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Post by paulwest on Sept 30, 2014 15:20:15 GMT -5
Yes, I agree my title is too long. I just changed it again to make it a tad more catchy to "Vengeance and Vindication." Not much shorter, but a tad more catchy, like I said. I'm sure, if an agent or editor ever takes this novel on, they will change it. Most writers' titles get changed when that happens.
Ward Clerk can be a busy calling. I've been an Executive Secretary so I got to see what Ward Clerks go through. But I know you'll do well.
Yes, we got to see the Ogden Temple dedication from our Stake Center. The night before we parked and walked around the entire Temple block. It's breathtakingly beautiful. The photos they showed just before the dedication ceremony were wonderful, but didn't do the Temple justice. I'm looking forward to taking in a Session there someday soon.
Hey, way to go for making some money on your book. I enjoyed it.
Gotta go. We're going to do an Endowment for two of my wife's ancestors tonight. Talk to you later.
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Post by charlie on Oct 7, 2014 18:42:56 GMT -5
I've been thinking about starting something new. When it comes to writing I struggle with these decisions from time to time. I start something, let it sit for awhile, and decide to work on something else. Sometimes projects get put on the shelf for quite awhile. What's in my head right now, and has been for some time, is a novel length western (set somewhere in the remote backcountry between 1890 and 1900 just as the six-shooter begins to fade away. Tentative title for this work is Dark Tornado.
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Post by paulwest on Oct 8, 2014 11:28:19 GMT -5
Sounds exciting, Charlie. "Dark Tornado," sounds ominous.
That's kind of what I did when I got stuck writing GERTA! I started a historical novel titled "Johnny Sweeting's Story." I have no idea why I went with that title except that Johnny Sweeting is the MC and I couldn't think of anything better. I'm lousy with titles as you can probably tell.
JSS is set in 1909 in a small wheat shipping town in California. However, it begins in a coal mining town in Wyoming called Cumberland. It's pretty much a ghost town now, but I've been able to find a lot of its history and some photographs from Wyoming's history people. The town in California I have tons of pictures and its the town I grew up in, so I'm very familiar with its history.
But, I'm kind of stuck with JSS too. So, once I finish revising Bridge to Destiny, or Vengeance and Vindication, or whatever I end up calling it, I'll get back to GERTA!
Good luck with your new novel idea. I think, just from what you've told me, it could be an exciting read.
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Post by charlie on Oct 21, 2014 15:58:19 GMT -5
Sorry for not posting. I've been busy for a couple weeks with church and work. Tomorrow is my wife and I's 31st anniversary. Married in the Idaho Falls temple. She is not feeling well today. Hope she's better tomorrow. We were planning to go out for dinner.
The beginning of Dark Tornado is down on paper. Well, actually in a Word document. Here are the first couple paragraphs. Tell me what you think.
Wait . . .
Silence, eerie, somehow ominous, bore down on the man cornered for three days and nights. Jess North ran his eye along the barrel of his Winchester, focusing on the large 8-point buck several hundred yards away. With only three bullets and pursuers surrounding his location, his decision had to be absolute. He needed meat. His stomach growled, protesting three days of hunger. A shot would be heard for miles and leave him with two bullets. Jess worried not if he'd kill the deer. He and that Winchester were constant companions. He was a marksman renowned for uncanny accuracy. A few drops of water sloughed in the depths of his canteen and after taking the final shallow Jess began to sense fear. Jess North's thick mustache dominated a rugged face scarred by years of relentless riding through rugged terrain. Some compared his features, a few mistaking him for, to famed Wyatt Earp from the Tombstone area. While Jess knew of Earp, their paths had never crossed. One thing was known along the trail, both men were good with their guns. Those who knew both said they'd face Earp before they took on North. He was that good. And not only with the Winchester, but also with the Colt strapped to his leg. This knowledge of his abilities and the fact his location could be approached from only one direction had kept North alive. So far.
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Post by paulwest on Oct 22, 2014 16:56:53 GMT -5
Wow, that sounds exciting. You almost sound like Louie LaMore. A couple of minor suggestions:
1. when you mention he only has 2 bullets left, that's kind of misleading. You might also mention his 6-gun and how many bullets he has there.
2. Can his Winchester really bring down a deer "several" hundred yards away?
Other than that, I want to read the rest. Good writing.
My best wishes to you and your wife on your anniversary. I hope you both are well for your dinner.
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Post by charlie on Nov 7, 2014 18:34:27 GMT -5
Sorry for not responding sooner. My computer (internet connection) has been onery. I really appreciate your input. You're right, more needs to be said to completely focus the reader in on North's situation and what resources he has at his diposal. Hope things are going well for you. Keep in touch.
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Post by paulwest on Nov 17, 2014 14:36:13 GMT -5
Hi charlie. Sorry for taking so long to read this. Between working in the Temple, attending Temple sessions every week, and family stuff, plus working on my query letter and my synopsis, finding time to respond is crazy.
I'm glad my comments helped. You ought to consider joining a critique group. It really helped me. There are a couple of groups at Authors by Design, and I know of a few other on-line sites as well.
Other than going crazy with home and work I'm doing well. How about you?
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Post by charlie on Nov 19, 2014 17:56:50 GMT -5
I do appreciate the help I could get with a critique group. The problem for me is what I've said before, I am too sporadic with my writing. Most critique groups want to see something by a predefined deadline and I just don't write like that. Like you I really don't have the time with demands of everyday life.
Hope all goes well with your new query letter. I have a feeling there is a great book just waiting to be printed. Several LDS authors are making waves in the literary marketplace so I know publishers/agents are paying attention. You just have find that connection.
