A Time to Regroup

 Two weeks of Covid, a week or more of recovery, and then what we felt like was a well-deserved vacation. And that, my friends and readers, is what we have been up to lately.

I didn't get much writing done during the past month. It seems I spent two weeks sleeping or trying to, and then two weeks regaining my strength and enjoying a trip through New Mexico and Arizona. 

The Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico

I did see sites and hear some stories that could find their way into my writing at some time in the future. I wanted to spend time hiking, photographing, and experiencing the desert near Tucson.

Flicker on a Saguaro Cactus

It was all we hoped it would be – loved it. 

We spent several terrific days hiking in Saguaro National Park

Sometimes taking time away is a good thing – I hope that is my case.

 

A man working the river in the Gila Wilderness New Mexico

"It is a good thing for everyone who can possibly do so to get away at least once a year for a change of scene. I do not want to get into the position of not being able to see the forest because of the thickness of the trees."    Franklin Roosevelt

Where Have All the Bloggers Gone?

Where Have All the Bloggers Gone?

The title, with apologies to a great song from my high school years, asks a question that I really wish I knew the answer to.  Much like everything else, blogs seem to come and go. Over the past decade or so, I have watched several that I enjoyed go away. One of my favorites, the writer got simply tired of posting and interacting from his front porch cabin. It was hilarious and he had quite a few followers, including myself, who often joined in on the front porch conversations. Two others, that I really looked forward to reading passed away – sad as neither was what I would consider old. Others just quit posting, one I checked on yesterday to see what happened, it is still up but no new posts for over three years, guess I will give up on that one. Another blogger recently announced he was quitting because, well, I’m not sure, giving up because he was tired of it and moving on to other things. One lady who wrote my all-time favorite gardening blog, gave up because she didn’t have as many followers as she wanted, too bad, as it was a terrific blog for gardening and food preservation.

So why am I writing this? Am I about to quit? No, not yet and not thinking about it. I have been blogging on this site for nine years, and eleven on my Wyoming site. I have not posted as much lately but that is a slowdown, I’m not quitting anytime soon.

I have always enjoyed reading a good blog but lately, most of what I read are big commercial type blogs with hundreds of thousands of followers. I like reading many of these, but they do not seem nearly as personal as ones I followed back in the old days of blogging, a few years ago.

Recently another of my favorites has slowed to nearly a stop, hope he makes a comeback.

Selling Books - Odd, but I have done no recent advertising and as my readers are aware precious few posts, but my sales and pages read are up. Who knows what drives book sales, just when I think I have it figured out – I don’t.

We are just back from a nice break, spending a few days in the Ozarks enjoying shows and great company in Branson.

Today's photos - are from our daily walks the past three days – wow were we tired after returning home, but we forced ourselves out on the trails anyway – once we were out we enjoyed them, came home and crashed.

Have a great week and keep on reading and keep on writing. 

This one I snapped on vacation at one of my favorite childhood haunts outside of
Fairbury, Nebraska where I grew up

Oh - What a Couple of Weeks

To say the last two weeks have been a bummer would be the ultimate understatement. 

1. Tooth Extraction
2. Root Canal
3. Flu
4. Arthritis Flair up

There you have it, and a fun ride it has not been - but, the good news is I am on the mend. Seems as I get older bad things seems to come in groups, I only hope this group of ailments has ended for a few years - not fun. Finally up and around - some - the past few days, even managed a half hour speaking engagement yesterday. 

A few weeks ago standing behind the - one of a kind - CCC Cap House in
Guernsey State Park

All of the above means that I have not got around to much writing or editing. I did get a second proof copy for my newest book. I wasn't happy with some of my headings and spacing in the first. After a bit, okay quite a bit, of editing,  Happy Days, at first look, this one seems to be fine and should be available soon, but I will need to take a more careful look first - Just to be sure.

My light-hearted look at gardening - available in a few days.

The first Iris are starting to open - always look great

On the good news side, my yard and garden look quite nice for this time of year, and with no frost, in the two-week forecast, it looks like I will be able to continue planting in our gardens the next few days.

I am continuing the research and rough draft, on what I have found to be both a challenging and energizing new nonfiction book. This one I cannot wait to publish but it will be winter at best before it is ready for the big edit. 

