Philip Shirley's Blog, page 2
July 14, 2014
Book launch tour started July 10
Stops at Lemuria in Jackson for the official launch, then in Mobile and Dauphin Island last week.
July 8, 2014
Book launch this week
The first scene of The White Lie was written in 1998. Once outlined and in draft form the book sailed along fairly quickly. It was a learning experience. A regional press wanted the book a couple of years later and I worked with their editor for a long time, but eventually internal company problems caused them to decide not to publish the book. I put the manuscript in a drawer, moved on and finished three other manuscripts and published two books--a collection of short fiction (Jefferson Prize finalist) and a cultural history of baseball with David Magee (Triumph Books published it). Then Mindbridge Press wanted this book and we edited it once again. Now we're two days from release on July 10 at Lemuria Book Store in Jackson, Mississippi. 5 signing, 5:30 reading. A long journey for a book. I'm ready to see what folks think. A couple of good reviews have surfaced so far.www.philipshirley.com 
June 30, 2014
New book giveaway on Goodreads
The last giveaway had hundreds of entries so I thought I should give away a couple more books, so go register if you want to try to win one.
Goodreads Giveaway of THE WHITE LIE
Goodreads Giveaway of THE WHITE LIE
June 22, 2014
The White Lie giveaway is complete.
Thanks to all 652 who entered my giveaway. Books are going out this week to winners. One in Michigan and two in California. Happy reading!
May 29, 2014
Book Trailer for The White Lie
Here is the first book trailer for my novel The White Lie that will be released at Lemuria Books in Jackson, Mississippi on July 10. Will also be signing the next day at LoDa ArtWalk in Mobile on Dauphin STreet 6-9. And on Dauphin Island 25- on that Saturday, July 12, at Mac'n'DD's Emporium. Please stop by....http://bit.ly/1tTyDps
May 21, 2014
Book giveaway on Goodreads
Goodreads Book Giveaway
The White Lie by Philip Shirley. Giveaway ends June 20, 2014. See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter to win
May 10, 2014
The twin tugs of marketing a new book and writing one
The White Lie is now in the hands of the publisher Mindbridge Press. The Advance Reading Copies have been sent to numerous reviewers at places like Library Journal and Kirkus with the hope and wish they will find the book worthy. If you are publishing with a small publisher, make sure they schedule time to get gallies off 12-15 weeks ahead of release date. A few writers have agreed to read the book and provide blurbs if they like the work. Early news is that they seem to like it. It's a waiting game for reviews and blurbs, but mostly for the July 10 release when I can start making the circuit of bookstore signings, conference talks, and readings. As I sit here on a Saturday afternoon overlooking the reservoir, I'd love to be one of those boaters I see. I'd also love to be editing the other novel I recently finished and looking for an agent or publisher. And the other voice in my head insists that I do something to help make sure The White Lie finds readers.
So let's recount the day and see what I did:
Start with a couple of beers and hamburger at the Cherokee Drive-in with my wife & another friend. Check.
Ride around with the top down to put off working. Check.
Stop by Lemuria Bookstore to talk to Johnny about the book launch July 10. (confirmed.) Check.
Ask Johnny to see if Ingram has the book listed for sale yet to bookstores. (It does!) Check.
Walk the dog for the second time, to put off working. Check.
Spray the poison ivy in the garden to put off working. Check.
Update my Philip Shirley personal web site to list the two signings that were confirmed this week. Check.
Edit copy on the website. Check.
Open the file on a short story draft and write a paragraph or two. Check.
Reread a piece of flash fiction to see if it got better sitting idle in the file. (Nope.) Check.
Look up a couple of bookstore addresses to ask Mindbridge to contact for signings. Check.
Look up bloggers who might be interested in reviewing the book. Check.
Read the tutorial on Contribute 2 so figure out how to change leading in the website. (No luck). Check.
Send my publisher an email about the timing of the digital version release. Check.
Open another file to see if any of the half-started, dead-end short stories speaks to me today. (Nope) Check.
Get another beer and imagine selling thousands of copies of The White Lie. Check
Consider editing The Graceland Conspiracy manuscript. (considered, dismissed) Check.
Look up my blogs to see how long it has been since I blogged. Oops, too long. Check.
Write this blog about what book publishing feels like. Check.
So let's recount the day and see what I did:
Start with a couple of beers and hamburger at the Cherokee Drive-in with my wife & another friend. Check.
Ride around with the top down to put off working. Check.
Stop by Lemuria Bookstore to talk to Johnny about the book launch July 10. (confirmed.) Check.
Ask Johnny to see if Ingram has the book listed for sale yet to bookstores. (It does!) Check.
Walk the dog for the second time, to put off working. Check.
Spray the poison ivy in the garden to put off working. Check.
Update my Philip Shirley personal web site to list the two signings that were confirmed this week. Check.
Edit copy on the website. Check.
Open the file on a short story draft and write a paragraph or two. Check.
Reread a piece of flash fiction to see if it got better sitting idle in the file. (Nope.) Check.
Look up a couple of bookstore addresses to ask Mindbridge to contact for signings. Check.
Look up bloggers who might be interested in reviewing the book. Check.
Read the tutorial on Contribute 2 so figure out how to change leading in the website. (No luck). Check.
Send my publisher an email about the timing of the digital version release. Check.
Open another file to see if any of the half-started, dead-end short stories speaks to me today. (Nope) Check.
