Michael Embry's Blog, page 6

Back to the Manuscript and a Few Book Recommendations

The fourth book in the John Ross Boomer Lit series is history as Make Room for Family was published on Feb. 1 by Wings ePress.

Now I'm working on the first rewrite of the fifth book. As noted in previous posts, I wrote the first draft during National Novel Writing Month in November. I let it sit for more than a month, then I opened it back on and reread the manuscript, only taking a few notes to keep everything straight. The purpose was to see if the story flowed or was a trainwreck. It nearly went off the rails a few times but overall, I liked what I created.

Now I'm rewriting the manuscript. I believe it's only going to take about four or five weeks to have it ready to forward on to Jeanne, my skillful editor at Wings. 

Furthermore, I have a publishing date for the book: Nov. 1, 2021. So I have the responsibility of getting the manuscript to her by the end of March.

For those who know my background in the media, having a deadline or due date is a plus. I spent nearly 18 years with a national news service, five years with newspapers, and eight years as editor of a regional magazine. 

I thrive on deadlines. When I don't have a deadline, I tend to diddle. Deadlines keep me focused.

In the meantime, I'm also marketing and promoting Make Room for Family. I've had several book reviews including feedback and ratings on Amazon. I've mailed several hundred postcards to bookstores, libraries, and friends (send me an email and I'll mail one to you).  I've also taken out ads on Facebook and soon on Amazon and possibly Google. 

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While you're here a few book recommendations from my recent reads:

Check out Chris Helvey's The White Jamaican, a clever and witty noir featuring detective Frank Quick. Helvey paints great scenes with his colorful prose and creates lively characters with down-and-dirty dialogue. 

Colston Whitehead's The Underground Railroad, a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel from 2017, offers a gritty and graphic story about the plight of Blacks during the slavery era in U.S. history. The story follows the trials and tribulations of Cora as she pursues freedom in a cruel world. It's not an easy read but it may change your perspective about slavery. 

Andrew G. McCabe's The Threat: How the FBI Protects America in the Age of Terror and Trump is a fascinating read into the inner workings of the giant law-enforcement agency. While Trump is no longer in office, the book explains how the FBI takes on terrorism, the dedicated personnel who investigate crimes, and the threats to democracy we face today. 

Now it's back to the grindstone for rewriting and reading.

Until the next time . . . 

Officially Part of the Herd

 After several false starts, I finally received my COVID-19 vaccination today. Icy and snowy conditions prevented me from three previous appointments at the Franklin County Health Department. 

Today the sun was shining on me, literally and figuratively.Wearing vaccination badge

As of Feb. 22, I'm one of 44 million Americans who have received at least the first shot; 19 million have been injected with two shots, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

It's a relief to be vaccinated although I still have to wait another 28 days for my second shot. I know of people who have had the disease and a few who did not survive. 

So far, more than 500,000 Americans, including more than 4,600 in my native Kentucky, have lost their lives from the effects of the novel coronavirus. That's more than the total of those U.S. citizens who died in World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War. Those are staggering numbers to comprehend.

It's a shame that the ineptitude of our government the past year didn't do more to educate our citizens about the disease and the simple ways to prevent the spread. It has been estimated the 40 percent of those lives (200k) could have been prevented if proper and prudent action had been taken. 

I haven't felt any side effects from the vaccine. I understand that those in my age group may suffer fewer problems because of a declining immune response. I'm guessing that is good. The only thing I noticed was my daily nap where I slept 90 minutes rather than my usual 45. 

Check out this article from AARP if you have questions and concerns about the vaccine. If we're going to lick this 21st century scourge, we need to work together and that includes getting vaccinated, wearing masks, and maintaining a safe social distancing until we'out of the woods with the herd immunity. 

I'm proud to be part of the herd.

Until the next time . . .

Putting a Freeze Hold on Vaccination

I had been looking forward to today since this past Sunday. That's when I scheduled my COVID-19 vaccination at the Franklin County Health Department. 

Then the freezing rain came yesterday, leaving a glistening and icy cover throughout much of Kentucky and surrounding states. I had the bright idea earlier that morning of backing my car out of the garage before things got too bad and leaving it at the top of the driveway so I could pull out on the salt-treated street and be on my merry way to the health department.

But I was too late, When I backed out my car, it kept going backward—off the driveway to the backyard. I wasn't too concerned because I thought I would be able to get traction on the grass and drive up the side of the driveway. Needless to say, the grass and ground were freezing and slick. Even having my wife push the car from the rear didn't help (just kidding, she was behind the wheel while I pushed.)

