" at www.hidden-legacy.com 

Just do it ( with apologies to Nike)

I had yet another person this weekend talk to me about the book they've been dying to write. Ever since I published "Hidden Legacy", they seem to be coming out of the woodwork.

Here's my advice to anyone---- write. Write every day. Serious. I mean, even if you embellish a shopping list a little, write every day. Your creative tool is a muscle. If you don't use it, it atrophies.

I recently passed the 100,000 script mark in my copy writing career. 100,000 scripts. That's a load of writing. And my job has been a blessing because it forces me to write every day, whether I feel inspired or not. And that's the point. When you write every day, you learn every day. Every day, I discover something new. Every day, I learn a better way to say something, I learn a new word, I learn how to be tighter, more succinct, more direct.

Writing every day gave me the ability to create crisp, character driven dialogue. I look at my early short stories and they reek. They're trite garbage compared to what I'm able to do now (not that I'm Shakespeare yet. I guess it's all subjective). But I created a better style from writing, learning, improving.

Do it. Write every day. Then start that first book. It's in you. Let it out.

Oh hey-- i got my first return today. Waaaaahhh..! You try not to take it personally, but I want to ask the person who returned their copy to Kindle, 'what?' 'What was wrong?' 'What didn't you like?' Glad after five months on the market, it's only the first.

Begging, Pleading, Groveling

Yes to all of the above.

When you're serious about self-publishing, you run face first into the biggest obstacle--- publicity. Short of running through the Capital building here in Denver wearing nothing but spats and a smile and screaming unmentionable things about our esteemed governor, it's very hard to get noticed by media today. Radio is in it's own little world, internet radio reaches about 3 people, Sirius about 5, newspapers have given up interviewing anyone but Stephen King  and TV is too consumed with Kim Kardashian's behind to worry about anyone hawking and peddling a book. The moral I have learned is this--- either get a plastic surgeon to mold my behind to look like Kim Kardashian's--- or try a little help from your friends.

In radio, where I live work and play, I have relationships that span over 20 years. You'd think that would count for something. But I can't tell you how many of my radio connections I've called after sending them an email detailing my desire for an interview on their station, only to have them tell me, 'oh, sorry, forgot' or 'damn, I think I spammed it' or my favorite to date---'what email?' 

With that in mind, this is my official begging, groveling and pleading moment. Any and all of you, friends I have for years and friends I've yet to make, if I contact you about getting on for a five minute  segment with your morning show or any other segment of the day I might fit snugly into, please take a moment to realize I don't have a massive publishing house or even Kim Kardashian behind me. Self-publishing is a grueling exercise in persistence, and every little bit helps. 

I'm not complaining. Facts are facts---I also work full time, so my day begins at 4. I put in a full ten hours, then get to add in the dad stuff like cooking, carpool and trying to explain to my 15 year old why boys do the things they do. It's after all that, I turn the publicity machine on and try to get noticed. 

I have a story to tell---- a good one. I'm not alone. Many I know who self publish (shameless plug for my buddy Pat McNulty for example and his wonderful radio-themed book, GreatMusicRadio.com) also have great stories and  narratives. So please-- understand this is not just about selling books, it's also striking a blow for the little guy who doesn't have a big brother who's got his back. Please give us the time we need--- or  you'll be seeing way too many clones of Kim Kardashian's behind, in the future.

Old Friends

There was a time a little while back that I told you in this blogspace that I had to clear out all the people and all the voices that were living rent free, in my head. And so I did.

When you strap on a story, characters occupy space in your mind. Some of course, need larger accommodations than others--- but all have access to you, 24/7, and all have demands. Writing a book is a very 'multiple personality'  type of  venture---at least it is for me. With all that going on in my gray matter, it gets hard to pay attention to those who live outside those walls, in the real world. They don't really understand you and they're  much less patient and forgiving than those in your head. My father-in-law comes to mind.

When I finish a story, I open a door and chase everyone out of my head. I have to. Many like to linger, but I need separation, even when I know I'm going to launch into a sequel. I had to get everybody to leave and allow me room to breath, to think, to ferment ideas without any input.

I was happy for a while but soon, ideas began to creep in. Story lines began to develop in my head. And so, as with any story I write, it was the story itself that drove me back to the word processor. And the peace and quiet I was enjoying, with just me lounging in the large empty space known as my brain, now began to slowly recede.
There would be a familiar knock on my imaginative door or a ring on the imaginative bell, and there they were, one at a time, all with character traits in an unkempt bundle, standing with arms full and a look on their face that said, 'I know you're thinking about me. You gonna invite me in-- or what..?'