On the grounds of Fort Laramie
 Setting for the new nonfiction book I am working on

Meanwhile, keep on writing and keep on reading.

The famous Iron Bridge at Fort Laramie - What stories it could tell

The End of the Year - Goals & Selling Books

Remember the old line from Alice in Wonderland, “The hurrier I go the behinder I get?” When I was a kid, more than a half-century ago, I used to see it quite often, I think we had a napkin holder on the kitchen table with that Lewis Carroll quote. Funny, I saw it often but had no idea what it meant.

Goal Setting - It took a lifetime to understand, but now I do, especially this time of year trying to tie up last year and get into a new one. This time of the year I start thinking about setting goals for next year. My first goal will be to work on them, and actually try to reach my goals. Seems to be much better than just surrendering in the middle of the year.  I fell woefully short this year, I wanted to publish three books. I published one and one short story. I wanted to write 300,000 words, watered down from my original goal of 350,000. I wrote just a bit over 200,000.

I wanted to publish a few more of my photos, I didn’t say how many, so I guess that I may have reached this one, as more than a dozen were picked up by various people/companies.

Dollars & Cents - I also wanted to pick up some paid writing, I also made that one. Maybe I shouldn’t be so hard on myself, but my word count needs to improve. Next week I will be posting my new goals which I hope to work harder at this time around.

Yikes, My Neighbor Is A Vampire - I have, at last, finished the third of my kid’s book series, all I need now is a cover. I am pretty happy with this one, should be fun for 6-11-year-olds. What follows is a cut from page six of the first chapter with the 11-year old me narrating.

I grabbed my winter coat from the peg by the door, scooped up a pair of gloves, and my favorite stocking hat, pulled them all on, and headed outside. This time, I was careful to push it shut tight, I had been reminded enough times the past few weeks. I jogged along the first twenty or so yards, then took a full run and slide on the ice in front of Mike’s house. We were still in trouble for getting out the garden hose and building our little ice rink, but it sure was fun. Maybe leaving the hose out all night and then breaking it, several times, the next morning is what got us into trouble. That must be it because everyone loves a good slide on the ice.

The book, like all my kid's books, runs between 11,000 and 12,000 words. Should be fun.

Selling Books - I mentioned on my Wyoming Blog a couple of days ago how happy I was to see the reception and sales for my latest book, Ghost of the Fawn, it has consistently sold in both eBook and softcover and stayed in the top 100, in its category, on Amazon for several weeks. Gratifying to say the least – oh, how I love readers.

In a few days, my book of Western Christmas stories will be reduced to .99 cents for five days, I will let everyone know when the sale goes live.

Today's photos all taken in the last few days – it's winter outside.

 Keep on Reading and Keep on Writing 

(

Western Short Story Give a Way

FREE – Download a free copy today & all weekend.

My western short

Interview With A Gunfighter

More than a quarter of a century after the end of the old west a legendary gunfighter submits to an interview. The one and only time he talks about living his life with a gun.

Find it here – a nice 15-minute read –

Story Ideas

From Where Do Story Ideas Come ?

Everyone that has written a novel or short stories has been asked that question. Today I thought I would tackle it myself. My ideas are often spontaneous and start with me writing the first line and then letting the story fall in behind. I write mostly historical fiction, but also children’s chapter books for readers seven to ten years old. Although I have not written a novel that would fall into the science fiction category, I have dabbled in short stories in that genre.

How About A Story About the Street You Grew Up On?
Yep This is Mine - See the House With  The White porch Rails?
That's It.

Do Most Writers Ideas Come From Dreams?

One thing I have learned is that my ideas do not come from dreams. I have read so many posts about stories that came from dreams, but not mine. My dreams are often so disjointed that I would have no idea how to turn any of them into a book. I think the best stories are based on real-life events, might be why I like to read historical fiction. For years and years, writers were told only to write, what they know. That has long since passed, as none of my favorite murder mystery writers are murders themselves. Writers can write, what interests them, something for which they have a passion.

