The Fifty-Fourth Issue

Here we go again.  Another month, another glimpse into my creative writing efforts.  A bit about writing, works in progress, a different twist on an interview, a spotlight featuring a new release and music.

Must. Have. Music.

Ready?
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Let’s roll.
 
 
Writing
 
“Once more into the breach” William Shakespeare.

Every month I seem to get into a discussion with someone about the differences between traditional publishing and self or indie publishing. Before this year, I had never tried the indie route. The series that I write are both traditionally published.

The Jamie Richmond stories are with Inkspell Publishing.  I have always been pleased with the feedback and support they provide. Working with Melissa Keir and her staff of editors and artists has been a positive experience. Melissa is open to brainstorming strategies about promotion, stories or ideas about books in general.

The Jefferson Chene novels are published by The Wild Rose Press. I’ve been fortunate to work with the same editor on all three books, which has led to great results.  My suggestions and ideas for the cover art are well received and corrections have easily been made.

This year I decided to try self-publishing an old novel that was just collecting dust on the shelf. “Rules of Desperation” needed some serious work. My skills at writing have dramatically improved over the years. That meant a thorough revision by me (twice!) before I sent it to Diana Kathryn Penn for editing.  Two more rounds of edits followed before we got it relatively clean and came up with a cover that appealed to both of us.

All this took time and money. Paying for an editor was something I never did before. The publishers take care of that. Now it was up to me. But let me be abundantly clear here. That was money well spent.

Recently I was at an event where several local authors, who are self-published, had their books on display. I glanced at a few.  The artwork was bland. One had chosen to write the entire book using italics. I learned later from another writer that the guy’s wife had done the editing for him and refused to acknowledge that it could have been better if an objective party, such as an editor, had reviewed and repaired the manuscript.

Indie authors may never know the thrill you receive as a writer when a traditional publisher accepts your work.  That’s confirmation that someone else recognizes your talent when it comes to creating a story. They also don’t realize the support and assistance you receive to prepare your book for publication.

There are benefits to both sides. For me, I will continue to submit work to traditional publishers, especially those in the Jamie or Chene series.  But I plan to utilize self-publishing as well, when it fits with my strategic plan.
 
Events
 
While I am no longer a road warrior, traversing the state each week, there are still a few events on the calendar.
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On October 26 at 1:30 p.m. I will be at the Hazel Park Library with fellow author Donald Levin.  We’ll be reading a scene from our latest books and talking about our writing processes.  If time permits, we’ll also take questions from the audience.
After that session, both Don and I will have our books available for purchase and autographs.  That’s a great way to get a jump on the holiday shopping.  Books make excellent gifts. 

Work In Progress
 
I had the best intentions of turning all my efforts and free time to working on the crime novel featuring Leo Agonasti.  With almost 55,000 words written, progress was being made. My plan was to finish the manuscript, hand it off to a couple of beta readers and get it ready to submit to a certain publisher. 

That was the plan.
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But as Mel Brooks would say, “Man plans and God laughs”
 

Scenes and ideas for what will eventually become the fourth Jefferson Chene mystery continue to demand my attention. Chene, Simone, Pappy and the rest of the crew would have to be patient, remaining in the background until Leo’s book was done.

 Also, part of the plan.

Then a concept reared its ugly head. Even if I knuckled down and finished the crime novel, there was absolutely no guarantee that the publisher I have in mind (if the book is accepted) would have it ready for publication in 2025. The same realization is true if I shifted my attention to the Chene novel.

But I’ve grown to like having a new book on my display table each year.  In 2021, it was Stealing Haven.  2022 brought The Wayward Path. 2023 Jamie returned with Chasing Favors. And this year, Rules of Desperation joined the party. I really wanted something new for my display next year.

Which meant a shifting of the gears and a change to the plan. If you listen closely, you can probably hear Mel Brooks laughing.

That lead me to a crime novella. The idea is to crank out about 25,000 words on a story.  Almost 7,000 words are already written. When the first draft is complete, I’ll tag my team of beta readers, clean it up and send it out for editing.  Then I will self-publish this in 2025.  My string of new material each year will continue.  Once that is done, I’ll be able to return my energies to Leo Agonasti and the crime novel. 

It’s just that easy.
 
 
Character Interview
 
With the release of “Rules of Desperation” earlier this year, I had a request from Diana Kathryn Penn to ‘interview’ Nicholas Burr, the protagonist in that story.  Here’s the result of that ‘conversation’.
 
I understand that you were a ghostwriter of a young adult series before the novel came out.  What made you choose to write in such an opposing style for your first solo project? 

It’s part of the challenge any artist takes, to stretch their talents. What’s important is to know your audience and make sure what you’re writing appeals to them.  After completing each book in the young adult series, I tried my hand at writing a mainstream novel.

How does writing that series differ from writing Justifiable Homicide? 

In the Skipper series, there is a sense of youth and innocence. The main characters are smart and clever. They are comfortable with each other. There’s no controversy between them.

I’ve always been drawn to mysteries.  For this tale, I just dug a little deeper, getting a glimpse of the dark side. I had to get in the mindset of someone who would do whatever it took to achieve their goal.

Did you have a different approach or process? What was different about your research? 

The process is the same.  I let my imagination wander and put the characters in different situations.  With this novel, I referred to a lot of newspaper accounts about murders and unsolved crimes. It was important that the readers could sympathize with the main character and root for him.

Did you collaborate with the other ghostwriters? 

Not on this project. Just to clarify, when writing the Skipper series, I do those on my own.  There have been several different ghost writers over the years. Some may have collaborated, but not with me.  

Which came to you more naturally, writing for the series, or writing the novel?  I’ve done several books in the series, so it’s easy for me to slip into the storyline and write. Although Skipper and Jojo aren’t my own creation, I’ve gotten to know them well over the years. I must admit to reading the series as a kid, so even though they are fictional, they’re like good old friends.