Get another beer and imagine selling thousands of copies of The White Lie. Check
Consider editing The Graceland Conspiracy manuscript. (considered, dismissed) Check.
Look up my blogs to see how long it has been since I blogged. Oops, too long. Check.
Write this blog about what book publishing feels like. Check.
February 23, 2014
THE WHITE LIE scheduled for release July 2014
My novel The White Lie is scheduled for release from Mindbridge Press July 2014. Galleys are now being set for Advance Reader Copies. If you are a reviewer who is interested please contact Mindbridge at the email on their website www.mindbridgepress.com.
Here's a brief description: Dejected advertising executive Peter Brantley is carjacked when a drug bust goes bad. Facing death as a witness who knows of the fleeing dealer, Peter crashes his car and leaves the unconscious criminal on the side of a rural road. Peter keeps the gym bag of cocaine left in his car to get even with the drug dealers by ransoming the drugs back—with no intention to deliver. With a marriage on the rocks and depressed over his brother’s death from a drug overdose, Peter and his wife Mary Beth go against the odds to face a ruthless drug kingpin and a drug task force leader who are both closing in. Mary Beth, who is fighting temptations of infidelity, uses this zany plan and her support of Peter to salvage her marriage. When Peter and his cousin are seriously injured during an ill-fated attempt to con the drug dealers, Mary Beth emerges as the unlikely hero to make sure the drug dealers can never harm the couple again.
Here's a brief description: Dejected advertising executive Peter Brantley is carjacked when a drug bust goes bad. Facing death as a witness who knows of the fleeing dealer, Peter crashes his car and leaves the unconscious criminal on the side of a rural road. Peter keeps the gym bag of cocaine left in his car to get even with the drug dealers by ransoming the drugs back—with no intention to deliver. With a marriage on the rocks and depressed over his brother’s death from a drug overdose, Peter and his wife Mary Beth go against the odds to face a ruthless drug kingpin and a drug task force leader who are both closing in. Mary Beth, who is fighting temptations of infidelity, uses this zany plan and her support of Peter to salvage her marriage. When Peter and his cousin are seriously injured during an ill-fated attempt to con the drug dealers, Mary Beth emerges as the unlikely hero to make sure the drug dealers can never harm the couple again.
April 15, 2010
wonderful found poetry
This sign was hanging above an artisan who sits long hours each day tying knots (2500 per square inch) in silk rugs in china: Mind Your Head.
I think this requires no further comment.
I think this requires no further comment.
March 28, 2010
Three years later
On November 30, 2007, I sent the final manuscript (I thought) to Jefferson Press for OH DON'T YOU CRY FOR ME. With that, the blog Fiction Highway came to an end, which was intended to follow what it was like to publish a first book (even though I had some publications before that). I was beyond wanting to write another word about the experience. Not that it was bad. It was in fact wonderful, and I had a great editor who made it so. But losing three stories from the collection, then re-writing thousands of words on deadline took its toll.
So anyway, the book came out in the spring of 2008. I made the regional circuit speaking at conferences, doing readings at libraries and bookstores, signing books, and generally doing what I could to promote the book while running an ad agency 50 or 60 hours a week. Once in awhile I look on Amazon to see if some relative or friend or distant new reader has bought a copy....
Soon I jumped into the next book, non-fiction about the 125 year history of Louisville Slugger baseball bats. David Magee and I wrote and published the book for release in April 2009, so we squeezed a couple of years work into about six months. Triumph (of Random House) wanted the book and produced a gorgeous book with about 170 photos.
So after two successful (a relative term, meaning I'll keep my day job) books, I find that not much has changed in my life. I still prefer fishing to work, but work takes most of my time. And I write when I can (Sunday afternoon like this, 6 in the morning, etc.). Right now, I'm writing a novel about Elvis and trying to help the fans of his understand what really happened during the last couple of years of his life. I've researched this one for 10 years and been writing almost that long, in between other writing projects!
So anyway...I have three blogs with hungry mouths, so I'll move on. For you writers and wanabe writers, remember that writing is a process, not a destination. The books come and go, and they are wonderful to see birthed, but the next day there is still another blank page (excuse me, that dates me, I meant screen) waiting to be filled.....
So anyway, the book came out in the spring of 2008. I made the regional circuit speaking at conferences, doing readings at libraries and bookstores, signing books, and generally doing what I could to promote the book while running an ad agency 50 or 60 hours a week. Once in awhile I look on Amazon to see if some relative or friend or distant new reader has bought a copy....
Soon I jumped into the next book, non-fiction about the 125 year history of Louisville Slugger baseball bats. David Magee and I wrote and published the book for release in April 2009, so we squeezed a couple of years work into about six months. Triumph (of Random House) wanted the book and produced a gorgeous book with about 170 photos.
So after two successful (a relative term, meaning I'll keep my day job) books, I find that not much has changed in my life. I still prefer fishing to work, but work takes most of my time. And I write when I can (Sunday afternoon like this, 6 in the morning, etc.). Right now, I'm writing a novel about Elvis and trying to help the fans of his understand what really happened during the last couple of years of his life. I've researched this one for 10 years and been writing almost that long, in between other writing projects!
So anyway...I have three blogs with hungry mouths, so I'll move on. For you writers and wanabe writers, remember that writing is a process, not a destination. The books come and go, and they are wonderful to see birthed, but the next day there is still another blank page (excuse me, that dates me, I meant screen) waiting to be filled.....
