I suck at blogging, but the book has a name and a date

I was shocked to see nine days had passed since my last blog. Not really an encouraging sign. But there's a bit of news. Henry (my editor) emailed today to confirm the publisher and editor have agreed to my second title I was considering. They like and want to go with Oh Don't You Cry for Me.

For those who have read or heard any of my stories that will appear in this book, you'll notice that most of the characters I find myself drawn to write about are irreparably flawed, scarred by the jagged edge of daily events that surround most of us who pass through life with dysfunctional families, the raw flesh of self doubt, and the too-frequent sacrifice of pride or money or ego required to move on into another day--yet none of these characters wants your sympathy. Each finds a way to deal with his or her predicament and goes about life without much of a proverbial chip on their individual shoulders.

Since my last blog a week and a half ago, I have worked daily on the new story. I passed 8500 words this week, and am happy to finally begin to see where things may be headed. I'm guessing the first draft should go to 11,000 or more words. That should give me a good 9500 word story after one pass at editing.

Henry also said we have a firm date for publication: April 1, 2008 for official release and story stocking. Books should ship March 1.

Armed with that information, I'm now opening discussing specific opportunities to talk, read, sign, sell, or generally find an audience.

Oh, I did get to spend last weekend writing at Dauphin Island. The wind kicked the seas up to five feet, so fishing was out. Instead, my great friend Charles Woods (Bubba outside work) and I piddled around a little with the boat while our wives walked the beach. Mostly, we shucked raw oysters raked up earlier that day by Mr. Johnson who sells from a little, green cinder-block building without even a sign (just pull up and one of the grandkids will yell for pawpaw that somebody wants oysters) and fried a few shrimp fresh off the Skinner's boat. I was busily at this computer by 5 a.m. both days to get in a couple of hours before the house woke up.

Until we meet again, happy writing, or reading, as the case may be for you......

Balancing writing with marketing

Since my last post I have continued with a new story that's reached 4850 words as of 7 a.m. this morning, traveled to Biloxi to work, then Birmingham for a charity golf tournament for the Kidney foundation, and back to Jackson to work on the back yard so I can sell my house.

Also learned from a trusted friend that one of the other stories might need a fresh look. So I gave it one. Boy was she right. I got her suggestions, along with an overview from my editor of the story, which (fortunately) he liked but agreed could use a little work here and there. I've re-read the story to think about how to fix a few of the obvious problems, but will hold the rewrite until after a couple of drafts of the new story are complete.

I've also been working the phones and email to begin trying to arrange appearances on panels or whatever I can find in the way of conferences next spring. Have made contact with a couple of people well-known in literary circles, who are helping me find the right committees to talk with. Also have begun talking with writers I respect to ask them to consider reading the MS and writing a blurb for it.

Balancing the needs of the book with 9-10 hour work days is quite fun. I hope the adrenalin doesn't wear off soon and the coffee pot stays full. Did I mention I'm building a new house and trying to get the old one ready to sell. Yikes, what was I thinking? Well, duty calls me to answer a few emails for work before tomorrow.....

Meeting the Publisher and Editor

Much has happened since my last post at the start of a vacation week. Importantly, I finished a story that week titled The Trust Jesus Society about the underground religious group that spray paints all the Trust Jesus graffiti on the interstate highway signs. My new editor is now looking at the story. I was also lucky enough to harvest a trophy-sized turkey on my vacation, with a 12 1/4" beard.

Two days after getting back from my cabin in Paint Rock Valley in North Alabama, I had a two-hour meeting with Jefferson Press publisher David Magee, who happened to be in Jackson on a book tour for his new book The South is Round. A very funny read www.david-magee.com. His editor Henry Oehmig was also there for the meeting, at which we agreed on next steps. We set a tentative schedule for an official April 1, 2008, release date, but will shoot for having finished books in our hands in mid-February in case I have an opportunity to appear at any conferences next spring.

My next duty is to finish another story or perhaps two. Last weekend during the long Easter weekend I travelled to Dauphin Island to write and finished 3,000 words of a new story that may go 6,000 words. More on that later.

The contract is about finalized and should be signed in two weeks or so. And a final schedule will be confirmed. Then the edits must be completed, cover art finished and materials prepared for the catalog. Work calls....I'll be back later for another post....thanks for reading.