Fortunately, I was able to reschedule my appointment for tomorrow afternoon. I'm hoping temps will rise to the mid-30s today and melt some of the stuff. It's probably wishful thinking since the forecast calls for a high of 30 and mostly cloudy. As I write this, it's 25 and overcast. The forecast for Friday is a high of 35 and partly sunny. 

Ever since the vaccines were announced back in November, I've been waiting for my time to face the needle. Every time I got a little sniffle, tiny cough, or some minor aches and pains, I was somewhat concerned that I could have symptoms and be the next coronavirus victim. I have friends and relatives who contracted the virus; if it happened to them, it could happen to me. 

I read this morning that about one in three Americans aren't sure they will be vaccinated. I'm telling you now that I'm in the two of three Americans category who will get the shot. I don't want to be a spreader of the potentially deadly disease that has claimed nearly 475,000 lives in the past year.

Until the next time . . .

Ready to Launch New Novel

 The journey to publication for my 10th novel, and fourth in the John Ross Boomer Lit series, is over with the release of Make Room for Family on Feb. 1.

I've spent the past few months promoting the novel on Facebook, Twitter, and several other social media outlets. For those who follow this blog, you've read occasional posts about the progress from start to finish in the writing process. I hope it's been helpful.  

This afternoon (Jan. 31)  I drove to the post office and mailed 100 postcards to friends, readers, libraries, and bookstores. They probably should have been mailed sooner but there were some extenuating circumstances that prevented me from taking care of that chore. I have several hundred more that will be going out in the coming week. (If you'd like a postcard, and live in the U.S., send your address to michael.embry@gmail.com with "Postcard" in the subject line.) 

Promotion and marketing are important aspects of book publishing that a lot of authors don't enjoy. You can count me among the dissenters but it's something an author must do if the book is going to come to the attention of potential readers. I'm sure you've seen some of the big-time authors getting the word out about their latest releases. In the past, I've used Facebook but I'm open to other venues if the price is right for my limited budget.

Other vital tools appreciated by authors are word-of-mouth and ratings and reviews of their books. Even in these solitary times, I stay in contact with various friends and we make book recommendations and sometimes mention books we didn't especially like. 

Whenever I read a book, I always leave a rating, and usually a review, on Amazon, Goodreads, and other sites. I also read reviews that others leave on books I may purchase. Other places I peruse for book recommendations and reviews are magazines, newspapers, and websites. 

I also watch Book TV on CSPAN and listen to literary podcasts when I have the time. Although in-person appearances and book signings have been put on hold the past year, it has afforded the opportunity to view interviews and discussions on Zoom and Skype. 

With Make Room for Family launched into the book stratosphere  I'll be turning my attention to rewriting and editing the fifth book in the series. You can find the novel on Amazon, Wings ePress, and other sites. The print edition may lag a day or so. I'll also offer signed editions in the coming weeks.

Until the next time . . .

A Novel Approach for Me

I took a different approach in reviewing the first draft of my 11th novel, written last November during the  NaNoWriMo challenge. It's a strategy I wish I had learned earlier in my writing career.

For those unfamiliar with NaNoWriMo, short for National Novel Writing Month, the goal is to write a novel, with a minimum of 50,000 words (more like a draft), in 30 days. As usual, I sat on the 50k words for about six weeks to figuratively catch my breath as well as let the story sink into my subconscious while I celebrated the holiday season or as much as one could during the pandemic.

But when I returned to the novel, I didn't start rewriting and editing as I have done on previous books. What I did was simple—I read it. 

I'm not sure where I got the advice, but my guess would be from one of Elizabeth Spann Craig's wonderful weekly Twitterfric posts. I recommend all writers subscribe to her blog because it contains some of the best resources for writers. She's also a bestselling cozy mystery author.

I did find a blog post written by Kristen Kieffer in 2015 that recommends: "Once you've let your first draft cool off for a bit, it's time to read through what you've written. During this time, resist the urge to take notes or make changes. read simply to reacquaint yourself with your work and try your best not to throw your manuscript out the window." Kristen has other good points so I suggest you read her complete post. 

I confess that I took a few rudimentary notes such as writing the names of the characters and making corrections to several glaring grammatical errors. But my primary purpose was to feel the flow of the story and see if it was a good read, as objectively as I could.

Needless to say, I like the story, the fifth in my John Ross Boomer Lit series. The fourth novel, Make Room for Family, will be released on Feb. 1. (For those interested, the ebook can be preordered on Amazon; the print edition will be available on publication date). 