So, many are back. Some new friends have been invited as well, while some older ones, not. It reminds me of the Catskills, where I used to go as a kid. Every summer in the bungalow colony, you'd say goodbye to everyone and wonder who would be back next summer. It wasn't until the following Memorial Day that you found out.

Conception took place June 17th. Start looking for the new book on Amazon, sometime in about nine and a half months. Some have asked, will Sam and Murph 'get it on'? Come on--- I'd never tell. But I will let you know this one will be full of surprises, twists and turns. It's everything I hope a sequel will be.

For now, I'm going to grab some coffee, relax,  slip into that big room between my ears and relax with some old friends. I admit, it got a little lonely and it's good to see them back. I hope they come back often and visit. They make life special for me. And I hope, in a small way, for you too.

21

No. Not the game of blackjack. The answer to an indignant question posed by my fifteen year old daughter.

Quite a few years ago, my daughter began showing a talent for writing. But story after story, a trend emerged, and the tales she wrote dealt with mythical creatures or hybrid animals. The more she wrote, the more complex the weird characters got. But no matter how much we tried to cajole her,  she absolutely would not write about human beings. 

She created stories about unicorns and weird flying horse-looking thingy's. Her drawing talents allowed her to even illustrate the stories with characters that can only be described as weird and bizarre. Finally, she began to settle in on characters she created that were modeled after cats. They became the basis of her first self published book, 'A Heart's Journey'.  

But there was another disturbing, yet consistent trend to her work. She developed the habit of killing off many of her featured characters.

Sometimes, it was the main characters. Other times,  just a few of the minor ones. I  noticed. I commented. She glared. I became worried she was packing a concealed weapon so I didn't push the issue. Mostly I chalk it all up to a writing phase she's going through and will emerge from eventually.

So the family, including my father-in-law, is sitting around the dinner table on a Friday night shortly after I published 'Hidden Legacy'. Friday is the one night each week we can actually sit, and have a family dinner. Well, that's not totally, 100% true. We try to eat together every evening and manage to do so more times than not, as long as my wife isn't working till all hours as an O/R nurse. But Friday night dinners are special and this particular Friday, conversation drifted to my daughter's attempts at starting a new book. She was lamenting how hard it was to get warm to this next set of characters, to which I cracked smart that it shouldn't be much of a concern. 'After all', I said, 'most of them will probably be dead by chapter three.' To which my daughter just  sneered. 'Oh really dad. Well, how many people did YOU kill in YOUR story?' The answer was, I didn't really know. I hadn't counted. And so I began.

When I finished, I was mortified. The count was 21. And I really wasn't 100% certain it would stop there. I had the sinking feeling I was forgetting a body or two. But 21 dead.  Needless to say, my daughter smiled that evil smile teenagers inherit as they grow out of their young teen years and the conversation subject changed quickly.

I didn't mean to. Really. It's just hard to escape reverse heredity. 

Great Day in Englewood

Props to all the Englewood Public Library. 'Meet the Faces'  event was a huge success. I met so many great authors and got to mingle with a lot of very enthused readers and fans. Props also to my buddy Pat McNulty, who as always, has a personality that warms a room and brings a smile to everyone. If you haven't already clued into his novel  "GreatMusicRadio. com", you're missing out--especially those of you in and around radio. Anyone who ever put in time behind the mike or behind  the scenes in radio will love this read.  Thanks again all who showed-- looking forward to our next Colorado event soon. 

We are Completely Global

Just got word that we're now available online on Nook, as well, as iBookstore. They join Kindle as an online resource for the book. Woo-o-o-oo-o...  And don't forget,this Sunday if you're in the neighborhood of the old Cinderella City Mall on West Hampden in Englewood Colorado, stop by the Englewood Public Liberry between 1 and 4. It's their 'Face Behind the Books' event and I'll be there along with 49 other authors, telling you everything you ever wanted to know about our books. Can't wait to see you guys.

Bittersweet

There comes a point, when you finish a novel, that you're  glad to finally have the characters out of your head. For me, it was a sense of relief and completion----after all, they're been living in my left brain, rent free, for almost six years. And while I've grown quite fond of them, and have enjoyed hosting them in my head, it was time for them to resolve the issues in the novel, and go.  

But as their dad, I miss them. I miss thinking of new and creative ways to have them interact, react and become more involved in their story. It's what makes writing so much fun-- and at the same time, so frustrating. That's because, like children, you know, one day, you have to say good bye.

And that's where the sequel comes in. Yes, I've been thinking of what happens next. And I'm starting to get a feel for it. That's why I've opened my mind once again, and allowed my characters to start visiting me on a limited basis. Their rooms will always be ready and I think I've got enough separation from the first novel that I can begin to think about their future. But I don't want to crowd my head with just the old characters. In fact, I want to bring in some new ones. That's part of the fun, getting acquainted with new members of the family, if you will.

