Today is the day. The day every aspiring author dreams of. My book is out. And for the first time I can say: Buy it here. I’m under no illusions that some magical transformation will take place in my life now that the day has arrived. But publishing a book is a singular achievement. Many…… Continue reading All shook up
Tag: Elvis
You Gave Me A Mountain
There’s a moment in my novel, Last Bridge to Memphis, where the character of “Danny” (who is Elvis, still alive and kickin’ in the late 1980s), is having severe second thoughts about getting back on the horse, so to speak. The chapter in which this takes place is titled, “You Gave Me A Mountain,” and…… Continue reading You Gave Me A Mountain
We’re doin’ this
There’s so much opportunity today for a writer to get their work published. They call it “self-publishing.” It’s now possible for virtually anyone with a decent story to tell to be an author. Still, I tried and I tried to go the traditional route (visions of my book stacked high on a front table at…… Continue reading We’re doin’ this
Too much monkey business
You stand outside in the cruel, late winter chill. Your heart races. Your blood pressure boils. Sweaty hands clutch like death on the handle of the four-wheeled conveyance in front of you. The doors slide apart. Open your wallet and prepare to bleed out. You’ve entered the field of battle. Your neighborhood supermarket. https://youtu.be/k_hiSGmzVUM?si=_qY7JjKVg1FchSGZ Like…… Continue reading Too much monkey business
Always an Elvis angle
King Kong and the Empire State Building. Abe Lincoln and Illinois. Stephen King and Maine. Some personalities and places are just synonymous with each other. It’s like that with Elvis Presley and Las Vegas.And now we have the bombastic Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs to further memorialize this connection at the end of…… Continue reading Always an Elvis angle
Another King and “Fairy Tale”
The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll plays a big part in my unpublished novel, but today I want to talk a little about another King. Stephen King. I’ve read lots of Stephen King novels going all the way back to The Stand. If I had to choose, I’d say he’s among my favorite reads. Those…… Continue reading Another King and “Fairy Tale”
Agent Elvis
This post is about agents. About Elvis. About a tasteless Netflix show called Agent Elvis. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McHgb1_6UNw One and done on Netflix and for good reason. Let’s start with the agent part. Specifically, literary agents. Agent Admittedly, I’m a novice at all this author stuff. Until last spring I’d never submitted a novel for consideration to…… Continue reading Agent Elvis
Not a kid at fifty-three
Let’s travel back a few decades. It’s 1988. Memphis, Tennessee. The year begins cold and dreary. So cold and so snowy, in fact, many folks, unprepared for driving in it, simply stay home. But in the alternate timeline of my manuscript, on January 8 of that year, Elvis Presley has just turned 53 years old…… Continue reading Not a kid at fifty-three
Write what you know, no?
You’ve probably heard it said, write what you know. Supposedly Mark Twain coined the phrase. Personally, I connect more with another of his quotes: “Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.” But what about that first adage? I’ve seen lots of beginners gripe about it. If I’m supposed…… Continue reading Write what you know, no?
Blue Christmas
This time of year you can’t escape it. Everywhere you go you’re hearing that legendary voice emerging from your Airpods or Bluetooth speaker, from your car radio or at the mall.
It can only mean one thing. If the King is singing about those blue snowflakes and those decorations of red, it’s definitely time to have a Blue Christmas with Elvis.