Very happy to report that my first Young Adult novel "Breadline Blue" is set to be published by Jan-Carol Publishing for their imprint Little Creek Books and should be available by late April 2013. I'm also anticipating the promised publication of my book "Dancing at the Crossroads: Mentoring At-Risk Youth through Story" through Parkhurst Brothers Publishing in this same year!
I continue to research and prep for a biography about Tony DeCorse, artist and musician from Buffalo, NY, and to push a proposal with History Press, another New York State history.
However, now that Breadline Blue is finished and in the proofreading process, I am beginning to think about my next young adult novel, and the process is interesting since I've never done this before.
I have a follow-up in mind for Breadline Blue but it may or may not be right for the YA market. There are other characters in the story I'd like to follow also. But, I reconnected with some childhood friends this summer and also thought about telling a very interesting historical story around them. At first, I was going to make it a true piece, but the more I think about it, the more I'd like it to be a historical fiction with teens as the central characters.
I usually work best with a title. In fact, Breadline Blues is the title of a song I sang with the Blue Eagle String Band. It struck me as a cool title for a book but without the "s" after blue. And it would be the boy's nickname. I started with this idea two years ago. It simmered someplace in my psyche. Then one day, I sat and started writing. I wrote the first page and left it for another year. Earlier this year, for whatever reason, I took it out and whoosh...the story took off. I really hope this new story won't take that long to gel, but it isn't unusual that would happen. At any rate, it has a "working" title. (Working meaning, either I will find another title more suitable, but this one helps keep me focused on my goal, or the publisher will convince me that I need a new title. This happens all the time.) I can't tell you the title at this time, sorry. If you don't want someone to completely steal an idea and run amok, there are some things you need to keep under your hat until you have a concrete story and/or contract.
1. So, the first part of the process for me is a general loose idea.
2. Then, I like to find a working title.
3. Start climbing the story-format mountain.
a. Turn your general idea into a more, but not completely developed, plot.
b. Begin thinking about the main character or characters. (I think my new story will have 5-7 main characters but one that drives the story.)
c. POV, point of view.
Will the story be in first or third person? (Since Breadline Blue is
first person, I think this may be my style. So first person is what I'm
leaning toward.
Will the story start at the beginning, middle, or end? (Starting at the end
may also be my style and I am forming an idea.
It is really important not to lock yourself into any of the above. I like to allow the story to take over. But I need a place to start and this process helps.
Right now, the new story is floating someplace between the above three steps.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Here We go, Starting a New Project
I now have a long list of stories and books I have either begun writing or want to write. History Press, publisher of my last two books Legends, Lore and Secrets of Western New York and Wicked Niagara: The Sinister Side of the Niagara Frontier, is interested in a proposal for another book. This idea is one I've had since right after my first book for them but have not the chance to work on it. I am currently doing research to see if there is enough to meet their requirements, then I will have to write a proposal. This is what happens for writers once they get some under their belts, but it is no guarantee of publication. Right now, I can't share the topic for this project. I can only say it is a history!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Book set to Release
Well, for everyone who has followed the process of this latest book, I can finally reveal the title and cover!
I began writing after History Press contacted me in fall of 2010 pretty much non-stop until its deadline in April. The new book should be released in mid-June which is just around the corner.
My first book with History Press, published in 2009, is Legends, Lore and Secrets of Western New York. They had contacted me to write something about the region because they wanted a storyteller's perspective. I chose to underscore the uniqueness of Western New York. We so often gets lumped in with upstate but we are as far removed culturally from upstate as we are geographically. Western New York is the farthest you can go west in the state. It was a wilderness but a crucial doorway to western expansion and has given the world innovations and so much throughout history. Once the second largest city in the state and one of the largest in the country, our demographics have changed as the industrial age came to an end, but the culture and the people here are amazingly resilient and friendly, like no other place you can imagine.
When History Press again contacted me in fall of 2010 to write a second book I was flattered. But this new book is quite the opposite of the first. They wanted a book for their Wicked series which meant having to "betray" my thinking on the first book and write something darker about the region. After giving it some thought and doing a little research, I came to terms with the idea, that while I believe so lovingly about what has become my home since 1970, I can also agree that dark and light walk hand-in-hand. What I am offering in this new book is a sensational look into that shadowy place which for all its negative has contributed to our culture just as surely as the good things we have to offer. I also chose to stick with early history on this book and not include contemporary darker stories. I did so intentionally to protect the innocent who are in many ways still living through their ordeals. That history is for someone else, someday.
All this said, I present the newest book under my belt "Wicked Niagara: the Sinister Side of the Niagara Frontier." Further announcements to be made soon when the book is on the shelves!
