Title and Cover Reveal for New Novel

Now that NaNoWriMo is out of the way, it's on to the publication of the fourth novel in my John Ross Boomer Lit series. 

And today I reveal the title and cover of the book, which will be published by Wings ePress on Feb. 1. During the past year, I've written about the novel, from rewrites to edits to working with the cover artist. It seems like it will never end, but eventually, it does. 

The cover is like icing on a cake, the final stage in the creative process. If done right, it captures the essence of the novel and presents it in a way to attract readers, much like folks want to sink their teeth into a delicious piece of cake. 

So here it is!

Trisha Fitzgerald-Jung designed the cover; she also did the artwork on my previous novel, New Horizons. 

Pat Evans produced the cover for the first book in the series, Old Ways and New Days, and the late Richard Stroud produced the cover for the second book, Darkness Beyond the Light. I've been fortunate to work with such talented people at Wings.

Cover by Pat Evans

                                                        Cover by Richard Stroud

Make Room for Family will be available for preorder on Jan. 1 as a trade paperback and e-book.  I'll have information about that once I get a link (you might want to click the "Follow" button on the right margin). 

Until the next time . . . 

More to Do on WIP

I finished the first rewrite of my work in progress and discovered there's a lot more to do on the second rewrite. It took longer than I expected, about 10 weeks, and there's a good reason for the extra time on the manuscript.

As mentioned in a long-ago post, when working on "New Horizons," I decided to break up the manuscript because it was running too long and going off in another direction.
What I've learned after working on the second half of the manuscript is that the story hasn't ended. I have nearly 61,000 words saved and will probably need to write another 20k—so I'm about three-fourths of the way to "The End."

I recalled, when it abruptly ended today, that it was at that point about a year ago when I decided to turn it into the fourth book in the "John Ross Boomer Lit" series. For some reason I thought I had finished it. It must have been a senior moment!  

I'll delve back into the manuscript, knowing what's been written and where it's likely to go. My goal is to have the manuscript ready to send to my editor at Wings ePress by the end of the year, if not sooner.  I'm hopeful that this novel will be published in 2020. Good vibes sent my way will be appreciated. 

One thing I've learned from this experience is that I won't be breaking up a manuscript again. Once started on a book, I'll stick with it until the very end. 

Until the next time . . .

Ready to Start Fourth Boomer Lit Novel

It's been nearly six months since I finished "New Horizons," the third book in the John Ross Boomer Lit series.  Lately, several readers have asked if I've started on another book.

"New Horizons" was released May 1 by Wings ePress and sales have been steady and reviews have been excellent. I'm very appreciative to those who have supported my writing in the past and those who are just discovering my stories.

So now it's time to move on to the fourth book. I don't have a working title but I have produced probably 50k words. August 1st is my official start date.

So how do I already have 50k words? When working on "New Horizons" last year, the manuscript exceeded 90k and the novel was moving in a different direction. I decided to use the first 40k on "New Horizons," and the other for the next installment.  By the way, "New Horizons" ended up at nearly 70k words so there was plenty of writing involved before submitting it to my publisher.

I've been letting the remaining words simmer the past few months while conducting additional research and taking more notes about the next adventure for John and Sally Ross in their quest for peace and tranquility in their twilight years. 



Those who have read the first three books know it certainly hasn't been easy for the Kentucky couple. This thing called life always seems to be getting in the way of their quiet plans.

So if things go as planned—something I never count on in my life—the first draft of the fourth book will be finished in a couple months. After several rewrites, I hope to send the manuscript to my editor by the end of the year. 

As I have with my previous novels, I'll keep you posted on my progress, title, book cover, and release date. I already know what the fifth book is going to address, but more about that when I'm through with the fourth.

Until the next time . . .

New Horizons Published on May 1

I was glancing at my posts and realized that while I gave progress reports on "New Horizons" the past few months, I never announced that it had been published. 

Well (drum roll, please), family, friends, readers, and other interested folks, "New Horizons" was published May 1 by Wings ePress. 

I suppose it slipped my mind because I was traveling across Greece from April 21 to May 3. And then it took a few days to recover from the trip including getting my body adjusted from the seven-hour time difference.

But as I said, it's out there, in print and e-book format. It's available at the Wings website as well as reliable Amazon.

The novel, the third book in the "John Ross Boomer Lit Series," is about John and Sally Ross's 10-day guided tour to historic Budapest. It's a wild and wacky trip as they meet a variety of traveling companions to make for a memorable journey.

And they also have to deal with what is going on back in the States as best they can. Nothing is ever easy for John and Sally. 

You can read an excerpt here.

Until the next time . . . 

Book Promotion for Darkness Beyond the Light

The second book in my John Ross Boomer Lit series, Darkness Beyond the Light, will be on sale for 99 cents for one week beginning April 21. 

This past week, Old Ways and New Days, the first book in the series geared toward baby boomers, was offered at that price. And if you have Kindle Unlimited, you can read them for free. 



