Writing Books

It took a long time, too long, eight days to be exact to get around to my first 2019 post.

  As I did last year and the year before I started this year, sick in bed. For me, the first part of every year seems to be my time for a sinus infection. When I was younger, I fought it off pretty well, popped a few pills for a week and did not miss a day of work – no longer.  Now, these things involve a trip to the doctor, prescription meds and lots of rest. I am, at last feeling better, but still not doing much.

  Maybe with a start like this, the year will go out with a big bang – writing wise at least.

Goals for 2019 – Two books published and 36 read - that’s it.  I also hope to write in the neighborhood of 300,000 words. Last year I sluffed off, writing less, and taking fewer photos than I have for many years. That is what a New Year is all about, starting fresh.

Looking Toward a Terrific 2019

What I am Working on Now? – The third in my western mystery series. This one, like the others, is set in Wyoming and, so far is moving right along.

Cowboy Saying – Sometimes you’ll find a heap of thread on a mighty small spool.

What I’m Reading – I am through the first two tales in Steve Hockensmith’s highly entertaining – Dear Mr. Holmes: Seven Holmes on the Range Mysteries.

This one is a good mix of Sherlock Holmes, and an old fashioned western with quite a lot of humor tossed in. So far I am loving it - More about this later this month

Readers can find all of my books here on Amazon. All books are available as soft covers or eBooks.  

Takes a Bit of Luck

Takes a Bit of Luck

I am rereading Terry Brooks terrific writing book, Sometimes the Magic Works. 

When I first came across this book I was not a fantasy fan, not that I didn’t like it, I just didn’t read it. I had read the Harry Potter Books that were in print at the time, the first three. I had students tell me how great Brooks writing was and that I just had to read, The Sword of Shannara.  I did read it after being impressed with his writing book, and then read his trilogy, Magic Kingdom for Sale.

View from the Castle in my Magic Kingdom - very nice

So what is this post all about? Luck! Yes, luck. Brooks relates that author Elizabeth Engstrom gave a talk where she says the number one factor as to whether an aspiring writer will get published is luck.

I might add that it needs to be good also. I often come across books that I think are very good but they don’t sell. Are my tastes that different than everyone else reading in that genre? I don’t think so. But luck may have played a role. We all have read stories telling how persistence, query, and query some more, can be important to getting published.

To go the traditional route in publishing today is slow and tough. But a few will make it, make it if they get just a bit of luck to get started.

One of my favorite spots in the park