Gary J. George's Blog, page 2
January 17, 2022
Woman of the Desert Moon
Book nine in the Smoke Tree Series, "Woman of the Desert Moon," should be ready for publication at the end of February.
July 12, 2021
Desert Moon Woman
After a few months hiking in the hills near my home while thinking and scribbling notes and scarps of dialogue, capped by a hiking trip into the Trinity Alps in Northern California, I have begun writing the ninth book in the Smoke Tree Series. It promises to be a challenge, but one I'm looking forward to.
April 18, 2021
In Print
"A Desert Drowning" is now available as a print book. I am now at work on book nine, "Desert Moon Woman." The lead character in that novel, who announced her existence by waking me up in the middle of the night, is now coming into sharper focus. She is most interesting!
March 6, 2021
A Desert Drowning
I asked for input on three possible titles for Book Eight in the Smoke Tree Series. Magda was the only one who responded, and she chose "A Desert Drowning." Therefore, "A Desert Drowning" it shall be! It will be published soon. Thank you, Magda, for responding.
Gary J. George
Gary J. George
November 15, 2020
Obsession
The creation of the eighth book in the Smoke Tree series now dominates my life. If I'm not working on it, I'm thinking about it.
I haven't decided yet whether the title will be "Mojave Desert Drowning," "A Desert Drowning," or "Drowning in the Desert." I would be pleased if you let me know which one of the three you prefer.
Gary
I haven't decided yet whether the title will be "Mojave Desert Drowning," "A Desert Drowning," or "Drowning in the Desert." I would be pleased if you let me know which one of the three you prefer.
Gary
November 13, 2020
Confusion over quotation marks.
I realize from reading reviews of my novels that I sometimes confuse readers by the way I use quotation marks. I suppose I should do it like everyone else, but that has never made sense to me. Let me tell you how I see it.
Let's say a character in one of my novels is talking. In the course of what she or he says, she or he changes the subject. That change requires a new paragraph. However, the same character is still speaking; therefore, I don't start the new paragraph with quotation marks, just as I did not close the previous paragraph with quotation marks because the speaker is not done speaking
Thus, from one of my novels:
"I don't know. Maybe talking to you on the phone. I've never had someone to talk to before who was anchored in one place. All my friends are constantly moving, just like me. But when I talked to you and you told me about what was going on at school and in town, it began to feel special to me. I've been getting the news from Smoke Tree for the last two years.
When I got here today, I realized I have been missing this place, even though I've only been here once before. I missed that old city hall. There's a library there, and I'd like to go there on a hot day and sit and read. And the theater. I'd like to go to a movie there. And I missed the high school, even though this evening was the first time I've ever seen it.
Is any of this making any sense?"
In the preferred convention, the second and third paragraphs above would each begin with quotation marks, but I choose not to do it that way. Since the same person is speaking, (from "I don't know" until "Is any of this making any sense?"), I choose not to close the quotation marks until he is finished.
I know, I know, silly stubbornness on my part, but it makes more sense to me that way.
Let's say a character in one of my novels is talking. In the course of what she or he says, she or he changes the subject. That change requires a new paragraph. However, the same character is still speaking; therefore, I don't start the new paragraph with quotation marks, just as I did not close the previous paragraph with quotation marks because the speaker is not done speaking
Thus, from one of my novels:
"I don't know. Maybe talking to you on the phone. I've never had someone to talk to before who was anchored in one place. All my friends are constantly moving, just like me. But when I talked to you and you told me about what was going on at school and in town, it began to feel special to me. I've been getting the news from Smoke Tree for the last two years.
When I got here today, I realized I have been missing this place, even though I've only been here once before. I missed that old city hall. There's a library there, and I'd like to go there on a hot day and sit and read. And the theater. I'd like to go to a movie there. And I missed the high school, even though this evening was the first time I've ever seen it.
Is any of this making any sense?"
In the preferred convention, the second and third paragraphs above would each begin with quotation marks, but I choose not to do it that way. Since the same person is speaking, (from "I don't know" until "Is any of this making any sense?"), I choose not to close the quotation marks until he is finished.
I know, I know, silly stubbornness on my part, but it makes more sense to me that way.
July 2, 2020
Good News!
Amazon has just made it easier to get the updated version of "Walks Always Beside You."
Open your Amazon account. Click on "Your account and lists." In the center of the page, you will find in bold print "Digital Content And Devices." Beneath that, click on "Manage Content and Devices." This will bring up a list of all your Kindle books. Under "Walks Always Beside You," you will see "update available." Click on it for the newest version.
The book has been rigorously re-edited. If you find any errors at all in the new version, please leave me a note on my Goodreads page.
Many thanks.
Gary J. George
Open your Amazon account. Click on "Your account and lists." In the center of the page, you will find in bold print "Digital Content And Devices." Beneath that, click on "Manage Content and Devices." This will bring up a list of all your Kindle books. Under "Walks Always Beside You," you will see "update available." Click on it for the newest version.
The book has been rigorously re-edited. If you find any errors at all in the new version, please leave me a note on my Goodreads page.
Many thanks.
Gary J. George
Good News!
Amazon has just made it easier to get the updated version of "Walks Always Beside You."
Open your Amazon account. Click on "Your account and lists." In the center of the page, you will find in bold print "Digital Content And Devices." Beneath that, click on "Manage Content and Devices." This will bring up a list of all your Kindle books. Under "Walks Always Beside You," you will see "update available." Click on it for the newest version.
The book has been rigorously re-edited. If you find any errors at all in the new version, please leave me a note on my Goodreads page.
Many thanks.
Gary J. George
Open your Amazon account. Click on "Your account and lists." In the center of the page, you will find in bold print "Digital Content And Devices." Beneath that, click on "Manage Content and Devices." This will bring up a list of all your Kindle books. Under "Walks Always Beside You," you will see "update available." Click on it for the newest version.
The book has been rigorously re-edited. If you find any errors at all in the new version, please leave me a note on my Goodreads page.
Many thanks.
Gary J. George
June 29, 2020
Two Important Announcements
First, "Walks Always Beside You" is now available in print.
Second, if you bought an early copy of the Kindle book and noticed some typos, the book has been corrected and re-issued error-free. If you don't mind losing any notes you may have made in your copy, if you contact Amazon through your accounts page and tell them you would like to have the newest version, it will be delivered to your kindle.
Second, if you bought an early copy of the Kindle book and noticed some typos, the book has been corrected and re-issued error-free. If you don't mind losing any notes you may have made in your copy, if you contact Amazon through your accounts page and tell them you would like to have the newest version, it will be delivered to your kindle.