The books are on sale as part of a promotion from Wings ePress before the publication of New Horizons on May 1. 

New Horizons, the third book, can be downloaded on preorder before the release date. It will be available in print on May 1 as well.

Darkness Beyond the Light deals with John and Sally Ross confronting their son's drug problem. They also have Sally's opinionated octogenarian mother to contend with on the homefront during the usually joyous Christmas holiday season.

In New Horizons, John and Sally attempt to get away from all the chaos at home by taking a long overdue vacation to historic Budapest. But they encounter other issues along the way that make it a memorable trip they'd almost soon forget.




I hope that if you chose to read the books that you find them unforgettable—in a good way. And don't forget to leave a review and/or rating (for me and other authors after you finish reading books).

Until the next time . . . 

New Novel on Pre-Order

Between now and April 30, readers of my John Ross Boomer Lit series can pre-order the electronic version of New Horizons.

New Horizons is the third novel in the coming-of-old-age series from Wings ePress involving retired newspaper sports editor John Ross.  It's available on Amazon by clicking here. A print edition will be available on May 1.

I'm excited because this is the first time one of my novels has been offered on pre-order. It makes marketing and promotion a bit easier, especially for someone who struggles with that aspect of being an author in the 21st century.

The new novel primarily focuses on John and Sally's long overdue vacation to Budapest, Hungary. They encounter all kinds of folks that turn the 10-day trip into an adventure they never expected as they experience more than sightseeing.

And even though they're five thousand miles from Kentucky, events pop up that keep their minds on happenings back home involving their son, daughter, and Sally's mother. Along the way, they also make a few discoveries about themselves and their relationship in the beautiful city by the Danube River.

In addition to New Horizons being available on pre-order, the first two books will be on sale in electronic versions for 99 cents leading up to the release date. And to my knowledge, this is the first time these novels have been discounted for a limited time. 

Old Ways and New Days, the first in the series, can be downloaded until April 21, and Darkness Beyond the Light, the second, from April 21-28. For those who prefer print, they can be purchased but without a discount. That's out of my control.

I plan to have a few more announcements in the coming weeks so stay tuned by following my blog (see the "follow" button in the right column).

Until the next time . . .  

Pre-Release Book Promotions

The third book in my John Ross Boomer Lit series, New Horizons, will be released May 1 by Wings ePress.

One of the promotions is to provide readers an opportunity to purchase the first two books, Old Ways and New Days and Darkness Beyond the Light, at discounted ebook prices. 

Beginning Sunday, April 14, Old Ways and New Days can be downloaded for one week at the amazingly low price of 99 cents. Hard to believe, isn't it?

But wait! The following Sunday, April 21, Darkness Beyond the Light, will be available for the astonishingly low price of 99 cents for one week. Have you lifted yourself off the floor yet?


Silliness aside, my novels have never been priced this low. As part of the promotion, it's a great way to introduce discriminating readers to the series—especially baby boomers. And maybe their children and grandchildren who are curious as to what makes the old folks tick. 

For those who aren't familiar with the series, it's about the trials and tribulations and the joys and jubilations of John Ross after his retirement as a sports editor of a Kentucky newspaper. 

It's a coming-of-old-age series that deals with family, friendships, health, and redefining one's purpose while moving into that final phase of life.    

As mentioned, New Horizons is the third book in the series. It's about a wild and wacky trip to Budapest, Hungary. I'm currently working on the fourth installment and know what the fifth book is going to address.

New Horizons, like my other novels, will be available in electronic and print. More about that later.

Until the next time . . .

P.S. If you read the books, please leave a rating and/or review. It would be much appreciated.

Vlog: What is boomer lit?

My second vlog is about boomer lit. More precisely, what is boomer lit?

The simple definition is that boomer lit deals with people who are classified as baby boomers—those born between 1946 and 1964. There are more than 75 million of us in the United States. 

My last two novels, Old Ways and New Days and Darkness Beyond the Light, fall under the boomer lit genre, as well as the third, New Horizons, that will be released May 1.

I've always felt my first four novels were boomer lit as well but didn't fit that category because there wasn't that particular label at the time for books.  

A few boomer movies I've enjoyed are The Big Chill, Return of the Secaucus Seven, and The Deer Hunter. 

Many of us grew up reading classic coming-of-age novels such as J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye and S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders.

To carry that further, boomer lit novels could be called coming-of-old-age novels, that milestone in which people move into the third and final act of life. 

Here's the vlog for your viewing pleasure:

Until the next time . . .  

New Novel Update

I've read the galley proof of my latest novel, New Horizons, and submitted an errata sheet to my editor. It's now out of my hands until the book's May 1 release date.

New Horizons, published by Wings ePress, is the third book in the John Ross Boomer Lit series. This time John and Sally Ross encounter happiness, headaches, and heartaches on an international trip to Budapest, Hungary.  

