Ask the Author: Virgil Alexander
Answered Questions (8)
Virgil Alexander
When I first decided to continue my Wham characters into a series. I worked for an international mining company for 42 years, so the idea of building that background into a murder mystery was kind of a natural occurance. I have toyed with the idea, making notes, for the last four years while I wrote Saints & Sinners, and The Baleful Owl. I have finally decided book four is the right time do develop that idea.
Virgil Alexander
I'm not sure. I have a backlog of ideas that I keep in a file. I also make note of intersting real life stories that I might include in a book.
I started working on my ranch history when a friend suggested I do it. As I was researching for that I stumbled across the history of the 1889 robbery of US Army Paymaster, Major Wham, and decided that would be a great basis for a modern mystery. That was the seed for my first book, The Wham Curse.
I felt a very strong inspiration to develop a cast of diverse characters who work well together for a common good cause, and to emphasize their basic shared values while recognizing their differences in a respectful way.
I started working on my ranch history when a friend suggested I do it. As I was researching for that I stumbled across the history of the 1889 robbery of US Army Paymaster, Major Wham, and decided that would be a great basis for a modern mystery. That was the seed for my first book, The Wham Curse.
I felt a very strong inspiration to develop a cast of diverse characters who work well together for a common good cause, and to emphasize their basic shared values while recognizing their differences in a respectful way.
Virgil Alexander
I have three active projects.
Writing a fourth mystery in my "Rural Cops" series; this one dealing with murder related to industrial espianage and theft in a large copper company.
I've been working on a history of ranching in Gila County Arizona for about seven years and it is still progressing.
I am also working on a historical paper for presentation at a museum in October.
Writing a fourth mystery in my "Rural Cops" series; this one dealing with murder related to industrial espianage and theft in a large copper company.
I've been working on a history of ranching in Gila County Arizona for about seven years and it is still progressing.
I am also working on a historical paper for presentation at a museum in October.
Virgil Alexander
Unless you are a recent student of grammar, spelling, creative writing, and story telling you should review those things. It is sad to write your first book, then find out it's a pretty good story but kind of a mess. No matter what you will make mistakes in all of those things. Get a good secretery to do basic copy editing, then a good editor to help you with content and quality of writing. Editors are expensive, but worth it. Finally, don't trust the publisher's galley "typesetter", they make mistakes, too. It might be worthwhile to have a secretary do a copy edit on your galley. Use at least one beta reader before you submit your manuscript.
Virgil Alexander
Writing something you like and having readers like it, too.
Virgil Alexander
I've never had that problem.
Virgil Alexander
This is better to ask in an e-mail, because everybody can see what goes in these questions. I see that you got an answer on your own and have a signing booked - Congratulations.
Virgil Alexander
You and create any "Shelf" you want on your page. It comes with Read, and Want to Read and some others. So if you wanted one for separating by genre you could create a "Fantasy" shelf for example...
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