Coming Up for Air

Whew. I’m finished. Okay, maybe not finished, finished, but pretty damn close to finished. I’ve finished the second book in the Phil Riley series.

It’s a pretty good feeling actually. Being able to settle back in the chair, nod the head at the computer screen and say to yourself, yeah, that will work. Okay, some touches here and there. Oh yeah, gotta change her hair color to keep it consistent, but yeah, this will work.

So there you go.

Finished.

But the smile fades as you slowly come to the realization you aren’t finished.

Not by a long shot.

Remember that idea that’s been pin balling around in your head? Yeah that one. Better get started on it while the idea still seems good. Okay, okay. I’ll start next week. Give my self a little vacation from the writing gig. But right now, I’ll create a new folder to store the chapters for that new novel. Oh, I’ve got a couple more minutes before I really should go to bed. I’ll put in the headers and footers. Well hell, while I’m at it….

It’s grinding cycle. I’m like that Hawksbill turtle that occasionally needs to surface for air but also must live underwater to survive. I know my time at the surface is limited. My time for a breather is limited. My time away from writing is limited.

So I take a quick peek at the clouds, maybe roll my face toward the warming sun, Then, like that turtle, I take a big gulp of air and head back down to the reef.

It’s what writers do.

In the middle of the road

There are certain times in life that you find yourself reflecting on what has been and what might be. Certainly the closing of another year is one of those for me. I think back on what I’ve done this year. And what remains to be done. You can make all the lists, tick off all the tasks, but it seems that the road never ends. That the next step forward only brings more steps forward. That when you look behind you, the road twists off into the distance and you realize you’ve come a long way. But then you turn around, and the road twists off into the distance before you as well. So you find yourself standing in the middle of the road, hoping to hell that Mack truck doesn’t turn you into pâté. And you wonder, should I go back? Should I go forward? I’m in the middle of it – both directions look daunting.

I don’t want to go back. I, like Joe Pike with his red arrows on his shoulders, will always drive forward. Daunted for sure. But at the end of this year and the start of the new one, I recommit myself to driving forward.

The Great Lemonade Stand Robbery

Jez, this is a tough world when a kid can't even run a lemonade stand without fear of getting stuck up. And this shit Tony punched the poor kid! I don't think 10 days is long enough. But something tells me that the criminal justice system hasn't seen the last of one Anthony Hans.

Teen who robbed child’s lemonade stand gets jail, scolding
Wheeler News Service
Published Friday, November 16, 2007

A judge in Oshkosh scolded an 18-year-old man, saying he shocked the community when he robbed an 11-year-old boy’s lemonade stand.

Anthony Hans was sentenced to 10 days in jail Thursday.

Circuit Judge Karen Seifert also put him on two years’ probation, and ordered 50 hours of community service. The judge said the robbery upset people in Oshkosh and they wondered who would an attack an 11-year-old boy. Hans pleaded no contest to reduced charges misdemeanor theft and disorderly conduct.

He had been charged with battery for punching Austin Cundy, pushing him off his chair and stealing a plastic jar of money from his lemonade stand. It happened July 25.

Austin said he was raising the money to go camping with his grandparents and to buy his mom a birthday present. Instead, prosecutors said Hans used the $20 to buy cigarettes.

Austin received lost of support and donations once the story made national news. He ended up giving $620 in gifts and lemonade money to the Oshkosh Humane Society.

Who knew murder and mayhem could be so fun?

Just got back from a book event in the "Genuine American City" known as Milwaukee and had a hell of a time. It was the third annual Murder and Mayhem in Muskego at the Muskego Public Library.

The weekend kicked off with an author gathering at the Mystery One Bookstore on Friday night. Mystery One is one of those classic independent bookstores run by two fellows, Richard Katz and Dave Biemann, that really know their stuff and are willing to share their knowledge with anyone willing to ask. We all jammed into the cozy confines taking our turns signing books and chatting with readers that came from as far away as California. When we weren't signing, we all gathered in a nice little bar right next door that worked as a very nice bullpen. I think Richard and Dave picked the store locale just for that reason!

Then Saturday we all gathered at the library and Penny Halle's steady hand steered us through a wonderful day of chatting about books and characters and all things mystery. Robert Crais, Laura Lippman, and Greg Rucka were all interviewed and as a newbie author, it's always nice to listen at the feet of these pros. They've fought the fights and have the scars to prove it and I learned a lot from their talks.

It was also good to catch up with a couple other chums, Sean Chercover and Tom Schreck. They write very different types of books both should be on your to-be-read pile. And of course, I'll be adding several new authors to my list as well: Sean Doolittle, Gregg Hurwitz, Carl Brookins - to name just few. I always seem to find new authors to read whenever I go to one of these things.

I also got a chance to meet Jon Jordan and his lovely wife Ruth. Jon and Ruth publish Crimespree Magazine, one of the best magazines out there devoted to mysteries and thrillers. It was fun to chat with Jon about, as Jimmy Buffett sees as the 8th deadly sin, pizza. Ask him about his month long experiment with pizza. I don't know how he can eat another slice....

Thank you Penny, Richard, Dave, Jon, Ruth - hell everyone that attended Murder and Mayhem and making this new author feel so welcome. I'll be seeing you next year!

Wonder why we ever go home....

Photo Credit Don Reiland

River gets deeper not shallow,
the further you move down the stream.
Wonderin'if I can keep her as I
race to keep up with my dreams.
How they shine and glitter and gleam.
-Jimmy Buffett

I'm off to do a little research. Yeah, that's what I call it and everyone just smiles and gives me a wink. I guess I would too if I was on the other side the conversation. See, I write about a guy that lives in the Caribbean so I need, on occasion, to travel to the Caribbean to do "research." Me and and a couple of friends are going sailing in the British Virgin Islands.

Photo Credit Don Reiland

Should be plenty of opportunity to do some research on how the sun feels, how the water glistens, how the rum tastes. The Caribbean is why I write. To say the Caribbean is my muse is a bit pretentious, but there, I've said it. I write about the Caribbean because it's in my soul and it gives me life. And as I move down this stream of life, chasing those glittering dreams, I need a
little time with my girl. So if you need me next week, give a call to the Foxy's and leave a message. I'll get back to ya....