Fairly Rudderless
Before I get into this week’s topic, I wanted to share some good news with you. My book, Black Yéʼii is now available in Audio format. Within the first two or three days, it has sold many copies, and there doesn’t seem to be any slowdown. If you would like Black Yéʼii on Audible, you can find it here: https://tinyurl.com/mr47x5ec
And if you would like a free, signed copy of Black Yéʼii, my publisher and I are running a Goodreads giveaway. It will start at 12:00 AM PST n Wednesday, August 27th and finish at 11:59 PM PST on Wednesday, September 24th. I will give away 5 signed copies to Goodreads members in the U.S. I hope you’ll take part. You can enter it here:
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Released January 02 2025
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Starts next week, August 27th! Enter Giveaway
Okay, now for my post …
For the first time in 49 years, I don’t have a “job” and, as a consequence, no place to go to work. I am at home. I’ve written posts for my blog and for my Author’s Blog. Even researching my next book hasn’t taken that much time.
I’ve cleaned the house, made meals for my wife and me, and spent a couple of days babysitting my grandson, which is always a pleasure. I never see that as work. Mason is fun to be around.
People tell me that at my age, 71 (72 in November), I have the right to take it easy. 71 seems old, but I don’t feel that old. In many respects, I feel like I’m wasting my time. Yet, I don’t want to work at Walmart or a grocery store or the 7/Eleven. The library system isn’t hiring, not even part-time. Neither is the YMCA.
Honestly, I’m feeling fairly rudderless.
I’ve been doing quite a bit of reading and owe several authors reviews of their work. I’m slow, but thorough. My reviews are generally good reviews because I will not trash any author. I realize how difficult and how much time and effort goes into writing a story. And I’ve been blessed not to have to rate any work less than a four or five, except on one or two occasions.
And then, there is my writing.
Before my latest book, Black Yéʼii, was published, I began a story tentatively titled Dead of Night, but it just wasn’t happening for me. I didn’t “feel” it like I did with my other books. So far, I am beyond twenty thousand words, which is a hefty bit of work, but much of it needs to be reworked, rewritten, and in some cases, deleted. Such is the case with many works. It’s an author’s job to cull and comb through to make the story stand out.
But in the last two or so weeks, a different idea hit me. Topical and interesting. It deals with my two Navajo characters, George and Two, the Navajo Nation Reservation, and I.C.E. Of course, the rest of the Evans family will be affected, along with my law enforcement characters, and frankly, I like this story better than the other I was writing. My tentative working title is The Disappeared.
I have begun work on it, temporarily shelving Dead of Night. So far, so good. I like it, and that fabulous writer’s feeling of “I can’t wait to sit down to write again” is back. It’s the itch that writers get. I didn’t have that with Dead of Night. At least, not yet. Not until I rework it. I’ll keep you posted from time to time on my progress.
I would love to hear what you think, so please use the comment section below. As always, thank you for following along on my writing journey. Until next time …
