For more than 30 years, my writing life consisted of ghost writing newsletter articles and speeches for colleagues; writing reports, analyses, proposals, and grants; creating flyers and other publicity materials; developing writing standards for training projects; and designing/developing technical, customer education, sales, and management training courses. For a time, I also helped several small non profits design and configure their websites, managing several in the process, and managed a community technology center focused on access for the low income community. I left that world in 2014, dropped my business website, and closed the book on that page in my life to travel in a slightly different direction.
Thus, it feels ironic that I had a difficult time thinking about what to post first on this new site as I push forward on the path I’ve followed for a number of years . . . one which is morphing into something more yet, somehow, quite familiar . . . and comfortable.
For more than a dozen years, I’d written fiction—short stories and novels—in the mystery, crime, science fiction, and speculative fiction genres. I’d submitted a number of short stories, but in 2013 decided this is important to me. I pushed it the forefront, despite a demanding day job, and have worked at it steadily since.
Happily, I am now writing full time. Rising at 4 am to squeeze in an hour or two before heading for a job that shriveled my writing time and creativity is no longer necessary. Instead, my former weekend pattern of getting many new words on the screen and spending hours on a few paragraphs to reword, shuffle order, and generally strive for clarity to craft an engaging story is my daily routine. I now rise between 6 and 7 am, grab my coffee, and write.
I’m published in a half dozen or so anthologies, a cookbook, and working on a suspense fantasy. My first completed novel is waiting for me to edit it while I’m also working on the the sequel. I did the drawing below in the ’80s—thus the yellowed paper—that inspired an oak tree prominently featured in a critical scene near the end of that first novel. Dare I reveal that I wrote that scene before the rest of the novel?
Meanwhile, I began an entirely different novel, based on a scene that had been in my head for almost twenty years. One day I decided it was time to give that scene the characters and story it deserves. I’m 62,000 words into the manuscript and learned along the way that this is a trilogy, with the possibility of other stories in the same setting. How do you create something different while maintaining something readers can relate to? The world building and research I’ve done to create this world—medieval era, not earth, with quite a bit of Irish Gaelic background and legend in its foundation—has been fun. I’d enjoy sharing some of that in conversations with you and am certain others will share back, as well.
As I grow this site to reflect my writing and related projects, I hope it captures your attention and you stay with me.
Read my free short stories and view the mini video I created for one of them. Follow me on Facebook. Then come back to see what’s new. There’s no newsletter to subscribe to, but I may do one down the road. I’ll let you know.
Meanwhile, pull up a chair and let’s get to know each other. You can use the comment feature on any one of the blog posts, or the contact form, to reach me. Please note: I delete and ban anyone using the contact form to solicit business or offer their services, including website services.