Back to the galley.

The corrections, as well as a few additions, were minor in that they don't require any major revisions that would delay publication of the novel. Everything is moving along at a smooth and manageable pace.

As with other writers, it bothers me when I see any kind of error after publication. And no doubt there a typo will appear in the final product. It happens to all authors, on every level—major and small publishing houses and those who are self-published. That's not an excuse; it's the reality of publishing. 

And it's not only authors and editors to find them. Eagle-eye and casual readers spot them as well. And it's the readers we want to satisfy, in the final product (print or ebook) and the story.

Between now and publication date (did I mention May 1?), I'll continue working on the marketing and promotion of New Horizons. Check back here for updates. It's easier if you simply click the "follow" button in the right margin. 

By the way, Wings is celebrating its 17th year in publishing so check out the wide variety of books from its talented stable of authors from around the world.

Until the next time . . . 

Cover of Upcoming Novel

As those who follow this blog know, at least I hope they do, I've got a new novel that will be released May 1. 

And today I'm previewing the cover for New Horizons, the third book in the John Ross Boomer Lit series, from Wings ePress. The others in the series are Old Ways and New Days and Darkness Beyond the Light.

Trisha Fitzgerald-Jung, the graphic artist, did a fantastic job with the cover. I couldn't be more pleased with her artwork. Of my nine novels, it's my favorite.   

The photo is of a street in Budapest I took when my wife and I visited the Old World city in 2016. And much of the novel takes place in the Hungarian capital. I hope readers will gain a sense of what a wonderful place it is to visit.  



Budapest is a city that captured our hearts, and it's a place we'd love to spend time again. Maybe someday. I would encourage others to experience the sights if given the opportunity.

That's all to this post; I just wanted to share the beautiful cover.

Until the next time . . . 

After the Book is Finished Comes the Hard Part (For Me)

I admit that my greatest weakness as an author is marketing and promotion. 

It's not that I'm passive about it; I think it's because I'm not aggressive enough. I guess I'm a bit on the shy side when it comes to promoting myself. And most authors I know are the same way.

I promote and market on Facebook, Twitter, my personal website, and this blog as well as emails, postcards, bookmarks, and other marketing plans. I occasionally go to book fairs, libraries, and bookstores to sign books and meet readers. I do some public speaking. Some strategies work better than others, some hardly work, and some don't work at all.

I recently finished reading Alinka Rutkowska's How I Sold 80,000 Books: Book Marketing for Authors (a free download on Amazon), and while it contains many recommendations that you see in similar books (compiling email lists, asking others for reviews, professional editing, and slick book covers, etc.), what stood out is that it takes a lot of work to promote a book.

Much like writing a book. 

While the book targets indie and self-published authors, I've heard stories from writers at traditional publishing houses that they're expected to promote their books as well. 

Alinka provides free advice and links to relevant websites but stresses it's the author who has to do the work. And even then, there's no guarantee that you'll sell 8, 80, 800, 8,000 or 80,000 books.  

And we know you're not going to sell a single book (unless to mom) if you simply sit on your hands and do nothing. 

Rutkowska's book is one I recommend (you can't beat free!). She writes in a lively and light style that's easy to read and takes perhaps an hour or so to finish. I particularly liked the bonus section at the end which includes interviews with six authors on how they achieved their various degrees of success. 

So between now and the May 1 release date of my next novel, New Horizons, I'll be busy promoting and marketing it to the world. 

Until the next time . . . 

 

Manuscript Update: Time Off Before Edits

Since my last post, I traveled to New England to take in the fall colors and visit some scenic areas such as Acadia National Park in Maine and the White Mountains in New Hampshire.

Mark Twain House

I even made a stop at the Mark Twain house in Hartford, Ct., and Stephen King's home in Bangor, Me. 

Before I left on my short getaway, I sent my manuscript to my editor at Wings ePress. When I returned eight days later, I signed a contract for the third book in the John Ross Boomer Lit series. 

Stephen King's home

For those interested, the novel is tentatively scheduled for release in May 2019. The title? New Horizons. More about the book later.

She also had first edits for the novel and some recommendations to consider in my inbox.

Believe it or not, I haven't opened either document on my computer. She said there was no hurry, and I took her at her word. I needed to put some more distance being me and the manuscript, especially since I was preoccupied with other things at the time (I'm not the multi-tasker I used to be). 

I need a clear head when I delve into edits. I want to be as objective as possible when seeing edits and reading comments.  I want to view the manuscript as an editor, instead of as the author. I want to be in the mindset of editing the copy as if it were written by someone else. 

I've also got to provide the publisher with information to give the graphic artist an idea on how to approach the book cover. And I also have to write promotional blurbs, book dedication, and excerpts for marketing on websites. 

So there's a lot of work to be done in the coming months. I'll probably tackle the edits the first of next week since (with credit to Johnny Nash) "I can see clearly now" to move forward.

Until the next time . . .