It’s happening! My debut novel, a science thriller entitled Death’s Grip, is soon to be released. Finally, at long last, I’m nearing the end, though a novelist is never really at an end as a new journey already beckons. Over the coming months, I will detail and relive the journey of Death’s Grip through this blog. I will connect with both readers and fellow writers who might be interested in how that journey unfolded and the travails of it as I present my own behind-the-scenes documentary.

The internet is an abundant of riches when it comes to writing advice and authors who blog about their own journey. Every book has a unique coming together tale, usually involving much heartache and triumph, that is worth relating for posterity. And so I will relate you mine. I hope it inspires you to read my latest work, the fruits of seven years of labor (more on why later) and the distillation of my dreams, which might suggest my dreams are a scary place to live.

Perhaps it will also inspire you to conjure your own narrative. I know you have one in you; we all do. Weaving it into an interesting manuscript is the hard part, probably the hardest thing you’ll ever do. But the immense satisfaction that comes with each brilliant success, each late-night breakthrough, each well-crafted sentence is better than any high from cocaine or oxycontin. Trust me.

I will continue with the roll out for Death’s Grip through the holidays. This weekend I will release the trailer and cover for the very first time. The manuscript’s pretty much set (barring some last minute input from my girlfriend Angela, whose advice means the world to me). I’ve finished the layout of both the print and ebook versions so it’s pretty close to launch, though I still refuse to set a hard fast date for fear of missing it. I’ll let you know when I have something solid.

I’m incredibly excited and absolutely terrified, but it’s great relief to be at the finish line at long last. It’s like reaching the summit of Everest and looking around at the world as if for the first time (while you struggle to breath, unless you brought an oxygen tank, you cheater). Now I have to juggle promoting one book while I immediately dig into another. No reason to slow down now. I can sleep when I’m dead.

Later.

Ken L.