Was there a scene or character in Justifiable Homicide that, upon final edit, didn't make it into the book? 

Yes, that’s not uncommon.

Why did you (or your editor) make the cut?

With Justifiable Homicide, there was some debate about whether the protagonist would get caught, or whether he would get away with it.  I wrote an alternative ending where just before he disappears, ready to start his new life, the scene shifts and he’s sitting in a prison cell, replaying all the steps he took.  That wasn’t satisfactory to me or the editor, so it was cut.

Is there anything about who you are, or some aspect of your lifestyle, that you would exchange to become a better/more famous writer?

The events of our lives impact our abilities to create. My life hasn’t been all sunshine, lollipops, rainbows and unicorns. Fame can be fleeting. If my next book isn’t a hit, that will just ignite my passion to write a better story.  Life’s journey can fuel your efforts. A shortcut doesn’t guarantee anything. I’d rather earn the acceptance and rewards than have it handed to me.

The pressure of the trial must have weighed heavily on you.  With the constant questioning (and perhaps a feeling of being gaslighted) from the police, was there ever a time during that process where you doubted your own innocence, and perhaps felt close to a confession just to make it all go away? 

I am innocent. So, there was nothing to confess to. Early in their investigation, I offered to take a polygraph, so the cops could rule me out as a suspect.  I was certain that once they had the results, they would move on.  When it came to the trial, my attorneys assured me that the case against me was weak. They felt certain I’d be exonerated.

The prosecutor made many comparisons between the case of your missing wife to the novel you wrote.  Is that simply mere coincidence, or are some elements of those characters, motivations, and locations based in real life? 

 (Smiles) Life imitates art. Or is it the other way around? There are some writing coaches who encourage people to write what you know. 

I may have taken some liberties, using my own situations to shape the conflicts with my characters. The struggles between the husband and wife, the way the marriage was deteriorating, could be seen as a reflection of my own life.  People change. Part of writing fiction is to draw from your own experiences and build on those to create an interesting story.

You've been on a whirlwind press junket to promote the new release.  How have you found becoming an instant celebrity? 

It’s been a little odd. I’m used to just being a guy in the background. After appearing on some of the talk shows, people have spotted me in restaurants and airports.  Everyone wants a selfie or an autograph.

Are you having fun, or would you rather go back home and focus on the next book, writing in relative anonymity?

 (laughs) I don’t think going back is an option. Once the initial dose of celebrity winds down, I’ll return to the shadows and get back to work.

Writing and promoting a book can be emotionally draining and stressful, although, truly, we never saw it on you.  What were the worst and best parts of that adventure, and if you ever became overwhelmed, what did you do to recharge and walk out into another day in the public spotlight?

 The best was that I had some time to recharge between most of the appearances. That was part of the publisher’s strategy from the onset.  Flights and car services took me from the airports to the studios or television stations, so I wasn’t fumbling for rides. Each hotel I stayed in had a swimming pool, so I was able to get in a dozen laps or so. It was a great way to keep in shape and clear my head.  (Laughs) The worst part was waking up in a strange hotel room each morning. It often took me a few minutes to figure out what city I was in. That was a bit unnerving.

Many writers have a playlist of specific music that they listen to while they write, others prefer silence.  Which is best for you... and if you have a playlist, what are three songs from that list?

I can work in silence, but don’t prefer it.  Music is essential to life.  I like variety. It’s not unusual for certain songs to help set the mood or the scene.  Here are three from my playlist. The Five Browns: Rhapsody in Blue
https://youtu.be/AWsjRK-yQvk?si=pBEkxn-mHBzymhIh

Rickie Lee Jones: Woody & Dutch on the Slow Train to Peking https://youtu.be/qhBgGwr_Ktg?si=eQgW94Kw940aQWW0

The Commitments: Mustang Sally
https://youtu.be/4eUJElS45gE?si=p-XwG4N19L01U4jp
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I don't know if your publisher is going to produce an audiobook version of Justifiable Homicide, but if they do, who would be your ideal celebrity narrator(s)?
That’s a great question.  Matt Bomer would do a wonderful job on this story. 

What's coming next for you? 

I’ve got a couple of ideas percolating. One is about an elusive serial killer. Another possibility could be a caper, like an art or jewel heist.

We heard rumors of another manuscript, Double Cross... will that be coming out soon, or are you working on something else? 

Double Cross was written before Justifiable Homicide. That’s been picked up by Corrigan Press for next year.

Will you still write for the children's series?

Yes, as long as there is interest in the series and ideas keep coming, I’ll write them.
 
Book Spotlight

The very talented Brenda Hasse, who recently appeared here, has a new release, “The Healer’s Apprentice”
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Here’s some information about Brenda’s latest story.

Ray Charles was a singer, songwriter and pianist and one of the country’s most iconic performers. Charles was the pioneer of soul music, combining blues, jazz and gospel into popular music. His career spanned from 1945 to the early 2000s.

Charles won 17 Grammys and was part of the inaugural group elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors in 1986.

Here’s my top 5 favorites from Ray Charles.

Hit the Road Jack.  https://youtu.be/CyVuYAHiZb8?si=n32aVyhVp4aCwrqF

What’d I Say: https://youtu.be/pVwIMNkTPSc?si=QR5OjapOLwR3vcaW

I Got A Woman: https://youtu.be/lp246rpr2ck?si=A11enCpFWih1yf9g

Mess Around: https://youtu.be/tk_xapZSO6g?si=4z9Zy6fyHqsTmrMv
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Night Time:  https://youtu.be/PuNzqDUvods?si=HEuOeffpoYDTfTUS