One thing which will occur if and when I begin to work on round two--- I will work on providing more background on Sam and John. Those who have spoken to me about the novel have asked for more from them--- I will get more into their backgrounds, even provide a little more of the mucky stuff that has shaped them so far. 

For now, I've made the beds and left a hot meal in my left brain chamber. Welcome back everyone. I never wanted totally say 'goodbye', just 'au revoir'.  But I'm looking forward to getting together with you again, and taking part in the adventures that are sure to ensue.

Editors

Not much known about editors really.  Who are they and what do they do? Well, in short-- they edit. And they are an invaluable tool when it comes to writing a novel, an article or any piece you really want to be taken seriously.

If you self publish, there are two tools a writer should never be without. First and foremost, is a proofreader. My buddy Pat, who recently published HIS novel (www.greatmusicradio.com), swears by his old high school teacher, who drove him bats when he was in school but has now become an invaluable part of his post-story team. Proofreaders catch all the little issues you miss, and understand all the little grammatical mistakes you make because, when they were teaching grammar in school, you were busy cutting class with your buddies. They save you from a lot of embarrassing mistakes.

Second comes the editor. They're the ones who say, move this here, move that there, lose this, expand on that, etc. They're the ones who tell you to get rid of the character you love and add more body and depth to the character you  hate. Editors can be enormous pains in the southern regions, but they're the ones who see what you don't see. What you think is a finished and polished character may come off completely differently when read in context with the story. What you think is a brilliant dialogue might be totally out of place. Editors give a pace and style to your story---- they don't alter it, they just enhance its readability.

Understand going in that it will be a tempestuous relationship, almost like marriage. There will be times you won't be on speaking terms and there'll be times you'll be filled with love and gratitude. Don't get too high or low-- they're editors. It's their jobs to be critical.

But always make sure you hook up with an editor who understands the genre you're writing. They can't be clueless if you're writing about baseball, say, or 60's rock and roll history. Take their advice, ride with it, look at what they're asking. Then ask someone outside your comfort circle to read it. Chances are, you'll see, the majority of their changes and comment are for the good.

Oh yes, your comfort circle. Let's discuss that tomorrow.

Some General Question Answered

I get friends, family and now, a few readers (yeay!) asking some questions they don't want to have to blog, to ask. So I've put about 3 or 4 of them together here, and will continue to do that from time to time.

Question #1--- Why London?

Answer-- Pretty simple really. Watson spent his entire life there-- why would his child leave? The bigger question would've been, whether he served in the British military, as his father did. The answer of course is, he was too young for WW1 and too old for WW2.

Question #2----Was shielding his name from the Yard too much of a deception?

Answer---No. It was done because his father was afraid using his real name and the connections many would make by it's association would cause major issues with higher up's. Holmes, while respected, was not openly admired or welcomed by some of the force. Murph's father felt this could impede his progress through thee ranks, if  Murph decided to make a career of it. It simply helped even the playing field.

Question #3 ( most popular one to date)----You call Chief Inspector Bryson, 'a lifer' with the Yard and place his age in the story at 48. That means he might've joined the the Yard in time to know Holmes personally as  well. Is that the source of his discontent with Holmes?

Answer----No. Holmes was already semi-retired at that point, though he still kept his hand in the business of crime. Bryson, however, would have been a young impressionable lad. It's possible, in being schooled by some of the old timers (which could have included Lestrade and/or Gregson) that he got an earful or two about Holmes and thus, shaped his opinions starting at an early age. 

Question #4---- Why let Murphy tell the story. Why not let it be told in third person?

Answer---- Because this is Murph's story. He should tell it.

Keep those questions coming. Nothing an author loves to do more than talk about his characters. I also want to talk more about the whole editing and publishing process but I'll get to that tomorrow.

Self publishing

Gotta tell you--- I am a big fan of self publishing.

A lot of work? Hell yes. You assume the reigns of an entire publishing house, from reading to marketing to setting up your face to face meet and greets to interviews. You arrange for your own editor and proof reader and become your own design consultant, even though self pub sites tend to have solid, if not simplistic, cover design creators. You have to beg, plead, grovel and cajole friends and family alike to try to get some traction and spread the word. You have to call in massive favors and hope that what you're asking for can make a difference. I have friends who've done this--- and more. They smile when they tell the war stories but you know---- it's really tough on them after a while. 

Formatting? Most sites will do it for you and help you along step by step. But, as easy as they make it, this is still the world of computers and glitches will send you up a wall. I had a few that caused two false starts and about two weeks of troubleshooting before I was able to track down the little darlings. 

