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Wednesday, April 2, 2014

April Already?

Well, hello there, Fire Enthusiasts. How are you?

What's with this rumor that it's already April? How did this happen? Where has the time gone. I'm a Christmas guy, and I'm fairly certain I just put the decorations away weeks ago. *sigh*

Perhaps not, but it has flown past.

Well, what can I tell you? I'm still treading water over here. Regular visitors will understand what I mean. Don't get me started talking about the day job. Nothing has changed, and it's a tired story. Let's talk about other things, shall we?

If you were here last month you know I just had a birthday. I'm 45 now. My thanks to the 200 friends and family that blew up my Facebook page and/or other social networks with birthday wishes. It's my favorite thing. Had I not received a single gift, I still would have felt special. For that, I am very grateful.



By this time next month I should have Dance on Fire and its sequel Flash Point available in paperback. As you can see from the photo I am at the proof stage. I had a ton of work to do with formatting for "Dance", but I think I finally have it where I want it. With Seeing Ghosts I spent the money to have CreateSpace/Amazon do the heavy lifting. With these two I'm doing it all myself. It isn't that I don't have the money. I'm just hoping to start reversing this trend of me spending wads of cash for very little ROI.

So, what am I planning next? Once I get these paperbacks completed, I will have all three of my published novels available in both formats: E-books and paperbacks. I will have them stocked in the store that carries my work. We have two large store events on the calendar this spring, and I have already reached out to some people to hold my own events. With all three of my novels having their setting in the California Central Valley, and more specifically my hometown area, I really want to attack this area with everything I've got. That's my focus this year.

I will also be working on my next novel. Overall it is book four, but book three in my crossover vampire series. It was nice to get away from those characters while I wrote Seeing Ghosts. I had lived with those characters for two decades. However, once I had been away, I basically ran back because I was so excited to get to their next chapter. I was so excited, in fact, that I wrote 143 thousand words in four months. I will begin working on the second draft very soon. I don't plan to rush this project. If it doesn't see the light of day until 2015, that's okay. I want this to be big. I'm not interested in simply giving the characters another "mission." Book three needs to be bigger and better.

Alright, my friends. I hope all is well with you and yours. I am trying to get out every once in a while to have some fun. This weekend my wife and I will be attending a performance of Wicked just up the road in Fresno. I've heard nothing but good things so I'm looking forward to the show. There's a Disneyland trip coming soon. It's a brief one. My youngest will be there due to a school trip, so we're planning to follow along. In June we'll be in San Francisco to attend the Jamie Cullum concert at the legendary Fillmore. Can't wait for that!

What are you guys up to? Is it all work and Indie stuff? Are you at least taking time for yourselves? I hope so.

Take care, you guys. We'll talk soon.




18 comments:

  1. 143 thousand words in four months?? That's amazing!
    Glad you had a great birthday, Jimmy!

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  2. Well happy birthday - in case I missed it last month. I'm not blogging as much as I used to myself.

    Hmm, I have Dance on Fire in eBook. My kids are fussing at me to buy more e-books and less paper books. they are tired of moving the huge boxes . .

    But I just bought a house, so should be here for the next 30 years or so. Guess that means I can load up all the book cases I want :)

    Have fun at Disney Land. And wow, Frisco is just a couple hours up the road from me. Stop by if you feel like a short travel up the road!

    Stay dry James, lol. California is a bit unpredictable weather wise right now.

    .........dhole

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  3. Oh, happy (belated) birthday! I have mine 18th of this month. 42! *Groan. :) Your books look very professional. If I can help you launch the paperbacks or whatever, you only have to ask (or email me with the details) X

    shahwharton.com

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  4. I'll echo Kelly up there. 143,000 words in a month? Wow! Just...wow!

    I'm busy editing now, since my publisher received the signed contracts. Hard going from slow and relaxing to full speed ahead, but I'm doing it! It's a very exciting time for me. And maybe a little nerve-wracking. :)

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  5. Happy Belated Birthday, James! Looks like you've been working hard on those novels. I hope they sell well. I'm still struggling to sell my short fiction collection, The Fool's Illusion, (on Amazon). I'm kind of new at the self-publishing route, so it might take me a while. But be sure to tell your friends who might be interested about my book and I'll tell mine about yours. I have family in the Fresno area myself. Maybe I'll attend one of your book events when I'm down there next. Take care!

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  6. Happy Belated Birthday! Enjoy Wicked! I would love to see that.

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  7. At least you're consistent, Jimmy. I'm excited for all that is unfolding for you. You got this!

    I can't wait to finally see you when you are in So. Cal. :)

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  8. Holy cow! You've been a writing machine!

    I need some of your go-juice.

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  9. Surely this is a site well worth seeing.

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  10. Just had a b-day myself. I'm 41! Yikes! I twitted this blog post. I'm curious to find out how doing print books works out for you. Best of luck!

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  11. Belated happy birthday. Still young.
    The cover for your next book looks great. Let us know when it's live.

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  12. Oh man! I missed the birthday celebration. Well, here's a late happy birthday anyway.

    I LOVE the cover for this newest book. Very cool. I'm wishing I could pull myself away enough to write 150K in a couple months, but I'll have to be satisfied with the crazy revisions on my sequel over the last couple months. It's off to the editor, and then out to print. Yikes! Not sure I'm ready for the rush of release time again. =) Here's to pressing forward!

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  13. Good luck with the book events, Jimmy!

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  14. Wish you luck with the book events, Jimmy!

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  15. That's wonderful you have events lined up. Bookstores or other?

    Happy birthday a little late.

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  16. Wow, I got tired just reading that. Enjoy Wicked. It's wonderful.

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  17. I think I need to roll it back to the beginning of March. Maybe even February.

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  18. Hi Jimmy! I miss you too! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I've been busy with personal family issues, so I haven't been able to write or even keep up with my blog as much as I would like. Hoping all of that will get settled soon. I'm glad to hear you are still able to keep up with your writing! Love to hear good book news! :D
    ~Michelle

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Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate you taking the time. I'll get back to you here or on one of the other social networks. It's not like we're not on all of them, right? ;) Also, if you're here to give me an award - bless you. However, your friendship and visits are more than enough. Thanks and blessings.