Off To A Good Start

I’m in sort of a holding pattern until the review copy of Family Secrets arrives in the mail, but I’ve gotten off to a good start on the new book. I’m not sure what it’s called just yet, but I’m liking it already. What can you expect to see in Book #2? Well, in addition to the new mystery we’ll get to see Charlee’s relationship with Carter evolve a bit more. I’m also bringing Murray back for this one. He might have been my favorite character in the first book. He was definitely the most fun to imagine. We’ll also get a little more insight into why he is the way he is, why he chooses to hide in the basement and isolate himself from others.

Since the second book picks up right after the first one ended, we will have to deal a little more with the psycho ex-cult leader as his case proceeds to trial. And then there is Charlotte. We certainly can’t leave her out.

I’m so excited about this new project. The first one felt kind of awkward and stumbly (if stumbly is a word) compared to this one. I think there is going to be a lot more detail now that we’ve gotten to know these people a little bit.

The Final Stretch

Whew! I just submitted my final (well, almost final) edits to the online publisher. In a day or two, I will be able to order my PROOF copy (also known as the make-sure-you-got-it-right copy). That will be my chance to see the book as a whole and read through it again to re-check for typos. I may enlist the aide of others to help with the typo hunt. It’s nearly impossible for me to find them on my own.

Once I’m able to confirm the PROOF copy, I can begin selling books. They will be available online at amazon.com, createspace.com and hopefully on my website. I’ll be able to sell them for slightly less than the others so maybe that will drive some traffic to the new site. Check it out if you have time. It’s still a work in progress, but it’s definitely getting there.

Back In The Saddle

I know I’ve neglected my poor little blog for a while, but it’s time to get all ramped up again. The ‘Family Secrets’ journey is winding down and fresh ideas are swirling around in the back of my head for Charlee’s next adventure.

How does this sound? The second book picks up just after the first one ends. The press is still in town and Charlee is getting her fifteen minutes of fame. She gets fan mail, love letters, marriage proposals and one plea for help.

A young woman whose sister has left town unexpectedly is convinced that she didn’t go willingly. She’s been to the police and they can’t help her – there is no evidence of a crime and the sister appears to have run off with her boyfriend. The woman knows that something is wrong and that her sister is in grave danger but no one will listen. Charlee is hesitant at first but finally decides to help her.

This new adventure brings more travel and new experiences for Charlee. It also brings more danger. Luckily, she has Carter and Murray on hand for backup!

FINISHED!!

'Family Secrets' is now finished and all 44 chapters have been uploaded to authonomy. There is still a bit of editing and proofreading to do, but the bulk of the work is behind me now. You can't imagine how good it feels!

BTW - if you're following the book on authonomy and have already read Chapter 37, you'll want to read it again.

My 'AHA' Moment

I’ve had an ending in mind for Family Secrets for a while now. Unfortunately, because of recent developments in the story, that ending just isn't going to work anymore. There are several things about this story that have evolved differently that I originally expected them to. That’s just the way it works. Having tossed out my planned ending, though, I have been in a bit of a pinch. I’ve been fast approaching the point where I was going to be seriously stuck trying to figure out what happens next. That’s what this whole blog is about, right? The never ending search for The Rest of My Story!

Well, by George, I’ve found it!! It came to me out of the clear blue while I was driving to work this morning – and it’s PERFECT!! That’s twice that a problem has mysteriously solved itself on the way to work. Maybe I’ve found the secret to overcoming writer’s block – drive up and down Pellissippi Parkway until you figure it out.

Thank goodness it’s Friday. And thank goodness it’s supposed to rain this weekend. I can lock myself in a room with the laptop and not have to feel guilty about ignoring the gutters and the flower beds.

Almost To The Finish Line

I can see it in the distance. I really can. It’s getting closer everyday and it’s starting to feel strange. I don’t mean strange in the sense that I don’t want to get there. Maybe by ‘strange’ I really mean ‘new and exiting’. When I self-published the first one-third of the book (so that I could actually see my own work in print and have something to share with my family) I was almost giddy. To hold my own work in my hands made me feel like a real writer for the first time ever. What I’m feeling now as I quickly approach the finish line is very similar.

I haven’t had much luck with trying to write in the evenings because I tend to need much more time than that to focus. It’s starting to get easier, though. Maybe it’s the momentum of knowing that I’m almost done. Who knows? At any rate, I’ve already made some progress this week before the weekend arrives. Hooray for me! I’m hoping I’ll have a big pile of chapters to upload on Sunday. Wish me luck!

For now, I’m off to go and prepare for that thing that sucks up so much valuable writing time (AKA my day job).

Story Update - 'Family Secrets'

I made some key decisions lately regarding Family Secrets and I thought that sharing them might help make sense of a few things. So here goes.

I wrote the first 13 chapters back in 1996. I tinkered with it here and there, but didn’t do any serious work on it until last year. After so many years, I was unsure about the time frame. I originally wanted to continue setting the story in 1996 and use an epilogue to bring the characters into the present day. That was because I did not foresee any additional Charlee Hudson stories. Now that I’ve changed my mind about that, I’ve had to change my approach to the time frame. It’s one thing to write one story in a different time period. It’s quite another to write several.

So, I have decided to bring Charlee, Carter and the others into the present day. Yes, Regis, this is my final answer. You will notice in the most recent uploads that Charlee suddenly has a cell phone. That's the sort of thing that I still need to 'polish up' in the previous chapters.

Aside from grammar and spelling, I’m not a fan of editing while I’m in the middle of a story. I will go back later and make the necessary revisions – give them cell phones and laptops, etc. None of this will alter the basic storyline.

FYI – I’m probably about 60 pages away from the juicy ending! The completed novel will be smallish – around 250 pages. Don’t worry though; I already have an idea brewing for Charlee’s next adventure!