This is the first of many. I hope to write at least one blog a month... maybe two. The books I have planned keep me pretty busy writing these days. Well, that and reading. I may write a little, but I am first and foremost a reader.
I remember my teacher in 5th grade asking a question about the story we were reading in class. You remember how that went, each student reads a paragraph or section in the reading book, a collection of short stories. She could see my book was turned towards the last third of it. I quickly answered the question, after all, I read that last week.
I have always wanted to write but never seemed to have the time. I joined the Army right out of high school. There was a ten year break in my service and I managed, then owned my own pizza restaurants. Anybody that has ever worked for themselves in that industry knows it eats up all your time.
I sold the business and went back into the military in 2005. I stayed until I retired in 2017. The last few years in, I managed the band Cypress Spring, a mixed genre band. There was a lot of traveling to Nashville to write songs and to shows with the guys. In 2018 I sat down at my computer and started writing something besides songs.
While following some of my favorite authors on social media, opportunity knocked. I answered an open call for a short story by my future publisher. Short stories are great and fun to write, but I wanted to finish my book. Connecting with him allowed me to pitch my idea.
Chris liked the idea and gave me the nod, with no guarantees. I turned it in and he said yes. Yes! A yes from the first person I pitched to. Believe me, I realize how rare that is. That book was Salvage Title. The first piece of work I ever had published, self or otherwise, quickly climbed several charts on Amazon and was a best seller. The downloads and page reads numbers blew me away. I realize how rare that is, as well. Thank you for that.
Salvage Fleet, the second in the trilogy was a number one new release on a chart within a week of becoming available. Salvage System, the third, was a number one new release on its first day.
So far, I have four novels and four short stories in anthologies available on Amazon. The last book, co-written with Kevin Ikenberry is a Four Horseman Novel. I had a great time writing in that well established universe. The book has been out two weeks and is still holding the orange tag as a number one new release. It earned it by noon on its advertised release day with no prior sales until it came out.
If you haven't yet, take a look at the reviews for Redacted Affairs. Its the start of a new series in the 4HU. You can jump right in without having read others in the universe.
Well, I need to get back to writing, this new book in the Salvage Title Universe won't write itself. Oh and if you are curious, you can hear me singing the hook on the Cypress Spring song, Small Town Friday Night. Yeah, they got me into the booth. I don't usually do that, I'm a lyricist. The guys sing them. It's on a compilation album on all the usual outlets including streaming and on the shelf at Wal-Mart. It probably won't happen again, as I try and stay behind the scenes with Cypress Spring. One and done. Catch us out on the road near you.