News: The Fifty-Fifth Issue

November 2024

It’s November!  That momentary sense of calm that settles in when Halloween is behind us and it’s a chance to catch your breath before the December holidays arrive.  Of course, you may need to give Thanksgiving some attention as well.

Writing

Over the years, I’ve been encouraged by fellow writers to enter my novels in different award competitions. Human beings all crave recognition in one form or another. There have been a few programs in the past that looked promising to me, so I followed the guidelines, sent in my entry fee and copies of the book (yes, some require an actual print copy of your novel) and then sat back to wait. And wait. And wait some more.

One such competition sent word that while I didn’t make the final rounds, the judges did enjoy my story. They even provided some feedback in the form of a scorecard.  Several others never communicated with me.  The only way I learned the outcome was to check the ‘official website’ where the winning authors and titles were listed.

So, I’ve mostly given up on the idea of participating. Until a certain pesky friend named Diana kept encouraging me to enter “Rules of Desperation” in The Bookfest Awards.  After multiple nudges, I decided the only way to silence her was to submit the book for consideration.

Late last month, I was notified that “Rules” captured second place in the Mystery-Thriller category. 

Last December, “Chasing Favors” won an award for best mystery from N.N. Light’s Book Heaven for 2023.

Now I can honestly declare myself to be a multi-award-winning author. Seeing that acknowledgement from people in the book industry is gratifying.  That’s another form of motivation for me to keep writing. 

Events

“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!” Michael Corleone said that in one of the Godfather movies.  I’m not really comparing events to a Mafia family, but that line has a certain ring to it.

After a whirlwind event season (that started in May and ran until late September) I thought it was over and done.  But then opportunities presented themselves that seemed too good to pass up. And truth be told, I do enjoy participating in different shows, interacting with the other vendors and shoppers.

I’ve got two events before the end of November.

• Saturday, the 23rd, I’ll be in Three River, MI for the Norton Craft Show at Norton Elementary School, from 9 to 3.

• ​The following Saturday, the 30th, I’ll be in Allegan for the Merry Marketplace event on Brady Street from 10 to 6.

Works In Progress

Last month I described my plan to put the crime novel on hold while working on a new novella. This will also have a criminal twist to it, something in the white-collar vein. Of course, as with any of my stories, there needs to be a touch of romance.  That’s always part of my efforts to make the characters believable.  Man (or woman) does not live by crime alone.  Even fictional players need someone to brighten their day.

This project now has a working title.  Over 9,500 words have been written. My target is 25,000. Sometimes the stories run a bit longer. That all depends on what the characters have to say.

We’ll see where that leads this month.

Meanwhile Leo Agonasti is patiently waiting for me to resume with the chronicle of his adventures.