The Writing Life, 3 August 2024
Running out of a massive amount of free time - maybe it's for the best?
Once again, I have had a uneventful week since my last post. As a result, I’m going to try and keep things brief in this newsletter.
The Home Front
Like I mentioned last time, I’m now entering the last phase of my summer vacation, where the break time can be measured in weeks rather than months. I won’t regurgitate the phases here, but you can go back and see them if you’re really curious.
The Writing Life, 20 July 2024
Oh, hey, everyone, it’s just me trying to give the rub to some great independent book stores in Iowa. I’ll talk about what’s been going on with me, but frankly it’s been a slow couple weeks.
I’ve had my first outing with some of my new work colleagues during a recent workshop, and it was great experience. Of course, I would not say I am totally prepared for the school year to come and how to organize for it, but I have faith it will go forward just fine in the end. It always does one way or the other.
Also, it looks like we’ll be finding a new permanent residence here in Fort Madison. Apartment life has been interesting, but my wife Laura has missed having a back yard and back patio, and we are in the process of securing a new house. It will be a couple of months before we close on the place and a bit longer before we fully move in, but it has begun.
What I’m Writing
Progress report time!
The Yank Striker 2, the sequel for The Yank Striker. Progress on this is still slow. I’m hoping actually to get some more work done on a new scene coming up.
Since I’ve had a chance to sketch out a revised outline for the book, I’m thinking if I am not at the halfway point of the book, I’m getting close to it. I’m still hoping to wrap up a first draft of the book by the end of the year, but it’s a tough slog. I think I’ll use something I saw today as my writing quote for the week which might fit this well (see below).The Untitled Pro Wrestling Family Drama project I first got the idea for more than a year ago. I’ve finished a scene where I’m portraying a writer’s workshop and I’m hoping to present it to my writer’s group to see if it make sense. It’s a very meta situation. At least some of them have gone through MFA programs so I might have some expert advice on hand.
I’m planning this month to put together my first book of poems, even if it’s a tiny chapbook and I do the whole thing myself. If I want to claim to be a poet, I think I have to have a physical copy of my work on hand, even if it is a chapbook. I’ll let you know how that goes, heh-heh.
Of course, with school coming around, there will be less time for me to waste time and just write. Then again, maybe I do better with a deadline. It’s an old journalism thing.
Writing Quote for the Week
One of my more recent favorite authors is a pioneer of what might be classified as urban fantasy, Laurell K. Hamilton. Her recent description of one of her works in progress hit close to home for me. (Hint: it’s the bit about trench warfare.)
Some books flow like the muses are showering you with rose petals. Other books seem to fight you every step of the way like trench warfare. This book is unfortunately the latter, not the former. I am thinking longingly of when I can be back to a sane world & type, The End.
Laurell K. Hamilton
Author’s Note: The following material is some basic information about my sites and my books.
If you’re a returning reader and have already read about them, clicked on the links, or even subscribed to the site and maybe bought a book or two, feel free to skip until the end.
For those of you coming here for the first time, you might find what’s below useful.
By the way, I will only be posting the following information from here on out on my first newsletter of the month, and not both of them. I want to make sure I’m not being too repetitive with these posts.
A Few Links About My Books and Where to Find Them
My first book is a journalism thriller set in Chicago during the turbulent days of the 2008 election and the start of the Great Recession. Check out more about it here.
The Holy Fool
Debut novels are tricky things. While I’ve not asked this question specifically of some of my fellow writers, the general impression I get is most writers consider their debut novels both with pride at their accomplishment and ruefulness at missed opportunities for improvement. And I’m no different.
You can get the paperback version of this book on Amazon here and the ebook version of it here.
A fellow Iowa writer and organizer of the Windsor Heights Book Fair, Tyler Granger, recently did a review of my book: you can find it here.
My second book, the first in the The Yank Striker series, is a soccer drama telling the story of the beginning of a young American’s career as a player. There’s more about it here.
The Yank Striker: A Footballer's Beginning
What would an American soccer superstar look like? Not just someone who was a good player, but an actual legendary, world-class player, someone on the level of a Lionel Messi, a Diego Maradona, a Pele? Where would he come from? What would he be like as a person? And what would his path to soccer superstardom look like?
The paperback version of this book can be found on Amazon and the site of my publisher, Biblio Publishing. It is also available in ebook format on Amazon here.
For full links to these and other helpful places having to do with me and my writing, you can go to this page on my Wordpress site, Liegois Media.
You can also get my books in person at these fine Iowa bookstores:
Beaverdale Books, 2629 Beaver Ave. # S1, Des Moines
Pella Books, 824 Franklin St, Pella.
The Book Vault, 105 S Market St, Oskaloosa.
I’m always looking for some new places to place my books, so feel free to hit me up in the comments if anyone has a suggestion.
Final Thoughts
Like I said, short and sweet. Either I’ll try and come up with some new stuff in a fortnight or the newsletter then will be really short, lol.
Take care, everyone.
dog eared books , Ames
Oooh, thanks for the suggestion.