Glad all is well with you and your family. I am finishing up two weeks of vacation. Didn't do very much.
Take care. Will visit again soon.
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Post by paulwest on Nov 24, 2014 18:16:38 GMT -5
I'm glad you had a nice vacation. I'm enjoying my daughter and her husband and 4 children. They're visiting from Vandenberg AFB for the Thanksgiving week. I miss those kids.
My other daughter is getting more and more serious about writing. She has a novel in her head, just needs to get it all down on the computer. She has a start, and I just gave her some good advice on how to continue. She wasn't sure how to do that, so I suggested she consider the MCs greatest fears and plunge her/him into that. I also gave her a book titled: "Sol on Writing," by Sol Stein. If you get a chance you might want to get hold of a copy. Sol Stein has some great instructions on how to write, both fiction and non-fiction.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Paul
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Post by paulwest on Jun 25, 2015 17:20:37 GMT -5
Is it time to get excited yet? Just got this email from my potential publisher:
"Paul,
"Limitless Publishing would like to request the full manuscript for Bridgetown High. Please send at your earliest convenience.
"Thank you,"
I'm not holding my breath just yet, but it's getting difficult not to hyperventilate. I hope you're doing well.
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Post by charlie on Jul 6, 2015 10:19:46 GMT -5
Paul, that's great news about your ms Bridgetown High. I hope they're impressed with the complete work and decide to publish. This is a project you've put a lot of work and your soul into. Have you looked at the Limitless Publishing website? It appears they accept and publish some erotic literature. I don't know if that would bother you or not. I've published with companies who do, although I didn't know it at the time.
Love and Miracles has sold 2 copies. Not earth shattering but better than zero. Maybe more sells will come later. I'm not a good promoter, I guess. Hope all is well with you and your family. If you see replies on Facebook from Joshua Berry, that's me. I set facebook up using a pen name I used before.
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Post by paulwest on Jul 20, 2015 12:04:58 GMT -5
Hi Charlie,
Sorry for taking so long to get back with you. I hope you and your family are doing well.
That publishing company just sent me a contract to publish my novel Bridgetown High. I'm really excited. However, I wasn't aware of their publishing erotica. That does put a dampener on things, but I don't think that will effect anything, at least I hope not. I was aware they publish a lot of romance novels, however.
Yes, you're right. In order to be successful in the book writing business you gotta be a good promoter. Sad, but true. I'm worried now about all I gotta do to promote my novel.
I'll look for your Joshua Berry pen name on Facebook. I've seen you there before, but didn't want to write anything too personal there. That's why I like this site, as long as Gary keeps it up. I think he's forgotten about it, LOL.
Well, Summer is moving on. Do you have any plans for a vacation? In late September, we will be going back to Rhode Island and Virginia to visit the east coast and spend some time with my son and his family. Then, in November we'll be going to California again to have Thanksgiving with my daughter and her family.
Well, take care and write when you can. I'm thinking there should be some kind of button we can push here to notify us of each other's responses.
Paul
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Post by charlie on Jul 30, 2015 21:08:29 GMT -5
Great to hear about the publishing contract. I really hope people will notice, read and like it. It is common for them to want you to make lots of changes. Good luck as the process moves forward. I haven't written anything for awhile. I have 2 projects both setting dormant. I'll eventually return to them.
My wife and I are going to the Logan temple tomorrow. We have 2 weeks vacation in Sept. but haven't really decided on what to do.
Hope health and all else is good in your family. Take care and keep in touch.
Charlie
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Post by paulwest on Aug 4, 2015 13:50:53 GMT -5
Have fun on your vacation. We're going on vacation in September as well, and the Logan Temple is gorgeous. I want to go there again someday.
I work in the Jordan River Temple on Friday mornings. There's been a rumor going around that this temple would be closed for two years for renovations. But, the Temple President came to our prayer meeting and confirmed the rumor saying to the effect, "yes, the temple will close tonight at 10:00 p.m. and open again tomorrow morning." LOLOL.
So far, the publishing of my novel is going as planned by Limitless Publishers. I got my pre-edited manuscript to them on time, along with my ideas for the cover art, a synopsis and a jacket blurb that they will probably revise. Now, the manuscript in in their hands as they go through and edit the entire thing. I just hope they don't revise it too much, especially where I purposely left out swear words that some of the characters say. But, for now, things are going well. I'm anxious to get back to working on GERTA! and Johnny Sweeting's Story.
Well, I hope everything is going well with you and your family. Take care and write back soon. Some day, we need to actually meet.
Paul
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Post by charlie on Aug 11, 2015 22:11:55 GMT -5
I agree. It would be wonderful to meet you and your wife. Unfortunately, I don't get to the Salt Lake area too often and when I do I'm usually there for a short time. Often it's just to drop off or pick up someone from the airport. My daughter and I were downtown a few weeks ago. We visited Temple Square and toured the conference center, both of which I'd done before. This time we were able to go inside the tabernacle, which has been closed the other times I've been there. That was nice. Perhaps sometime when my wife and I plan a trip to Salt Lake I'll contact you (through the internet) and see if we can get together. That would be great.
I'm excited for Bridgetown High. Don't worry too much about the changes your editor may make. As the author you always have the final say about the content of your book. I hope they do a good job for you. Will they handle cover design or is that in your court. My new book, Love and Miracles, has fizzled out but that's okay. I don't worry too much about things like that. I work a regular job to pay the bills. Writing is just fun and something I like to do.
I read your facebook posts but I like to visit here, at least with you, because it is less crowded and I feel I can say what I want. Especially when it comes to church things.
Take care. Charlie
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