And here we go...

It’s a new day. And, I’ve got a contract for Tormenta!

Now, to go to work…

I’m sure many of you who’ve been following are left to guess at the process of putting a book out, from the first word to the shiny covered product that you can pluck from the shelf of your favorite bookstore, or (preferably) order directly from us.

On June 13th of 1990, I finally came to the realization that I wanted to do this. I had no idea it would take so many years of trial and effort. Obviously, after more rejections than I can count and after more drafts than will ever see the light of day, I’ve learned that writing the American novel is no easy chore. More obvious still: I really, really wanted this as my life’s work. I could have chosen to be anything, and have succeeded in several occupations. But, this was the song that sang in my heart. It is what I love to do.

Now, I have to start making a little money at it, don’t I?

Most of us think of writing novels as a romantic sort of life. I know I did, once. We think of those few writers with fame and fortune behind them. We see their work at all the racks near the checkout aisle in Walmart and think of that as the pinnacle of success. I did that too, for a while…Until I learned the cold hard facts.

First of all, I had to learn just how, exactly, to write what I had in my head so that a reader can follow it clearly. Over the last few years, I’ve read a lot of first drafts from others who think they want to write a book. Most never get past that first draft. It gets rejected, or ignored, and they founder and move on. I could not rest. Although I hated hearing what was wrong about what I was doing, I simply had to press on. The little voices in my head just won’t shut up. So, I kept on writing.

Finally, here I am at the crossroads.

I’ve got a legitimate small publisher who is willing to put me out there. They are going to do all they can to work with me in this enterprise. It’s comforting to know that. But it is still a long way from the point I’m striving to get to. Both the publisher and I realize this. They are not Random House, or Putnam or any of the other big, Brick and Morter houses that have dominated the traditional world of publishing in America. But, we have weapons at our disposal, weapons we plan to use, with your help, of course.

The industry has changed since I first started hacking out stories. Once upon a time, you had to write, then submit to either an agency or a publisher, then count on the luck of the Irish, or whatever luck you might wield, to come through for you. Even a really good writer had as much chance of getting through the doors of the big houses as they had of winning the lottery. Then, technology came along and changed everything.

With the advent of Print On Demand, (POD) the need for huge print runs of books is a thing of the past. Why print so many, when they can be printed, virtually as they are ordered? Of course, this new high-tech solution has had mixed reactions in the printing industry. The big houses have pulled back into their shells even deeper than before. Unless you are already known, or you are Madonna putting out her next children’s book, you stand even less of a chance to break down those big doors.

However, along with POD, we now have the Internet and something that has come to be known as ‘Networking’ to work with. Granted, few of us have pushed the limits of this relatively new medium. But the more I find out about it, the more convinced I’ve become that it can work to my advantage…as long as all of you are willing to help a little.

We’re taking the fight to the electronic either. Workings as I am, and living as I am, my personal needs are minor. I simply want to work at this full time. I don’t NEED to sell millions of copies to make a living. I need to sell fifty thousand to do well, even less to actually achieve my goal of breaking out of the old day job.

We have a tentative release date of November 2010. By then, we have to have back our reviews, good or bad, and all our marketing in place to make the big push.

I plan on running this blog on a regular basis to keep you, those who are actually interested in what I have to say, informed about the ongoing process.

This is a new way of working this business. Hopefully, with a lot of help from you readers, we can show the big houses that they no longer hold our futures behind their precious doors.