I’m reading a novel called “A Gentleman in Moscow.” It’s a gentle book, a little slow-going, but that’s not the point. The point is—egads!—the author uses the em-dash. Maybe you’ve seen the breathless posts around the literary social media sphere, decrying the use of the em-dash as a red flag that a text has been…… Continue reading Em & em
Tag: Last Bridge to Memphis
A coin flip at the Memphis Zoo
It’s holiday treat time. Here’s an brief excerpt (and fun visualization) from the novel, LAST BRIDGE TO MEMPHIS: Danny dug into his pants pocket, producing a well-worn silver dollar. “I’m gonna toss this here coin. Heads we throw you into a cage for tiger food. Tails, we let you slither on outta here, snake that…… Continue reading A coin flip at the Memphis Zoo
She drives me crazy
Been a while since I’ve posted, and there are so many reasons for that. For one, I’ve been head-to-the-grindstone writing the next book in the “Last Bridge to Memphis” thriller series. I had hoped to get the draft finished in 2025 and may still do so, but you know … life. For another reason, this…… Continue reading She drives me crazy
Of crossings and comebacks (or life imitating art)
Coincidences happen. Yes, they do. But sometimes it goes beyond coincidence into the realm of serendipity. And when it happens twice in the same summer, you realize you just might be onto something. For example, just the other day, the Tennessee and Arkansas departments of transportation announced the naming of the southernmost bridge across the…… Continue reading Of crossings and comebacks (or life imitating art)
Memphis in the meantime
Writing a book series that takes place 35 years ago in a town I haven’t lived in for many years … well, that’s ambitious, I know. It takes a lot of imagination and equal parts research to get it right. Mostly, it takes getting yourself in the Memphis mindset, living there in your mind at…… Continue reading Memphis in the meantime
Go cat go
Early on in my journey to publication I held to the belief that the art of writing is an endeavor of pure creativity. Come to find out, it’s actually governed by a surprisingly rigid set of “storytelling” rules and tropes. Oddly enough, one of the most famous of these involves a kitty. In “Last Bridge…… Continue reading Go cat go
Trying to get to you
It’s a juggling act these days: Playing book marketer slash promoter while at the same time knuckling down at the keyboard banging out a sequel. With apologies to The Shirelles, Mama never said there’d be days like this. A month into the world of being published and let’s just say the learning curve is steep.…… Continue reading Trying to get to you
Welcome to my world
Two weeks ago I launched my debut novel, Last Bridge to Memphis. What a two weeks! Thanks to some of you who are reading this post, initial sales on Amazon.com shot the book into top tier rankings — for a hot minute. I suppose that’s how those algorithms work. But once the initial sales tapered…… Continue reading Welcome to my world
All shook up
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
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