G.C. Riley's Blog, page 5

Life in the Sunshine State

Hi friends. It’s a sunny South Florida day today. Exactly what you’d imagine when you think of the Sunshine State. As you can see by the picture, the ocean is as flat as glass and crystal clear. Just the way I like it.

So why am I not down there on the beach right now? Because I have work to do. Writing books takes a lot of time and effort, but for some reason, all my friends and family who live in the northeast think I’m sitting on the beach, sipping a margarita day-after-day. It’s actually funny, if you think about it.

People don’t realize you still have to work, even though you live in Florida. It’s not that bad, though. At least I really enjoy what I do, and I can always take a look out the window and see the people having fun down on the beach every time I take a break.

All kidding aside, I really enjoy living here. The night life is incredible. The restaurants are awesome and numerous. The tropical scenery is out of this world. And you get to meet all sorts of people from every corner of the country.

However, if you’re seriously considering moving down here, you need to take everything into consideration. Yes, even the cat-5 hurricanes that bear down on you every once-in-a-while.

G.C. Riley

Souvlaki Done With Flair

Hello friends. As many of you know, I visit a dear friend of mine in Europe from time to time. Greece, to be exact. The food in Athens is incredible—cheap and tasty. One of my favorites is a Greek fast food known as souvlaki. It’s meat (pork or chicken), tomatoes, onions, smothered in a sauce known as tzatziki (yogurt and cucumber), all wrapped in a pita bread.

Souvlaki is Greece’s version of our burgers here in the United States. When you’re about to go out on a Friday night, you might stop someplace and get a souvlaki before experiencing the incredible nightlife of Athens. And you can find them anywhere, on practically any street corner.

So naturally, when I’m back here at home in South Florida, and I have a craving for souvlaki, there are two things I can do. Go out to a Greek restaurant, of which there are many here in the Miami area, or I can try making it myself. When I decide on the latter, it’s usually on the spur of the moment and I don’t have all the ingredients at hand.

The two ingredients that are an absolute must for making a good souvlaki are pita bread and tzatziki. Everything else is readily available in my refrigerator. Tzatziki is not a problem either. I love the creamy white sauce and usually have a container in my fridge I get from the grocery store. The pita bread is another story, however. I don’t usually buy it, but recently when the souvlaki craving has hit me, I’ve been forced to improvise.

If you’re really desperate, a good substitute for pita bread are tortillas, which is always available in my home. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Making souvlaki with tortillas instead of pita may seem like sacrilege. An act so heinous, it would make King Leonidas spin in his grave. (Which I’ve actually visited when I went to Sparta, by the way.)

However, I still maintain that tortilla souvlaki tastes great. Not exactly authentic, but yummy nevertheless. When I get the craving, that’s exactly what I use to make this delicious Greek food, but there is a funny twist to this story.

When I was in Greece a few months ago, my friend, her daughter, and I were going to stream a movie one night and decided to order some souvlaki before we settled in to watch. My friend’s daughter was doing the ordering and she asked if I wanted my souvlaki with pita or tortilla…

I almost fell off my chair. Who would have thought what I was doing back home had become chic in Greece. Apparently, a lot of health conscious Greeks are doing it too now since a tortilla is thinner, therefore less bread than a pita, and tastes great when used for a souvlaki. Just goes to show you, when it comes to good food, there shouldn’t be any limits.

G.C. Riley

My Social Media Dilemma

Hello friends. I’ve been thinking about my social media presence quite a bit lately. There are so many sites I can use to make sure you all know what I’m doing and when my next book is coming out. However, to post on all those accounts would take an incredible amount of time.

For indie authors like myself, time is something I can’t afford to waste. There’s just way too much to do since we do it all ourselves, so I decided that I’d stick to just a few social media sites for the time being.

First on the list is this blog, of course. I’ll keep it simple here and post updates on my work including other observations that take a lot of explaining. I’ll keep adding to the Books section every time I release a new book, and if you want to contact me, you can use the form in the Contact section or just send me an email.

For day-to-day stuff, I’ll post in Twitter. I’m most familiar with that platform and I usually post a lot of pictures there too. If you’re on Twitter, you can follow me or send me a message. My Twitter handle is @GC_Riley.

I joined Goodreads a while back, but never really got into using it. I see how short-sighted I was now. It’s a great platform and I plan on spending a lot of time there. You can ask me questions, follow me, or send me messages there too. Only thing is, I don’t have a lot of books on my bookshelf yet, so don’t hold it against me. I will certainly add to it as I begin to read those great books on those lists.

