This sign was hanging above an artisan who sits long hours each day tying knots (2500 per square inch) in silk rugs in china: Mind Your Head.
I think this requires no further comment.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Three years later
On November 30, 2007, I sent the final manuscript (I thought) to Jefferson Press for OH DON'T YOU CRY FOR ME. With that, the blog Fiction Highway came to an end, which was intended to follow what it was like to publish a first book (even though I had some publications before that). I was beyond wanting to write another word about the experience. Not that it was bad. It was in fact wonderful, and I had a great editor who made it so. But losing three stories from the collection, then re-writing thousands of words on deadline took its toll.
So anyway, the book came out in the spring of 2008. I made the regional circuit speaking at conferences, doing readings at libraries and bookstores, signing books, and generally doing what I could to promote the book while running an ad agency 50 or 60 hours a week. Once in awhile I look on Amazon to see if some relative or friend or distant new reader has bought a copy....
Soon I jumped into the next book, non-fiction about the 125 year history of Louisville Slugger baseball bats. David Magee and I wrote and published the book for release in April 2009, so we squeezed a couple of years work into about six months. Triumph (of Random House) wanted the book and produced a gorgeous book with about 170 photos.
So after two successful (a relative term, meaning I'll keep my day job) books, I find that not much has changed in my life. I still prefer fishing to work, but work takes most of my time. And I write when I can (Sunday afternoon like this, 6 in the morning, etc.). Right now, I'm writing a novel about Elvis and trying to help the fans of his understand what really happened during the last couple of years of his life. I've researched this one for 10 years and been writing almost that long, in between other writing projects!
So anyway...I have three blogs with hungry mouths, so I'll move on. For you writers and wanabe writers, remember that writing is a process, not a destination. The books come and go, and they are wonderful to see birthed, but the next day there is still another blank page (excuse me, that dates me, I meant screen) waiting to be filled.....
So anyway, the book came out in the spring of 2008. I made the regional circuit speaking at conferences, doing readings at libraries and bookstores, signing books, and generally doing what I could to promote the book while running an ad agency 50 or 60 hours a week. Once in awhile I look on Amazon to see if some relative or friend or distant new reader has bought a copy....
Soon I jumped into the next book, non-fiction about the 125 year history of Louisville Slugger baseball bats. David Magee and I wrote and published the book for release in April 2009, so we squeezed a couple of years work into about six months. Triumph (of Random House) wanted the book and produced a gorgeous book with about 170 photos.
So after two successful (a relative term, meaning I'll keep my day job) books, I find that not much has changed in my life. I still prefer fishing to work, but work takes most of my time. And I write when I can (Sunday afternoon like this, 6 in the morning, etc.). Right now, I'm writing a novel about Elvis and trying to help the fans of his understand what really happened during the last couple of years of his life. I've researched this one for 10 years and been writing almost that long, in between other writing projects!
So anyway...I have three blogs with hungry mouths, so I'll move on. For you writers and wanabe writers, remember that writing is a process, not a destination. The books come and go, and they are wonderful to see birthed, but the next day there is still another blank page (excuse me, that dates me, I meant screen) waiting to be filled.....
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