As I write this, July is just around the corner. Since my last post, we have spent time in the mountains west of town and a few most enjoyable days with an old friend in the Wyoming and South Dakota Black Hills.

 

Writing

As always, I find myself writing new material when I should be finishing the editing process on several other works. Oh, well! I'm enjoying it. Most of my writing  I now do on the deck during the day. Nothing beats sitting outside and enjoying nature and the sounds of a small town when I am creating – or, as I am now, drinking iced tea and eating a muffin.

Since my last post, I have written about 2,000 words (new words,  not edited rewrites). I consider that not too bad, considering the amount of running we have been doing.

 

Is Writing Hard?

That was a question once asked by a fifth grader. My answer – "No, not if you have something you are passionate about, then it can seem easy."

So many young or beginning writers attempt to write for the market. Find the best-selling genre and write like the top pros. That is a bad idea in so many ways. Write what you want and about what you want – happiness, not cash. If you are great and the book is terrific, success and money will find you.

 

Book Sales

I have not done anything other than what I always do, advertising-wise, but for some reason, my book sales are pretty brisk, at least for me. Thanks, everyone!

 

Health Update

I did show up for my six months after the surgery appointment. Exrays show significant new bone growth from C3 to C7 – that's good. The new bone helps tighten all the new titanium and makes my neck more stable and safe. I can start playing golf again in three months, although I can hit half shots now. That will be a nice milestone.

 

 

Writing Quote of the Day

All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn. American writing comes from that. There was nothing before. There has been nothing as good since."

Ernest Hemingway

 

Today's Photos are from our trip to the Black Hills  Lots of forest road travel – lovely!

Writing - Editing, and Selling Books

Today Looks Like Winter – As I write this post, I am sitting near a nice window overlooking our backyard. I have been watching it snow, off and on, for the past two hours. Not sure, I am ready for winter yet, but, as always, the snow, big soft flakes, looks nice floating down. Getting back to the normal life routine can be tough after a vacation - that really hit home yesterday as we raked the front yard. Working outside is nice, but not quite like spending time with friends and family, eating out, and watching great shows in Branson.

From the Old West – Never gamble with a man that knows both sides of the cards.

What Am I Working On? – I have spent the last two days researching and writing on actions and activities in Wyoming in the middle and late 1860s – post Civil War. I also continue the rewrite and edit of my kid's chapter book, fourth in the Mike and Moose andMe series. I have also spent time, possibly too much time, looking at some marketing ideas as my sales seemed to have slipped the last two months.

Now that my second volume of Christmas tales (Under Christmas Skies), is complete and on sale, I ordered ten copies for myself. I often have people that want to order from me an autographed copy so always keep at least 10 of all my books.

 Photo of the Week –

Western Nebraska's, Chimney Rock, one of the most well known sites along the trails west.

 

As always, you can find all mybooks here on Amazon

 Or

Follow me here on twitter at @wyohistoryguy

Keep on Reading and keep on Writing

& 

I Hope everyone is enjoying a nice long fall, and that winter does not come until you are ready for it.

Write a Book and Get Rich - NOW

On the weekend,  I often spend extra time looking at writing blogs. Some have good advice, others are not very understanding of self or Independent published authors. One blog post suggested that spending 10 to 15 thousand dollars on promotions and advertising would be a good idea, money well spent.  After a two or three thousand dollars edit, that means a book would come in with expenses of 12 to 18  thousand dollars before the author makes a dime. Big traditional publishers might spend this on A-list authors, but I know of not a single Independent author or small publishing house who would, or could, spend that much money. Most of us don't have a bank account with more than a number or two on the left side of the decimal.

I read somewhere that 95% of books sell less than 100 copies, others say 200. I have no idea if that stat is real or made up, but it sounds reasonable.  With an author making two or three dollars for each book sold, it looks like tough sledding for most. Spending 15 thousand to make $600, is not very good business, not even in and author's imaginary world.  

This has nothing to do with the post, but we had a terrific sunset this evening

The good news, I have one book that is long past 200 copies sold, and another well past 100. Guess that puts me in the category of top 5% of all authors. Maybe I'm famous, or at least a best-selling author. (Tongue firmly planted in cheek)

Meanwhile see all my books here, including my newest book of Christmas Stories in the West.

Tellin' stories and Sellin' books - loving it!

Lakeshore Drive and Books for Sale

Work is going well in the park. Lakeshore Drive was open today and I drove to Black Canyon Cove and back. Looks like two major areas of concern, the crumbling road on a very dangerous curve

Wonderful looking fix on a very bad curve

and a bad culvert.

The CCC would be proud of the way this was fixed in their style

I stayed until just before dark waiting for the sunset, it wasn’t spectacular but was pretty nice.

Sun turns the sky golden over Laramie Peak - looking from the boat dock

When the moon started peeking through the trees I knew it was time to head for home.

 My newest novel, Commitment, is now available as a book or eBook

Take a look here

http://www.amazon.com/Commitment-Holmes-Western-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00ZJ6VKLS/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Commitment is a historical mystery/western, set in and around Fort Laramie and south to Laramie City and Cheyenne. Good old fashioned story with a bit of mystery, romance, bad guys and one very special good guy – great fun.

And of course, my book on the Building of Guernsey State Park can be found almost anywhere online and at many local sellers.

Get it here from Barnes and Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-civilian-conservation-corps-the-building-of-guernsey-state-park-neil-a-waring/1122073800?ean=9780692394885

Or get it here from Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Civilian-Conservation-Corps-Building-Guernsey/dp/0692394885/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Hey, talk about the perfect Christmas gift for everyone that loves the park.

Need a book for the kids or grandkids? My two kids chapter books are good clean fun.  

Fast moving adventures of growing up in the 1950s, with a ghost and Zombie just for the heck of it. Find them along with all my books here.  

http://www.amazon.com/Neil-Waring/e/B00XV26KLC

Wyoming Vultures

There should be a story here somewhere.
I hate it when I am out for a hike and these guys are staring at me like they are waiting for me to go down. I am an old guy but not ready to go down yet.

Vultures - They really are pretty cool birds

Summer's Almost Gone

I am still not spending as much time writing as I would like, but summers seem to be too busy for me. With all the guests and a few short trips, plus helping two of our kids move to new locations has taken most of my summer. But I don’t complain, not much anyway. Nice to have visitors and nice to see the kids doing well, but now I am ready to kick back a little.

Taking a break on the steps of the North Bluff Castle in Guernsey State Park

Fall seems to be my best time, I sub at the school a bit and write a lot. I still have great hopes of two books before Christmas and two more before May 1. All are written, or nearly so, but still need a bunch of work. My book of Christmas short stories in the west should be out on or before October 15, and my western mystery, “The Incident at Hell’s Half Acre,” is due out by the end of December. After Christmas, the third of my children’s chapter book series should be a go. And lastly and with great hopes, my second non-fiction history book should be available before the kids are out of school for another summer.

Colors from last fall as we hiked Black Canyon Trail

On another note, the vegetable garden is terrific this year and the flowers and lawn look pretty good. The golf game has been fair to middling and the fishing not so good. But when the snow flies I will be writing, I have a lot of projects to finish. 

See my books here