Maybe If I Dreamed of Flying

Oh, No Writer’s Block

Many times writers blame the famous, for writers, writer’s block, as the reason for not having an idea for a story, but I don’t think this is true, ideas are all around us. The nightly news, if one writes contemporary stories and history books for writers that love the old days. Almost anything can and does make a good story. Some of the best stories are new takes on old stories. Indeed, it has also been said that there are no new stories, only retelling of old ones. I am not sure if I buy into this, but it might be true. In my western, Commitment, I gave my hero, Blade Holmes, a bit of a superhero feel. No super powers, but abilities and senses far beyond what other men had. In my kid's chapter books, I tell the stories of my life growing up in the 1950s, but center them around, ghosts, zombies, and vampires, just for fun.

It might be a cliché, but my stories start with a first line, and I go from there. I have quite a file of first lines or in some cases, first paragraphs or first pages. I should never have writer’s block, I have plenty of ideas, but sometimes I do have writers, I don’t feel like it, as I have the past two weeks.

This Might be a Place to Cure Writer's Block

Meanwhile At My Writing Desk

So what have I been up too? The final edit on my young adult mystery. I have thirty pages left, on this go through, and then I will be close to finished. Otherwise, I have not done too much, writing, that is.  I have been enjoying life, traveling, watching little league baseball games, going to elementary school concerts, playing golf, and getting my garden and lawn in shape. Oh, and I have also been doing, maybe a bit too much, substitute teaching.

Windmill Made in My Hometown, Many Years Ago
 Photo From Our Most Recent Trip

You can see all my books on my, Amazon Author Site - Here

Keep On Reading and Keep On Writing!

April Words

I have mentioned before that two writers I follow commonly write more than a million words a year. Reading their posts inspired me to keep track of my word number this year. My wife was afraid I might become obsessed with writing everything down – she was right.

Geeting My Ducks in a Row - Even When it is Snowing

April Writing

This month I wrote 22 blog posts and that unfortunately made up about half of my writing as I totaled only, 20,393 words for the month. That means that my works in progress did not go far. The word total does bring me up to 100,466 for the year, quite a bit short of my ongoing goal. By this time, I was supposed to be 121,000 which would be 1,000 words per day for 121 days.  I am averaging 830 words or about 170 per day short of the goal. My actual target for the year is 350,000 (I just call it a thousand a day), so I do have a bit of leeway, but am still behind.

Words Are Like Water Under the Bridge

When I am Not Writing

So, if I am not writing what was I doing? Good question.  I played 11 rounds of golf and took 454 photos during eight photo sessions, mostly wildlife and the beginning of spring and snow in spring pictures. I also started the cold weather part of my garden, planting peas, potatoes, and radishes. The peas and radishes are up, but the potatoes seem to still be in hiding. Along with writing, I also substitute taught five days in April.  Most people especially retired teachers, are surprised that after teaching for 42 years I still go back and sub. I enjoy it still, and will continue subbing as long as I can do it and enjoy my days at school. I also volunteered and worked two long track & field meets.  This month I also had a few over 21,000 hits on my blogs. I don’t keep track of how many unique visits and how many people open multiple pages, that all seems too difficult for me. I am always happy with five thousand a week. I also had multiple blogs with several comments. I try to answer each comment and love it when people take the time to put something in the comments section. I often comment on others blogs if it is something I am interested in or if it strikes my fancy. (Do people still say that)?

One of my April Favorite Photo's

As Colombo Used to Say – “Oh, One More Thing.”

That’s it for this month, hope some other writer’s post how much they have accomplished this month. Oh, I read two books, may be an all-time low for me, but I am doing some commercial writing, and researching for my next non-fiction takes a lot of my time.

Meanwhile – Keep on Writing and Keep on Reading

Note -  this post is 508 words, I’m rolling now!

Laramie Peak in Eastern Wyoming on a Cloudy Day

Writing For The Brand

With a new year, nearly a week old. I thought it might be time to take a look at what is selling in the world of books. First, and something that all of the experts I studied agreed upon, was that fiction far outsells nonfiction.  Eight of every ten books sold in America last year was fiction. But, I don’t think that is a surprise to anyone.

Surprised and Away they Go

What I found, as far as bestselling genres, surprised me. Not so much in the lists, but in how much they varied. Seems people are not using the same data to come up with their facts as to what sells best.