I'll return to the manuscript today and begin the rewrite process that I hope won't take as long as previous efforts (sometimes up to 12 rewrites). If I had only taken this approach with my other novels.

Oh well, it only goes to show you aren't too old to learn something new. Now if I can only remember to do it with my next novel.

Until the next time . . .

Closer to Publication

Three weeks from tomorrow, on Feb. 1, the next novel in my John Ross Boomer Lit series, Make Room for Family, will be published.

In the meantime, the e-book format can be pre-ordered on Amazon. The book will be available in print and e-book versions on Feb. 1 from Wings ePress.

Some readers are curious as to the boomer lit genre. It can refer to books that appeal to baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, with the storylines in that timeline. Or, in the case of my novels, the protagonist is a baby boomer and the timeline is contemporary. I often refer to my novels, which take place in 2017-18. as coming-of-old-age stories.

Boomer lit novels have been around for a while, but really garnered attention about 15 years ago when the first boomers turned 50. Check out this Wikipedia entry. My guess is that boomer lit will be around as long as there are boomers and followed by books aimed at Generation Xers. 

My series began in 2015 with Old Ways and New Days, which set the stage with the retirement of John Ross from a long career in the news media. He was thinking it might be a life of leisure, but he thought wrong. 

 It was followed with Darkness Beyond the Light, in 2017, as he and his wife, Sally, deal with family problems involving their son and her mother during the holiday season that is far from joyous.

The third novel, New Horizons, released in 2019, took the Kentucky couple on an unforgettable trip to Budapest with some interesting travel companions. 

Without giving too much away, the new release brings them back home, where they are confronted by unexpected family members and new neighbors.

By the way, I'm currently working on the fifth novel in the series. If everything goes to schedule, it should be ready for release late this year.

Until the next time . . . 

Hello 2021

We finally made it to 2021!

It doesn't feel any different from the last day of 2020 except for a sense that life will return to some semblance of normal. It may take a while, some experts say in the fall, but at least that's a ray of light after enduring the dark days of the past year.

I hope there will be incremental improvements in the coming months as more and more people get vaccinated. It will be incumbent on everyone to wear a mask and practice personal hygiene such as regular washing of hands. I admit I have my doubts about this because of the selfish attitude of a few who feel it infringes on their personal freedom. Aren't they infringing on the freedom of others by spreading the lethal coronavirus? 

But I digress. 

It'll be nice to see people returning to sporting events . . . weddings . . . family reunions . . . religious services . . . picnics . . . shopping areas . . .

On a sadder note, being able to show final respects at funeral homes and cemeteries for loved ones who have died. Perhaps visiting those on their deathbeds in hospitals and nursing homes to let them know you love them and to provide comfort with a final farewell so they don't depart this Earth alone. 

I stopped making New Year's resolutions a long time ago. However, I have goals I want to achieve over the course of time, but they don't have to begin on Jan. 1.

Here are a few odds and ends: 

On the Goodreads 2021 Reading Challenge, I plan to read 24 books this year. My goal was 18 last year and I read 31. (Feel free to friend and/or follow me.)I have a large shed that is loaded with stuff, some more than 50 years old. Since the Smithsonian is unlikely to be interested in any of the hidden treasures, I hope to get it cleaned out (much to the delight of my wife). My sons should appreciate it as well since they won't be burdened with sorting through it off if I kick the bucket. The decluttering of the house, especially my study, is an ongoing and neverending project.I want to have my next novel in the John Ross Boomer Lit series ready for publication in late 2021. The fourth installment, Make Room for Family, will be released on Feb. 1.I want to reconnect with old friends and relatives because life has an undisclosed expiration date. It's a two-way street so let me know if you want to see me.I'd like to make some progress on cataloging and editing my photos (it's become computer clutter).I hope the coming months are filled with joy and happiness to everyone! And if you encounter obstacles along the way, don't forget that you overcame a lot in 2020.

Until the next time . . .

Sayonara 2020

It's almost over,  2020 that is.

It's the year that will live in infamy around the world as millions of lives have been disrupted, put on hold, or come to a heartbreaking end, by the coronavirus pandemic. In my lifetime, it's difficult to remember any event that has had such a far-reaching effect for such a long time.

I recall the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 when it appeared that much of the world was on the brink of nuclear annihilation. There have been other health scares but they didn't reach the proportion and magnitude of the ever-expanding COVID-19 outbreak that promises to be around for the foreseeable future.