For now, I have a publisher considering my "life" work "Dancing at the Crossroads" a three part project. "Dancing at the Crossroads: Stories and Activities for Mentoring At-Risk Youth", "Dancing at the Crossroads: a Caregiver's Guide to Mentoring At-Risk Youth Through Story" and "Dancing at the Crossroads: a Practitioner's Guide to Mentoring At-Risk Youth Through Story."
There is nothing else I can do on this project for the time-being so I am thinking about my next project(s). I have several ideas on the table including another book for History Press which they are interested in learning more about, an inspirational "nightstand" book, a personal memoir, a humorous but serious monologue, some children's stories I began working on but put on the back burner, and a powerful ghost story based on a true murder which I have already told twice and am considering as a screen-play. I think that should keep me busy for a while.
I began writing after History Press contacted me in fall of 2010 pretty much non-stop until its deadline in April. The new book should be released in mid-June which is just around the corner.
My first book with History Press, published in 2009, is Legends, Lore and Secrets of Western New York. They had contacted me to write something about the region because they wanted a storyteller's perspective. I chose to underscore the uniqueness of Western New York. We so often gets lumped in with upstate but we are as far removed culturally from upstate as we are geographically. Western New York is the farthest you can go west in the state. It was a wilderness but a crucial doorway to western expansion and has given the world innovations and so much throughout history. Once the second largest city in the state and one of the largest in the country, our demographics have changed as the industrial age came to an end, but the culture and the people here are amazingly resilient and friendly, like no other place you can imagine.
When History Press again contacted me in fall of 2010 to write a second book I was flattered. But this new book is quite the opposite of the first. They wanted a book for their Wicked series which meant having to "betray" my thinking on the first book and write something darker about the region. After giving it some thought and doing a little research, I came to terms with the idea, that while I believe so lovingly about what has become my home since 1970, I can also agree that dark and light walk hand-in-hand. What I am offering in this new book is a sensational look into that shadowy place which for all its negative has contributed to our culture just as surely as the good things we have to offer. I also chose to stick with early history on this book and not include contemporary darker stories. I did so intentionally to protect the innocent who are in many ways still living through their ordeals. That history is for someone else, someday.
All this said, I present the newest book under my belt "Wicked Niagara: the Sinister Side of the Niagara Frontier." Further announcements to be made soon when the book is on the shelves!
For now, I have a publisher considering my "life" work "Dancing at the Crossroads" a three part project. "Dancing at the Crossroads: Stories and Activities for Mentoring At-Risk Youth", "Dancing at the Crossroads: a Caregiver's Guide to Mentoring At-Risk Youth Through Story" and "Dancing at the Crossroads: a Practitioner's Guide to Mentoring At-Risk Youth Through Story."
There is nothing else I can do on this project for the time-being so I am thinking about my next project(s). I have several ideas on the table including another book for History Press which they are interested in learning more about, an inspirational "nightstand" book, a personal memoir, a humorous but serious monologue, some children's stories I began working on but put on the back burner, and a powerful ghost story based on a true murder which I have already told twice and am considering as a screen-play. I think that should keep me busy for a while.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Almost time
I sent the book to the publisher and have already received the proofs. They go back to the publisher next week. I expect the book sometime in mid-June but that has not been confirmed. I will reveal the book title very very soon. Are you excited? Well, at least curious? I am excited.
Monday, March 21, 2011
History Press, new book almost finished!
Well, I am working on the very last story for this book. That feels so good, although I have really enjoyed researching all these stories that are new to me. My big test is whether they are new to Thomas. He knows so much about history and since he was born and raised in Buffalo, he knows much about this region too. But all the stories in this book are new to him! That's a good thing.
There will be those people who already know these stories, but I feel many of the people out there will find them interesting and unknown.
There will be those people who already know these stories, but I feel many of the people out there will find them interesting and unknown.
This last tale nicely sums up the region. Can't wait until I can reveal my title and tell you more about the book.
My research is really finished for this last story and I have written one page as an intro to it. The next step is detailing the story. It will probably be the shortest tale in the book and it is in many ways the lightest. I did want to end on a light story.
It has been more difficult than any other story to get started on, perhaps because I have done so much writing and am at the end. You can suffer a little burnout by this time. So I am really pushing to do it while keeping the quality I hope I bring to everything I do. This week is a busy week in preparation for a major Medieval event on Saturday. The book is due to the publisher on April 11 and I plan to get it finished no later than April 2.
My research is really finished for this last story and I have written one page as an intro to it. The next step is detailing the story. It will probably be the shortest tale in the book and it is in many ways the lightest. I did want to end on a light story.
It has been more difficult than any other story to get started on, perhaps because I have done so much writing and am at the end. You can suffer a little burnout by this time. So I am really pushing to do it while keeping the quality I hope I bring to everything I do. This week is a busy week in preparation for a major Medieval event on Saturday. The book is due to the publisher on April 11 and I plan to get it finished no later than April 2.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Where am I on the New History Press book?
