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This page is dedicated to my current and upcoming writing projects. I finished a new novel called Pardon the Mess. It's taking me in a refreshing new direction in my writing career. I conceived the story one night in the winter of 2006 while staying at a friend's house. I was lying in bed, unable to sleep, wondering what it would be like to write a story in the first-person, present-tense. The thought prompted me to get out of bed and pen the first line of a new story: "So, the receptionist gives me that look." I knew then I had something special--the telling of one man's adventures, revealed through his quirky personality. The story The story is about a 33-year-old data recovery expert who’s a whiz with technology but not too smart when it comes to dating. His strengths and weaknesses get him into trouble as he seeks to cope with a new relationship while dealing with a threat to the Internet that pulls Bill in way over his head. I consider the novel a cross between 40 Year Old Virgin and National Treasure (if you can picture that). It's a mystery with a good dose of humor and touch of tech-noir. I have three objectives in this project. First is to ensure the story has broad appeal. To me, the female audience is key. If I went too heavy on the geek angle, it would impede women from picking up the book. That's why the title is so important. It has to be neutral from a male/female perspective, but catchy enough to get mainstream readers to buy it. My second objective is to give the book a movie feel. I want to entertain the reader. First person, present tense coupled with action, humor and drama make the story palatable for moviegoers. The last objective is book length--300 pages max. With my first novel, Prophecy, I went over this threshold by a significant margin. I don't want to repeat that, especially as a debut author.
I'm excited about this project. Pardon the Mess is the first book in a series I'm creating. I like Bill. He has heart, an uncharacteristic wit and unique way of thinking. I look forward to writing more adventures with him at the helm. So far, I've envisioned two additional books for the series. If the first novel succeeds, I might push the second one ahead of my other writing projects. Current status
I got my manuscript back from professional editing at the end of July. Of course, there are a bunch of revisions I have to make, including some character tweaks that could eat up a fair amount of time. Compared to my last book, Prophecy, however, the changes are minor. Come the end of August, I hope to be done and on to finding a literary agent. If I can secure a book deal by year's end, I'll be a happy camper. Also in the works
Also on the drawing board is a short story collection entitled Say My Name. I anticipate writing 20-25 flash fiction-length pieces (5-10 pages each); I've completed 7 so far. The theme centers on people's names and how they factor into their lives. Every story is first-person, present-tense narrative, which I believe is highly effective for evoking the rich range of emotions and experiences I want to communicate. I'm mixing it up with male and female protagonists, serious and fun tales, each with a twist. I'll let you know how the collection progresses. |