I thought the following list was interesting because it uses only one factor, money made, for this list. This list, and I am not sure why, left out the bestselling fiction category, children’s books. It is likely they were only writing this for authors and readers of adult literature.

List 1 –  By how much money was taken in -

1.             Romance / Erotica

2.             Crime /Mystery/Thriller

3.             Religious/Inspirational

4.             Science Fiction/Fantasy

5.             Horror

When I write fiction, (of my five books four are fiction one is nonfiction) it falls into two distinct categories, Children’s Chapter Books and Historical Fiction/Western. Does not look to me like I will fit very well into the above list. With that in mind, I believe I will attempt to write a book in each of the top five categories this year. I am started to picture the money $$$$ coming in already.

My Five Books 

Here are my working titles, all westerns, aligned with the list of 5 above.

1.   50 Breeds of Horses (Romance/Erotica)

2. Who Was That Cowboy That Broke Prison and Disappeared (Crime/Mystery/Fantasy)

3.   The Parson Draws Two (this one I am working on, so far I like it)

4.   When Dragons Ruled the West (Science Fiction/Fantasy)

5.   Dripping Blood and Silver Rowels (Horror)

Well maybe not, but it was a thought.

Another blog post made a list of all genres of fiction. This list was based on numbers sold, and it looked like this

1.   Children’s

2.   Fantasy

3.   Mystery

4.   Classic Literary fiction – up to the 1950s

5.   Modern Literary fiction – after the 1950s

6.   Magic realism

7.   Historical fiction

8.   YA fiction

Still doesn’t look like I fit very well, but I will forge on.

I am 50,000 words into my newest western, it is my first that could be classified as Young Adult. I plan to market it as a western/mystery and as a young adult western/mystery. I think it fits both areas. The book is set in modern times in Wyoming with two Arapaho teenagers trying to discover their past and themselves.

It has been my experience that there are two kinds of writers. Those who write for the market, and those who write for the genre. Guess my love of reading and writing westerns and historicals makes me one who writes for the brand.

What If?

What If?

What could a fence post tell us if  fence posts could talk?

That's how I most often come up with ideas, what if?

What if this way your only ride to town?

I have two new books coming soon, one a collection of Christmas stories from out west, the other a modern-day western. The book of Christmas shorts, there will be 15 in all, 14 are finished, and it truly is a collection of what ifs. This book will be released November first and is so far without a title. However, back to the subject.

What if this guy was a Zombie? What if he lived next door?

Here are the, what ifs, I used for six of the shorts. It is important to know that this collection, all westerns, contain stories for adults and stories for kids. Some stories are of Santa Clause, and some are more traditional Christian Christmas tales. Some are a mystery, some romance and one or two may be a bit on the fantasy side. What if an old cowboy found red ribbons at Christmas time in the sage? What if the stranger was not what he seemed? What if you can go home again?  What if Santa really was? What if Prairie Dogs celebrated Christmas? What if a discontented, modern-day urban dweller slipped back into the 1800s?

What if this place was your new home?

I did this with both of my children's chapter books, Melvin the E Street Ghost and, Then Mike Said, “There’s a Zombie in My Basement." And I did it with my western mystery, Commitment, a book available as an ebook and soon as an actual novel that readers can hold in their hands and place bookmarks on the last page read.

What if you had a taste for Big Horn for supper?

Every writer comes up with lot's of great ideas and I bet most of them, somehow, start with, "What if."

What if you were here and needed to be over there?

Why We all Hate Commas

 Using commas, oh my.

I read today that writers do not use nearly as many commas as were used in 1900. I remember being taught that if you forgot all the rules, which most of us have, to place a comma whenever you hear a pause. Today this seems to be a little used and mostly forgotten comma lesson. Why? Because that leaves too many of the dreaded comma’s. There is a relationship between pauses and commas, but it is not strong enough to always use a comma for a pause.

Best advice I read on commas is that if you are not sure leave it out. Now that’s pretty good.

I am reading a new grammar book taking a look at how comma use has changed. Hope it helps. My undergraduate minor was in American Literature nowadays I wish it would have been in English.

 Not really.

My photo of the day

Relaxing this evening in the beautiful North Bluff Castle at Guernsey State Park