BOOK UPDATE: Jude's Almost Daily Blog Book Vol. 2.

 Woo Hoo!  I'm not kidding, this is the most fun anyone can possibly have.  It's so addicting to publish another book after you just wrote and published one.  I've published six books so far, but by far, and I mean this, this experience with my 2nd Blog Book, has been so very simple by comparison. Now, don't get me wrong, I have had a bit of a bump come up and hit me in the face when it comes to folks not wanting to be included in the book, or they don't mind me talking about them, but they don't want me to say their name, use their photo, etc. OK...not what I wanted, and certainly not what everyone in the world wants (well, those who buy and/or read my Blog Books!)  People need to realize that any publicity is good publicity, and being in a book is really cool. The book may not be your cup of tea, but it's not a bad thing! I promise. I guess a promise from me about my own book could sound a bit biased....what do you think?

    So, here is the update on the 2nd Blog Book.  The title of course, is, Jude's Almost Daily Blog Book Vol. 2.  I don't spell out Volume or the number two, I make it a numeral, and it's OK. I know there are rules to these things, but I'm the writer, I'm the one paying for it, and I like it, so we'll go with that. I went with Palmetto Publishing in South Carolina for the 2nd time. They did such a GREAT job with my book Jude's Almost Daily Blog Vol. 1.  They are amazing people. When I had a snag last time, they absolutely covered it. When they created a snag, I forgave them, they made it up in a GIANT way, and well, let's just say I've found a great partner in my publishers. I really like them.

    I sent off the manuscript about two weeks ago.  If you've ever done that you know who gritty you feel thinking you've screwed up, and you just KNOW you forgot this or that. That happens, and I was no exception. I wrote to my project manager, she let me have the book back, I made corrections, I sent it back to them, and there was no charge.  I sent off about 70 of the 90 photos that will be in the book, and then today she wrote to me asking for the other photos. I had to run around taking photos, but you know what, it gave me something to do.  I paid for 100 photos so I want to be sure and give the readers something to look at every other page or so. I have 82 blogs in this book and about 18 poems, and there is ONE story at the end. The story is not a blog. It's a tale, a made-up fictional story, and it's much longer. It's not quite a novelette, but it's about 10 pages long I think.  It's really special to me, and I wanted to add it so I did.

    The photos were taken by myself and others. I give absolute and full credit to the folks kind enough to allow me to use their photo. The great and wonderful Scottish Vlogger Shaun Alexander (ShaunVlog on Instagraam https://www.instagram.com/shaunvlog/) not only gave me permission to use his photo, but I've asked to use several of his photos and I'll give him a big shout out in the back of the book, it will be the last thing folks see, so hopefully they'll take a run over to his site and catch up with him and his wild and wonderful antics. He's super cool if you haven't checked him out yet...you should.

    The book will be out in May. I've paid the money for the publishing and have been blessed enough to have pretty fast and successful turn around times so far. My cover is finished, it's shown below. The photos are being lined up today and the Forward is being written by my good friend Niki. (Hurry up, Niki, please and thank you) and I think the finished galley will be in about 2 weeks so I can go over it, through it, marking any corrections or changes that need to be made before giving the final OK. Once the final OK is given it takes about 2 months to get the entire process finished. We're looking at May 1 for a release day, and that's just about 11 months after the first book. I wanted it to be out in November/December, but things happened over the summer that precluded that from happening. 

    Will there be a 3rd Blog Book? Probably. I think I may end up doing only modern more up to date blogs rather than sneaking back into the past to drag up old stories. I believe the last leg of the series could be more about what's been happening not only in my life, but political things, religious things, friends, family, community, rescue, and work things. Work-wise I'm learning to become a trader on the FOREX or Foreign Exchange market. I'll soon (6 months) trade mainly on the U.S. markets and the London markets. I'll do a few things in the Asian market, but I'm really not sure I want to go that deep into the woods until I better understand my surroundings. At least with the London markets I can pretty much understand the language! I won't embarrass myself too badly.

    After I get the trading down, and the books out, I think the next logical step is to move to Scotland and research the deep dark secrets of Edinburgh to become the backdrop for my first murder novel. I have the murder already planned (of course) but I do need to fill in the blanks. I'll use Palmetto Publishing again, and if Shaun Alexander wants to help me murder someone - - you know, fictionally of course, he can be my tour guide!! Won't that be fun? I can trade on the FOREX while I'm in country, that way I can stay on a longer Visa, and once it expires I can extend it through a trade Visa or work Visa if I can find someone to sponsor me. It's a matter of networking - - I can do that.

    OK, so the book comes out May 1, it's got some meat on its bones now, and it's going to be ready to correct in  a matter of days. Wow.  LOVE IT. Thanks for reading, sharing, caring, and all the kindness. I really do appreciate it. 

Photo Credit: Palmetto Publishing