Bandit the Beagle

While I type, my beagle Bandit is faithfully staring at me with his big brown eyes. Could it be that he loves me? I think its the hot dog on bun that's right next to me that he's infatuate with. While I have a stained t-shirt and balding head, the hot dog has relish, mustard, and ketchup. I don't think I'm going to win his snout or his mouth from the mystery meat slug on a roll.

Why would I own a dog? Well, I really like beagles because they have that loud and deep bay that seems strange on a little dog. He never greets anybody or anything without smelling them or it with that black wet nose. He's not much of a guard dog unless I'm worried about a bunny rabbit attacking my homestead. He seems to bark at them and nothing else. My kids love to tease him. My youngest colors his white spots with washable marker and my other two like to use his chew toy to play "monkey in the middle." I do have a pet name for Bandit, I call him "maggot."

I guess I'll give him the hot dog. I'll deal with the farts later.

Writing Ritual

I have discovered that all writers have their own style and rituals when it comes to their writing. Some write in evenings, some in mornings, and some during the middle of the day. Some writers edit as they go and won't move on until the edit is perfect while others write fast.

I tend to write a first draft fast and sloppy. I then reread and edit, hack, and hone. I tend to rewrite a novel several times before I dare show it to anyone. I use my cousin Evelyn as my first proof reader and she has an eagle-eye. I tend to write in the morning when I first get up because I tend to have a fresh brain. I would say that whatever works best for you is the best way to go. It's hard to go by someone else's writing ritual. I'd say as long as you write every day, you'll be fine. That is the secret though to publication, persistence. That along with a little talent, some publishing connections and a lot of luck. It's a brutal world out there and I can attest to the fact that every writer I know has tons of rejection slips. The select few who make it out of the slush pile are those who persist in pluggin' along, even when told their work sucks. Just remember that one editor might hate your writing and another might love it. As long as you're happy it doesn't matter.

Haunted

I'm reading the new novel from author Chuck Palahniuk titled Haunted and let me tell you it's some book. I never thought cannibalism could be described in such a gross and revolting way. The description of the characters licking human grease off their fingers makes me want to become a vegetarian. If you have a queasy stomach, don't read this book. It's as fun as all the other books by Chuck but it has to be to your taste.

Napoleon Dynamite

I watched the movie Napoleon Dynamite the other night and I never laughed so hard. I loved the sayings like "Sweet", "Flippin", "Dang", "Skills", and "Fine" that were constantly muttered by Napoleon as he'd transverse his Idaho hometown in search of what, I have no idea. How fresh to watch a teen movie that had no sex, no bad language yet still had me laughing so hard I cried. I guess I've always have had a warped sense of taste when it comes to movies, books, television shows. Born Weird . . . Stay Weird!!!!

Goodbye for now. I must go improve my Bo Staff and Nunchuck skills.

Writer's Block

I read a lot of articles on how to help author's with writer's block. I have never had such a problem. My empty brain is filled with crapola that helps me move along. Most of the time I have a complete story in my mind. I use this to draw up a rough framework but not a strict outline. It's like the ideas are a skeleton and the story fills in the meat and organs. I usually plug along, even if I know the writing is crap. I just go back later and edit it out or prune the words. I probably have a good dozen books and ideas roaming around in my head. My advice if you have writer's block is to go for a walk, write anything even if it's crap, or change your medium to pencil, pen, typewriter, EST.

Why Write?

Friends and family will ask me "Why did you decide to write?" As long as I could remember I enjoyed reading and writing. I enjoyed comic books as a kid with The Hulk and The Fantastic Four being my favorites. I have read the Observer Dispatch newspaper every day since I was a paperboy. When I was twelve I wrote a play and I can't remember anything about it except the laughter I received when performed. It wasn't until I started thinking about my mortality and the birth of my children that I began to seriously write. My goal has always been to become published so that my great great grandchildren will look back at a long dead patriarch and say "If he can do it, so can I." It's a fountain of youth, it's immortality. As long as your words are in print, you'll never be forgotten.

I love the thrill of taking a concept and a story and molding it into a book. It's a great release for my creativity. I don't think any writer gets into this business thinking they're going to become a millionaire. Writers write because they love to write. They're compelled to write and no amount of cash could ever compensate for the pure joy one gets from birthing a story.

I settled on the mystery genre because I like the criminal element of the human condition. I love to watch horror and sci-fi movies but writing is something else. Perhaps I'll try writing a horror novel someday.

The Mohawk Valley

I refer to myself as "mystery writer of the Mohawk Valley" because I was born, work, live and play in this region. The Mohawk Valley is right in the center of New York State at the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. The area is lush with trees, rolling hills, lakes, streams, ponds and babbling brooks. I have traveled many places yet the most beautiful scenery is right here in my backyard. The setting of all my books take place right here in the Mohawk Valley. The area is rich in history from the revolutionary war with the "Battle of Oriskany" to the Erie Canal cutting through Utica to a local television station that started Dick Clark out on his career. Saranac beer is brewed nearby in a family owned brewery and the largest 15K road race in the United States called the "Boilermaker" is run right in the Mohawk Valley. It's a great place to live with clean air, fresh water and very little crime. The schools are great and the food is amazing. Now that you know what the Mohawk Valley is all about, you can see why I praise it and use it as the title of my website.

Perseverance

Well, here's the first post on the blog section of my website. This website comes a few months before my book is due to be published and released. I titled this posting "perseverance" because that's what you have to have above any other trait to be a published author. I have woken up at 5a.m. every morning for the last several years and plugged away at my manuscripts. The first one was really bad and each one has gotten better. Along the way I've sent out to hundreds of agents, editors and publishers all in the hopes of becoming a published novelist. The result has been a massive wave of rejection. Anyone who knows anything about writers, knows that this is almost a rite of passage. You have to hone your craft and keep plugging away. In my opinion 90% of writing is hard work and perseverance while 10% is talent.