Several economic meltdowns impacted many lives but didn't leave thousands dead or massive suffering in their wake. And there have been weather catastrophes, but they've been limited, for the most part, to specific parts of the world. Unless, of course, we view climate change as an Earth-altering phenomenon.

There's been political turmoil that has left people upset, angry, or sad, depending on one's views. Can the new year bring about civility and healing? Or will people wallow in their hate and divisiveness?  

I don't know what 2021 will bring in the coming months. COVID-19 vaccines are being dispersed throughout the world, but with 7 billion inhabitants, that may take a while. I should receive mine in February (I guess age has its privileges in some instances). It brings about a glimmer of hope that life will eventually return to some degree of normalcy.

The past year hasn't been a total wash for me. My wife and I have been relatively healthy (no COVID-19). I've been able to see my sons and their families. I had occasional visits with good friends (keeping a safe distance, of course). I've made a few instate day trips to help satisfy my photography habit. I completed one novel (to be published Feb. 1) and wrote the first draft of another. And I was able to complete some things on my wife's neverending honey-do list.

If things go as planned (do they ever?), my wife and I will travel to eastern Europe this spring, a trip that was postponed in 2020. And if the overall outlook gets even brighter (a hopeless optimist?), we may visit Portugal in the fall.  We're also looking at some domestic trips, perhaps to Washington, D.C., or the far western states. Only time will tell.

I'm also looking forward to extended time with family and friends. A few hugs and shared laughter will serve as a strong tonic to move on with our lives in 2021 and beyond. It'll be nice to return to favorite restaurants and movie theaters, to be among others, if still at a safe distance and probably with masks. I also miss music concerts and theatre productions which I hope will return in the new year. 

I'm ready to put 2020 behind me, much like I do other years, and move ahead on life's journey. How about you?

Until the next time . . .

Happy Holidays to All

 We're almost finished with this dreadful year and I simply want to wish everyone the best as 2021 is only a few days away.

While 2020 hasn't been the best of times for many, especially those stricken with COVID-19, I do hope many of you have tried to make the best of a dire situation. I also hope many folks turned their thoughts toward others and showed empathy in these trying times. We're in this together. 

For writers, the past year may have brought time for reflection. For myself, I was able to complete a novel and finish the first draft on another. I tried not to dwell too much on what was swirling around me (not always successful) but writing helped me stay focused for the most part.

Besides the pandemic, the past year has been one of turmoil throughout most of the world as we have dealt with political and social changes. I hope we can turn things around in the coming year to make things better for all. Needless to say, it's going to take a lot of work.

Again, happy holidays and best wishes for a healthy new year!

Until the next time . . .

 

Taking a Timeout for Time

Yesterday I remarked to my wife that it was only 6:45 p.m. and it felt that it should be much later. And then I added that it was Thursday but felt more like a Tuesday. 

And I finished by saying, "I wonder if the perception of time changes as one grows older?" She seemed to think so, waved me off, and returned to the book she was reading, while I went to my study to contemplate it some more, until I grew sleepy, and went to bed before 9. Let me add that switching back to Eastern Standard Time in November probably threw my body a little out of whack that won't recover until Daylight Savings Time returns in March.

This morning, it was still on my mind so I did what most reasonable baby boomers do, and did searches on Google and Bing. And, yo and behold, there seems to be a correlation between one's age and the passage of time.

Fortunately, I found an insightful blog by Jordan Gaines Lewis on the Scientific American website that delved into the very subject so I didn't have to waste much time. And being one who follows science, I was even more pleased with her research.

Some of her findings include:

The "ratio theory" posits that people compare intervals of time by the amount of time they've lived. Our biological clocks slow as we age, but real-time moves on.Older folks don't pay as much attention to time, so it can slip away without much notice.She also found that seniors may feel stressed about not having the time to accomplish tasks, thereby feeling it passes by too quickly.

An NPR program about time and aging, featuring neuroscientists David Eagleman and  Warren Meck, noted ". . . first memories are dense. The routines of later life are sketchy. The past really wasn't slower than the present, It just feels that way." It's those first memories that have more impact on our brains. When we experience them again and again, they don't have equal ramifications.

And New Scientist reported in 1996 a study by Peter Mangan, a psychologist at Clinch Valley College in Wise, Va., that that we perceive time differently at various stages of life. He theorized that the brain's internal clock runs more slowly in older folks, giving the impression that the pace of life is picking up.

As you may have noticed, I had some time on my hands this morning to produce this little piece about the passage of time. I hope you found it interesting, regardless of your age because time is important.  

I suggest that we all try to make the most of the present because we're not promised a future. 

Until the next time . . .