Month: November 2016

I am now an author under contract with Oghma Creative Media. The contract was signed earlier this morning. There’s still a lot of work to do to turn my manuscript into a book, but I’m excited for the opportunity to bring my hard work to the masses. I hope you enjoy my journey.

I wrote another chapter of my second novel this week. Ideas are popping in my head throughout the day on scenes that need to go into this book. I’m looking forward to getting back into the habit of writing on a daily, or near daily, basis again. It is so much fun to write.

If you’re an aspiring writer, don’t give up. Continue writing, go to workshops and conventions, do the research to make your tale believable and let your characters tell their story. You’ll be surprised at what they say and do. Try not to compare yourself, as only you can write your story. After all, history doesn’t write itself.

Even though writing is usually done in seclusion, you will meet so many people through this great profession. Listen to their advice and soak up all the knowledge you can. The more you know about the whole process, the better your chances are of signing your own contract one day.

This truly will be a remarkable Thanksgiving for me. Life is grand right now. I pray your life is awesome. Write, and enjoy yourself. After all, history doesn’t write itself.

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what I’m reading. I may not be a published author yet, but I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read. I finished reading Fail to the Chief by W. T. Fallon, a satire about the presidential election. My review is on the Good Reads website. After Thanksgiving, I’ll start reading  Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body by St. Pope John Paul II. I encourage you to read a variety of topics.

Grand evening to you all. I hope you had a splendid Veteran’s Day. Thank you to all Veteran’s who served and to our current military family. You deserve so much more than just one day of appreciation. God bless you for your service.

Next Friday, November 18, I sign my author contract with Oghma Creative Media. I’m very excited to partner with Oghma and look forward to my book launch date in the spring of 2018. I know that is a long wait, but I believe the time will be well spent transforming my manuscript into a book.

I’ve started my second book. The first chapter received positive reviews from my critique group. Writing brings me joy. It is wonderful to see and work with others who appreciate and want to reward my hard work. And don’t get me wrong, writing is hard work, especially when you offer your best prose. Take pride in what you write, clean up the mistakes, check for errors and ask for help as needed. Authors are willing to help. I’m looking forward to doing this as well. If I can do this, you can too. Write your story, revise it, send it to publishers and get published. Write the story you want to read, because history doesn’t write itself.

Quick note to all of you in NaNoWriMo: Keep up the good work. Two and a half more weeks of dedicated time and you’ll have a draft of your novel completed. It’ll feel good.

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what I’m reading. I may not be a published author yet, but I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read. I finished reading Bloom County Episode XI A New Hope. Mr. Breathed paints a wonderful alternative to our humdrum daily lives with Opus, Bill the Cat and all the others excel at lunacy. I’m now reading Fail to the Chief by W. T. Fallon, a satire about the presidential election running as a reality show where viewers vote out potential candidates on a regular basis. I know I said in my previous post that I would get back to my Theology of the Body series by St. Pope John Paul II. I ordered the book last week and didn’t come in in time. I encourage you to read a variety of topics.

I received my contract this week from the potential publisher. It was reviewed by an attorney, and I’ve asked for a meeting to discuss the legal document with the potential publisher. Hopefully, next week we will be able reach an agreement whereas I can then be called an “author under contract.” That’d be nice.

One of the first scenes I’m going to write for next story is not the first scene of the book. I have a good set of middle scenes and end scenes, but I felt the opening was weak. Today an idea came to me on how to open my second book. In the opening paragraph, I’ll have the king cough, choke and collapse into his plate of food. I believe that is a good hook to draw my reader into the story. Kill the king and the let the kingdom flounder. Or maybe not. He may survive and play a critical role later on. You’ll have to wait and see how it turns out.

I wish all my NaNoWriMo compatriots the best of luck as they punch out a novel in the coming weeks. I’ve never tried to do NaNoWriMo, but there is always next year. Afer all, history doesn’t write itself.

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what I’m reading. I may not be a published author yet, but I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read. I finished reading the September 2016 Writer’s Digest magazine, and the entire Summer 2016 Novel Writing magazine. These were good inspirations, and I’m looking forward putting to use what I learned from them into my next story. Tomorrow I begin Bloom County Episode XI A New Hope.  After that, I’ll get back to my Theology of the Body series by St. Pope John Paul II. I encourage you to read a variety of topics.