Well, I am nearing the end of my writing for this book. I only have about 5000 words left to write and five stories I'd like to include. This means they have to be short stories or I have to cut back somewhere. I'm just happy to have found the material I want to write rather than fishing for something to fill in. I also have more images than I can use which is good. It will be difficult to cut back on these as I really like them all but something has to go.
Today, I am working on one of the last stories. I am very excited about it but also concerned with keeping down the word count while still making the story dynamic. For that reason, I have decided to tell the story from a different perspective. I like to do that for one or two stories anyway. My books are not supposed to be reports of facts but rather give the reader a sense of the human emotions of living in a time and place during an event, I'm a storyteller telling history rather than a historian relating a story.
Right now I am trying to decide if I want to write this story in first person, the only one like it in the book, or just tell the story as it specifically follows a real character, also unique to this book but less glaring. I am leaning toward the latter. Telling in first person means creating thoughts for the character since they did not leave a journal of their thoughts. Following the character will allow me to tell the reader what the character sees and hears and might feel based on historical context, always safer when not all the facts are known.
I will preface the story with events that led up to it, tell his story, and then close the story as I always do by letting the reader know how things are in that location today.
Okay, enough ruminating, time to write!
Today, I am working on one of the last stories. I am very excited about it but also concerned with keeping down the word count while still making the story dynamic. For that reason, I have decided to tell the story from a different perspective. I like to do that for one or two stories anyway. My books are not supposed to be reports of facts but rather give the reader a sense of the human emotions of living in a time and place during an event, I'm a storyteller telling history rather than a historian relating a story.
Right now I am trying to decide if I want to write this story in first person, the only one like it in the book, or just tell the story as it specifically follows a real character, also unique to this book but less glaring. I am leaning toward the latter. Telling in first person means creating thoughts for the character since they did not leave a journal of their thoughts. Following the character will allow me to tell the reader what the character sees and hears and might feel based on historical context, always safer when not all the facts are known.
I will preface the story with events that led up to it, tell his story, and then close the story as I always do by letting the reader know how things are in that location today.
Okay, enough ruminating, time to write!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
The "Big" Story
Well, after several unexpected short stories I am finally beginning the "big" story I originally set out to write. This is not a problem, in fact it was an unexpected pleasure. These are local stories that I didn't know existed and they helped pave the way to this big story, some of them becoming big stories of their own.
It isn't easy starting to put words to paper, or in this case typing into the computer. I am sitting here with literally hundreds of printed pages of information and stories that I need to read and sort through to find the kernels of a good story. I take all this information, make sure it is as accurate as possible, and make sure it isn't someones original research, then type it out loosely. I then go through each piece of information I have, finding the links and connections between characters and what makes them unique, their motivations etc. and tie that together with what I know about history and how one thing can lead to another. My job is to take the information and make it into an interesting story, not just a report of facts. This is the hard part, for me it is also the most fun. Dredging through all the info is not fun but when the story finds its voice, what can I say but "Yay!"
So for this story, I just started typing, using another person's report of facts as the skeleton. I have that all written out, in my own words of course, and will now go through other sources to match and verify facts and flesh out other interesting bits. For example, if the report of information mentions a new character, I can't just introduce that person without some background, so I need to go research that person and find out why the two are connected. That may become a story of its own, or just a paragraph, or it may just give me some insight into my main character's motivations. Keeping in mind that these are historical stories that may be completely true or may have over time grown into legends. I also feel I need to let my reader know what is fact and what might be legend and I have to do that in story context. It is a very interesting process.
Back to work!
It isn't easy starting to put words to paper, or in this case typing into the computer. I am sitting here with literally hundreds of printed pages of information and stories that I need to read and sort through to find the kernels of a good story. I take all this information, make sure it is as accurate as possible, and make sure it isn't someones original research, then type it out loosely. I then go through each piece of information I have, finding the links and connections between characters and what makes them unique, their motivations etc. and tie that together with what I know about history and how one thing can lead to another. My job is to take the information and make it into an interesting story, not just a report of facts. This is the hard part, for me it is also the most fun. Dredging through all the info is not fun but when the story finds its voice, what can I say but "Yay!"
So for this story, I just started typing, using another person's report of facts as the skeleton. I have that all written out, in my own words of course, and will now go through other sources to match and verify facts and flesh out other interesting bits. For example, if the report of information mentions a new character, I can't just introduce that person without some background, so I need to go research that person and find out why the two are connected. That may become a story of its own, or just a paragraph, or it may just give me some insight into my main character's motivations. Keeping in mind that these are historical stories that may be completely true or may have over time grown into legends. I also feel I need to let my reader know what is fact and what might be legend and I have to do that in story context. It is a very interesting process.
Back to work!
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