Well, that’s it folks. I understand how important social media can be to an author, but when you’re trying to juggle a million things just to get a book out, you have to be as efficient as possible. I think I’ve got it covered if I post on these three sites.

G.C. Riley

Thanks

Hey friends, I want to thank you all for making my latest book, Last Honorable Cowboy, such a success. It still needs some promotional work, but initial demand for it has been very encouraging, and I have you all to thank for it. It’s always tough to get a new series off the ground, but with readers like you, it feels like a piece of cake.

As for the next book in the series, Cowboy Ranch Hand, I already have a rough outline so I know where I want to take the story. Next week, I will flesh out the story a bit, then start writing the first draft. That’s where I’m at right now. I’ll keep you posted, so stay tuned.

G.C. Riley

Last Honorable Cowboy–On Sale Now

Hello folks, sorry about my silence for the past couple of weeks. I got back home from Europe over a month ago, but since then I’ve been busy getting my latest book ready for publication.

I’m happy to announce that it’s finally on sale at Amazon. I’m already hard at work plotting book 2 of the series, which should be out sometime this summer.

If you liked my Pinewood Valley series, you’re sure to like this new one. Last Honorable Cowboy: Ellen’s Only Hope is Book 1 in the Sisters of Red River series which takes place in post WWII Oklahoma.

The series is about two feuding families who own neighboring cattle ranches. If that in itself is not enough drama for you, how about two members of the opposing families falling in love. Add to that a good dose of tough cowboys ready to start a range war at the drop of a hat, and you have a recipe for a western drama which is sure to please.

I had a lot of fun writing this one. Hope you enjoy reading it.

G.C. Riley

Time to Edit

Hello, dear reader. A quick note. I finished the first draft of my latest novel last week, and I’ve already started the editing process. Good news. It looks like I’ll be able to stick to the projected release date I mentioned in the last post. There is a potential problem that could derail this, however.

I’m still in Europe, but I will be returning home soon. Since I’ve been gone for quite a while, when I get home to South Florida there are quite a few things to take care of. I’m hoping I’ll be able to get into my work routine fairly quickly, but as you know, things don’t always turn out the way we want.

So I’m sticking to my timeline of having it published and for sale on Amazon by late February — maybe early March at the absolute latest. Believe me folks, I can’t wait to get this one completed and in your hands as soon as possible.

Thanks. Love you all — G.C. Riley

Latest on New Series

Hi folks. I know a lot of you are wondering when my new series is coming out. Okay, I’ve been way too optimistic in the past on time estimates, so I’m not going to do that this time. Taking everything into account, I would say I’m probably going to release it sometime in mid to late February.

I’m 90% through the first draft, so all I have left is to finish the climax and ending, run through it a couple of times in an editing phase, and upload it to Amazon. One of the reasons it took so long is because I tried something new this time. I usually write by the seat of my pants, with a short, one-page plot.

This time, I outlined the whole series in one shot—in detail. Not just the first book, but all three books. (Yes, it’s going to be a trilogy.) The reason I’m doing a trilogy this time is because the series is about three sisters running a cattle ranch in Oklahoma (post World War II), after their parents have passed away. Each book will highlight one particular sister’s story.

If there is a demand for additional books in the series, I can always add those in later on. For now however, it is a trilogy telling the drama/romance tales of each sister, one at a time. Each book will be a standalone, but it would probably be best if read in order to get the full effect of the whole series.

So not only do I have all three books plotted in detail, I have all three covers completed as well. (Yes, I design my covers too.) I know graphical design is better left to the pros, but I seem to have a knack for it. If you’re an aspiring writer and want to design your own covers, I have one piece of advice for you. Keep it simple.

Now, as you can see, even though it took me a while to get going, the subsequent books should be written quite fast. Since I’m a reader myself, I know the feeling when you read a book you love, then have to wait a long time for the next in the series to come out. This way, I’m hoping to avoid that long wait.

So if the first book in the series is almost done, why am I projecting a mid to late February release? It’s because I’m not home in South Florida at the moment. If you’ve been following me on social media, you know that I’m visiting a dear friend in Europe right now. Athens, Greece to be exact. Even though I am getting work done, it is kind of slow-going.

Also, you may be wondering why I’m playing it so close to the vest as far as what this new series is called, and what the books are titled. Rest assured, I have it all worked out, but I’d rather not say anything just yet. It’s not that I’m trying to keep you in the dark. I’m just playing it safe in case I decide to change things around, last minute.

Thanks, love you all — G.C. Riley

Good News, Bad News

Like the title to this post says, I have some good news, and some bad news. Okay, let’s get the bad news out of the way first.

