Graduation or Publication

A few weeks ago, I attended my graduation to complete my Ph.D. in Adult Learning and Leadership from Kansas State University. I know that it is supposed to be meaningful and impactful, and I appreciate all of the support from my friends, families, and colleagues, but the truth is, it wasn't for me that I sat there and then walked across the stage. It was for them. 

Personally, if you want to reward me for my hard work, you should give me a week off. Why? I don't know. I'm just not wired to be the direct center of attention. Walking across that stage, makes me a direct center of attention. Indirect? I'm fine with. Direct? Pass. 

What does this have to do with writing novels or publication? Let me tell you.

Not Sure . . .

 This is a funky one. Usually writing posts go here, while development, learning, and other posts go to the other blog. So, I'm not sure where to post this. Maybe I'll post it in both blogs just so I have it properly cataloged. 

Those of you who follow this blog assiduously will know that I find time every now and then to go hit the Starbucks to write. Starbucks, as you may well know, has a special place in my heart. Why? Several reasons, namely, and mostly because I was up in the Pacific Northwest in the late 1990's when it was just taking off. You know before their coffee started tasting like warmed-over tar. 

Research in Learning Technology

Last week I had another publishing win (see HERE). This time it came via a peer-reviewed journal. Last year, I submitted an article to a peer-reviewed journal out of the UK, Research in Learning Technology. 

In January or so, I got a letter that told me they had accepted it for publication. There has never been a moment where I felt more fulfilled in what I've been doing than in that moment. 

Essential Reading

I've said it many times before, and I can't imagine that I'll ever stop saying this, but what motivates me more than anything else in my writing are reviews from readers. 

This one hit home. It's been a while since I got many reviews on Vapor Trail and the one prior to this was good but strangely only rated three stars. 

I'm a LEADER Writer

As this is called, Publish or Perish, and not, "Publish only Novels or Perish," I think I can safely go ahead and update this space with information regarding my most recent publishing success HERE. 

This one comes by way of the VPPPA LEADER magazine. 

Tweaking the Plot and Story

I am about 30,000 words into my draft of Sunset Perfect. I'm really thinking this draft has a very good chance of being the final version that I take all the way to publication. I changed up the model by which I am introducing the story. Instead of the hero being involved in the first partner, he comes into the storyline with the second murder. I also like the fact that he is an outsider to the professional football team, which means he has heard about professional football with the reader.

I also like the fact that he is an outsider to the professional football team, which means he has heard about professional football with the reader.

Touching and Relatable is Good

I know there are many who get fed up with these, but the truth is, they’re one of the reasons that I love to keep writing and producing novels. They motivate me like few other things. It’s like a spike of adrenaline to an otherwise staid and steady job. 

This first one, where the reviewer says that my writing is “touching and relatable”, is short, quick, and yet still quite inspiring. 

A Duller Discount

Anyone who wants to purchase my novels, feel free to contact me HERE or to purchase them full price . . . you can go to Amazon, HERE.

For those of you new to this experience, I have four novels, all thrillers for sure . . . well, maybe not thrillers, but definitely not dullers!

Writing in Katy

Someone from another writer’s forum asked me where I write. They are much younger than I am and they were picking my brain for pointers on how to write more and write more effectively. 

One of the best and my favorite places to write is this Starbuck’s in Katy. 

Just 500

Right now I’m a word counter.

The other day I wrote that I’m flipping ole Sunset Perfect on it’s head. I’m simplifying a lot! Like a lot a a lot. Which is good. I think the story through the years had taken on a bit of a Frankenstein’s Monster look. It had become something it wasn’t. It was several stories lumped into one. Worst of all, it was boring. 

Now, I think it’s far sleeker, far more to the point. TOTALLY brand new characters who are all an amalgamation of the ones that were in the Frankenstein version, and the EXACT same plot and story, just told from a different, more appealing angle.