Where do things stand on the book front?
Don’t Stop Believin’ has been back from the editor for a while, but I didn’t get around to actually reviewing those edits until last week during my mini-retreat.
It was interesting to re-read that book as I went through the edits, and consider how things have changed for me since then. I finished writing it in 2010, now over five years ago. I can see differences between Scott Ehrichson and Danny Cumberland, which is a good thing. I only shopped DSB to one agent, who wasn’t interested in the characters. Shortly after that, I ended up deciding to go the self-publishing route, although not because of that single rejection. I rewrote the first half of the book, but never shopped it again. Once I finished TSG, I went back to DSB again to see what I thought of it, and realized that for a first novel, it was pretty good, so it’s time to share it with the rest of you.
I’ve chosen Deranged Doctor Designs as my new cover artist, since Sam Bagood is no longer in the covers business. Their portfolio looks great from the covers to the author swag and “accessories” they do. Check them out on Pinterest, too.
Tentative release date for DSB is going to be 4 September.
The Sad Girl Sequel still needs a “real” title. I’ve come up with three candidates so far, in no particular order:
- Our Version of Normal
- Monsters in the Shadows
- Finding Angie
I thought I was finished with TSGS several weeks ago, but I realized I wasn’t happy with the ending, and I’m still not completely satisfied with it. I think. Maybe. I’ve spent the last several weeks working on it, and will be sharing the last couple of chapters with a few people to get some input. I want to get that out by the end of the year.
Next up in the queue is going to be Blown Away, inspired by the Carrie Underwood song of the same name. It’ll be the first of what I’m planning to be a series titled Red Dirt Justice. Think Hill Street Blues meets COPS, with a sprinkling of Law & Order for flavor. I’ve got about a dozen stories outlined, some more generally than others.
This schedule changes what I had laid out in my 2015 Writing Goals at the beginning of the year, but not drastically, and still keeps in line with the spirit of the goals, I think.
Share your thoughts!