I haven’t done any meaningful writing in the last few weeks due to a series of personal setbacks. Whoever came up with that saying – when it rains it pours – certainly had it right. Lately, I’ve been chasing after a number of household problems like replacing a hot water tank, and they’ve been coming at me one after another.

But normally, all that isn’t a big deal. It’s everyday life, albeit at an accelerated rate, and shouldn’t stop me from getting my work done. Except for one more setback that is an absolute nightmare for any of us depending on their laptops like I do – the dreaded computer crash.

I spent a week trying to get the darned thing going. Another week getting my hands on another laptop and configuring the needed software I use for my writing. Then probably still another week reconstructing my files from old backups. To add insult to injury, prior to my old computer crashing, I remember thinking computer malfunctions just didn’t happen anymore.

Okay, now for the really bad news. I know many of you were waiting for the next book in the Pinewood Valley Series I was working on titled Heartbreak Pass: A Wilderness Survival Romance. Even though I managed to save 99% of my files, the folder that contained all the files for that book was lost because I had neglected to do a backup in the last few weeks.

I’m sorry folks, it was a stupid mistake. One that I won’t repeat again. I’m going to make sure I back up my work on a weekly basis from now on. What really kills me is that I had almost half the book already written and was on schedule for a late summer release. So now the big question – where do I go from here?

For the last few months, I’ve had the idea for a superb romance series rattling around in my brain. I’m so enthusiastic about this story, it’s practically going to write itself. If you liked my other books, I’m sure this new series will not disappoint.

Now for the good news. Rather than retrace my steps and rewrite Heartbreak Pass, I think I want to start my new romance series instead. I’m not saying I won’t continue the Pinewood Valley Series at a later date, but this new romance series is crying to get out. When I feel this strong about something, I know I have a winning idea on my hands.

I don’t even have a working title for this new series yet, but all that will fall into place soon. I’m planning on starting work on Book 1 this week, and I’m hoping to have it out in mid-September just after Labor Day. This is a very rough estimate at this point, so don’t hold me to it, but I promise to get it out to you as soon as humanly possible.

Thanks for being patient, and stay tuned for updates.

Update on Heartbreak Pass

Hello dear reader. I haven’t posted since I published my last book, Dr. Angela Brooks, U.S. Army. I thought it was about time to let you know what I’ve been up to since then.

I’ve not only started my next book in the Pinewood Valley Series, titled Heartbreak Pass: A Wilderness Survival Romance, I’m actually well into it by now. I use an app to keep track of my daily writing, and according to the metrics it provides me with, I’ve got 20% of it completed already.

I’m at that point in the book every author eventually reaches. You wonder if the current book you’re working on will be able to top the last book you published. You wonder, and you stress over it. But by the time you’re a third of the way through the book, you can see it coming together in a unique and positive way.

We’re looking at a late July, early August release date for Heartbreak Pass. Remember to sign up for my email list if you want to be notified of release dates. You can do so by clicking the link on this page at the top, right hand side.

I hope you all have a terrific summer, and check back here soon for the latest updates. Talk to you soon, and keep reading.

Dr. Angela Brooks, U.S. Army Now on Sale

I’m happy to announce Dr. Angela Brooks, U.S. Army has been completed and is now on sale at Amazon.com. Before I say anything else, I’d like to thank all my wonderful readers who have already purchased it or read it through Kindle Unlimited. Thank you all so much for making it such a success, and thank you for making the Pinewood Valley Series so popular.

I have one more book coming in the PWV series, and then I want to start a new series I’ve had rattling around in my brain for quite some time now. Stay tuned, folks. I think this new series is going to knock your socks off. One thing at a time, however. Book 4 of the PWV series is in the plotting stages right now, and I should start actually writing it in the next week or so. If you haven’t already heard, it’s called Heartbreak Pass: A Wilderness Survival Romance.

I know Dr. Angela Brooks took a long time to release, but I promise to get Heartbreak Pass out there much sooner—probably sometime early this summer. This writing hobby of mine has turned into quite a serious career, and I am now doing it full-time.

I’m sure many of you are wondering if Heartbreak Pass will be the last book in the PWV Series. That depends on you. It will be the last book for the foreseeable future, but if demand is great enough, I may be coaxed into putting out a few more stories. In the meantime, check back here on this site for updates about my books, where I’m at in the process, and when you can expect a new release.

Once again, thank you for reading my stories, for making my work such a success, and for giving me a new career I’m so, so proud of. I will not let you down. If you haven’t signed up for my email list yet, do so immediately. I promise not to pester you too much. Actually, the only time you will hear from me is when there is a new book that has just been published.