But in the end, you get an amazing opportunity-----you can publish your own work. It's your dream, bound in hard or soft cover and sitting there on your desk, just like you imagined it would one day. No longer are you at the mercy of some 22 year old English major who couldn't find a job teaching once they left college so they became a reader at a publishing house for starvation level wages while living in their parent's basement. They're the ones that decide whether you get the privilege of talking to someone about the possibility that maybe there's slight interest in looking over your work for the purpose of maybe adding it to their 2019 schedule. Oh wait, what's that..? You're a first time author...? Sorry---- only SERIOUS writers are considered. 

No---- when you self publish you bypass all that.  You put success or failure in the hands of the people who read. And that's really the way it should be. Your success story starts with one idea------'what if?' It's where mine began---- and I still have miles to go before I sleep (apologies to the late Robert Frost) . But today, I have an actual book on the marketplace. And I can sit back and say, let the readers judge. No one else, qualified or not, will decide whether my story should or shouldn't be published. It is. Thank you one and all that made that possible.

Go for it. It's a great feeling.

What's This About the Spelling thing-y's

OK, so as many are reading the book, two questions come up. First, why the changes from British spelling of some words ( like colour instead of color) and why are the same words spelled in the Americanized version in places? 

Second, what about Mueller's name? In some places it's Muller or Mueler.

OK, first, the spelling. I tried to bring a little flavor to the book. When British characters are talking, or they're involved in describing the scene, I use the British spelling. When Americans are speaking, it's in the standard U.S. spelling. Hope that helps.

Second, the difference in the spelling of Mueller. No, those aren't typos that slipped by the editor. I simply wanted to portray some confusion with regard to who he is or when he's discovered.  In other words, prior to actually discovering he exists, it's spelled in different ways, tying to emphasize the confusion about him. After he's revealed, the name is spelled the same way----Mueller.

Thanks for the questions. I'll get to more later on.

Just a Few Tweaks

Sorry for the tweaks and misfires regarding ordering the book on Kindle. With the process we're using to publish, every little change requires a 24 hour reset. It's frustrating but I don't anticipate any more false starts. Thanks for hanging with us.

Building Backwards

One of the more unusual aspects of writing and completing 'Hidden Legacy' was the idea that, although I've had the idea about the story for over six years, I began to craft the body of the story after blasting through the last chapter( Epilogue) in one amazing burst of late night frenetic energy. 

Actually,  the way I always write my best material is to 'hear' the dialogue in my head (usually when I'm walking, swimming or driving, the three best places to find yourself isolated and able to think). Once that happens, I race to find a spot where I can write it all down, then begin to refine and play it out. My family gets weirded out when I 'talk' through a story, but verbalizing it helps me understand the characters and the action, and makes the characters less two dimensional. 

Anyway, "Hidden Legacy' started as the Epilogue. I knew that's where the book had to begin--- with the ultimate confrontation. From there, it was easy to build backwards, blocking ideas, action and dialogue to create a flow that lead to those final few pages. You be the judge whether it came out all right.

One other advantage of doing things this way is, now you know how the book will end. That may sound silly, but all those of you who are stream-of-consciousness writers like I am know EXACTLY what I mean. After all, sometimes, we let our stories run in directions we hadn't anticipated. For me, that happened quite a few times in the course of building the different ideas. Good thing I was rooted in knowing, I have to get to this one point. Had I not, I may have given in to temptation and allowed myself to follow a completely different path.

It was the easiest part of the story to write. It was the most rewarding. And, as it turned out, it created a defined major character that I had no real trouble giving a  soul too. I'm very grateful it worked out this way.

What say you? Did the book deliver on its promise at the end, or not? 

Welcome

Welcome to my first novel.

This blog is meant to be a place to exchange ideas, thoughts, comments, likes and dislikes about 'Hidden Legacy'. It's been an exceptional experience in writing and publishing my own work, and I will share much of drama and triumphs with you. Mostly though, I want to talk about the story, while encouraging anyone with a story to tell, to tell it and publish it. The experience will change you.

Today, I'm discussing false starts. As many of you know through Facebook and Twitter, or from receiving comped copies of the book, I wanted to get started January 15th. And did. Unfortunately. But what I discovered over the course of the last six weeks is, editing is a job best left to professionals. Every time I thought I had all the typos, context conflicts and omissions fixed, more popped up.  It was announcing to the world of 5 year olds, you have Oreo's in your pocket. Just when the line ends and you think there are no more kids, more show up. Typos are insidious and evil----finally, though, I think we have crested the hill. I have targeted April 1st for the 'official' debut of the entire novel, as I want it to be seen. But I'm not 100% sure, even after four sets of eyes and 21 reads, that's I've seen the last of corrections.

Talk to me about what you liked best about the story, or what disappointed you. I'll start discussing the characters and some background in my next few blogs.