In the past three weeks I have recovered from losing the old blog, starting the new one – which is booming, by the way, so thank you – and focusing a lot of my energy on my next book.
To be perfectly honest, I thought a solo effort was never going to happen because I had completely given up on that dream. Well, I kicked myself in the ass, started working on it when I had free time, and can now say the first chapter is done. Sure, it’s only a rough draft, but I am taking Proof’s advice and avoiding edits until the first draft is completed.
I thought you may want to take a quick look at the direction the book is taking, so some of it is below.
Most of you know I co-wrote a novel entitled Only Son. Published in 2012, it was my first professional writing effort, and while many of my fabulous readers purchased a copy, the book did not do well. I place most of that blame upon myself. It was my first attempt at writing, and to be honest, I was out of my league. That said, it was a dream come true. Long after I’m dead – which could be as early as tomorrow – this book will still be around. It’s a humbling thought.
At the beginning of 2013, I became bound and determined to write a book of my own, if for no other reason than to see if it could be accomplished. I started and stopped numerous times before work issues, family issues, blog issues, and my general manic-depressive disposition kept interfering.
Earlier this year, I started up again at the behest of TXNick and his mother. I was about a chapter in when I realized the story I was writing was unfolding more as a sequel than an initial book. After breaking the keyboard across my hands, I decided to do something drastic:
I am going to write the initial book and the sequel concurrently.
Note this will not be a sequel to Only Son. That was initially my co-author Pam’s idea, and I did not want to take over the story without her. Both these books will be fresh ideas with a completely different cast of characters. I have just broken ground on both books, but I wanted to post the idea as a motivational tool. If I can remain focused, I can do this.