Coffee With The Cops

Anytime you can do research and have great conversations -- go for it! Today (Monda April 29, 2019) our Police department had a meeting of Coffee with the Cops. They stop into our local coffee shops (Starbucks today) and are there to answer questions, address concerns and help struggling writer get their police procedures straight. 

I spent time with a patrol officer, team leader and great guy (Stan). He was able to answer 90% of my questions about death along the interstates and which police force gets what cases, where. Follow all that? Well, he made it simple.

I also spoke with a Detective (Electronic Forensics) and he helped me out of some cell phone info and computer soft and hardware questions as well as tieing it all into police work, Thanks, Jim.

Another great day and another layer of research on Motherboard, a Mac MacKurghdy Mystery! I hope to really start pounding out the script soon!

Aren't We All Day To Day?

     Always loved that phrase when used in sports but my mind goes all philosophical... Arent we all day to day? Yeah, kinda think so.

     So what have I been up to? Well, I have been writing and organizing my WIP. I am building what I call "chunks". So I start writing, for example, a character backstory. Now some will be part of the book, a lot will be just to make the character alive in my mind, and help in guiding me for his/her action and reaction as we live together. I often print these chunks out and use them as research and background as I go. Normally I can get through them pretty quickly. This time, I am still battling inertia. I will get through it, but it IS slowing the process!

     Also in the mix is the fact that I am into my coin collecting right now, so split projects. All of this is what I call -- excuses. That is all it is - but - it happens.

     My plan is to start putting down first draft material as we go. I tend to write until I need more info on a place, person or activity. Then, I stop and learn, digest and fill in the story gaps. I have story parts already (as I have posted here in the past) and will use those as touchstones to guide me here out.

In Other Items of Interest.

     I have been contemplating making video part of my blog. I just wonder what I'd talk about. I think I communicate well speaking, so why not incorporating it? Perhaps if any of you kind readers have a question you like me to answer or offer an opinion? A subject you like me to speak to? I'm open...

Thanks for stopping.

Why do I do this??

On Goodreads and other discussion pages and groups, so often the question, "Why do you write?" The answer, for me, is complicated. I get a story idea in my head and can't get it out until I jot it down ( or on my case, type some of it out. I rarely write anything by hand). Actual writing takes some time. 

WolfPointe was written over a year. I was obsessed with getting it done. Once accepted by TTB, it was months into additional rewriting and editing. Cover art was approved ( I bought the original artwork in acrylic from the artist). It was released on disc, ebooks were in their infancy in 2001. Once my Publisher secured a printer that did a quality job in small batches, she worked with me to get Wolfpointe onto paper. That happened in 04.

My first novel, second to get published, is Starshot. Second to publication but over 40 years in the writing. This book was written because of the love of the music I grew up to and stories of so many of its Stars. I found so much of the history bittersweet, often cruel and sometimes storybook charming. So much drama, talent, greed, as well as fun, love, and downright goodness as well was involved. I knew no one story could tell the tale. I started to borrow, combine and imagine the workings. At the same time, I wanted to really humanize Deejay Gloss, who, beginning as David Joseph Glossack, just wanted people to hear his music. Friends, allies and supporters can, at once, remain but some who become foes, or resistance bearers. Some can even become dangerous.

This time I went with self-publish. I was looking for less hassle and really am not looking for money. I DO wish I was a better promoter. 

So, why do I write? To tell stories. 

I'm working on a sequel to Wolfpointe as my main character was very popular and readers hoped he'd come back. I too like Malcolm MacKurghdy and have not one, but two great story ideas. One is in the works now.

The other is set in a few notes. Each will be a great story to be told. I just hope I can reveal them!