Harddaysknight: Blog

I am preparing to post Book 3 Chapter 1 of LiR before too long. I thank those readers that have expressed an interest in the story. I hope to post every couple weeks, give or take. I have a problem. A couple of readers asked to be beta readers, not editors, and I agreed. I am now going over my email and cannot find, or remember to whom I made the promise. Please do not volunteer to do this. I have enough, I think. I simply want the person that was already in contact with me to contact me again so I can send a chapter to them.

For the rest of you, thanks a bunch. The story will begin about eight years from the end of Book 2. Yes, there will be flashbacks with football and other notable events. This book will not be as long as the others, going by my outline, and will be the final in this series. Thanks again for your patience, your emails, and your encouragement.

I thought a nice teaser was in order, so here are the first three paragraphs;

"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Those gathered in the great room in Valhalla remained silent as the full impact of the oath was absorbed. President Crawford had died within two days of suffering a massive stroke. Chief Justice Hamilton, upon being informed that the transfer of power was imminent, had immediately traveled to Sparta. He had grown to consider Steve and Gwen Hammer personal friends. He and his wife both felt strongly that it was only fitting that he be the one to administer the oath of office.

Immediately following the oath, and surrounded by family and their very good friends, Gwen and Steve held a very brief, whispered conversation. Gwen had her hands on Steve's chest as he held her close. Her face was turned up to his as he leaned in to hear her hushed tones.

I am enjoying it, even if my writing time is curtailed greatly. I do hope to begin posting LiR 3 in the fall. I am hoping to get a few chapters ahead, at the very least. It will still be difficult to believe. I appreciate the interest expressed by many readers. I have to admit that I enjoy writing the series and creating a world where there are some very capable and selfless people. Obviously, it's a bit of a fantasy. Thanks again and have a really good summer season!

I posted the final chapter of book two about a month ago, The feedback, for the most part, has been encouraging. I do have people complaining that they do not see any plot. I am having some trouble understanding their complaint. The story is an ongoing account of the lives of two kids that meet in high school and go on to (here's the word many use) unbelievable success and incredible experiences. Okay, it's hard to believe. I get that. Would a story about my mundane life, or the life of most readers, be of interest? I think not. I like books and movies where the good guy, or woman, is actually good. I do not enjoy the artsy movies that are dark, and life is miserable for all of the characters. That's my preference.

Today I received the following email:

"This has been difficult to read (to keep reading):
The dialog is so over the top, the constant
crying, the excessively handsome / beautiful /
busty / tough people, the lack of an interesting
story line... and the grammar and vocabulary
errors. Not a LOT of them, but some of them are
risible, such as saying that the hospital
"services" its patients (WHAT kind of hospital??)
or that the "inaugural" is on the 7th... inaugural
is an adjective. You need either "inaugural ball"
or "inauguration"... plus the occasional
their/they're/there issue and a couple of plurals
made with apostrophes.

In the first 9 chapters.

I would like to like the characters, but they seem
too too too much larger than life. I would like to
enjoy the plot, but it seems to just wander around
with the occasional crisis thrown in to show off
how tough Steve is, how much Gwen loves him, ad
nauseum.

So: I do appreciate that you spend your time
making stories for all the rest of us to read.
Thanks for sharing."

I don't quite know how to respond. I suppose that the guy wants to like the story, but there's just too much shit in the way to really enjoy it. Yeah, I made some stupid mistakes and I know better, for the most part. I do seem to like pretty girls with big tits and tough guys. I have tried to cut back on the hero worship, but these two are heroes, so it isn't easy. I hate when I get "there", "their", and "they're" wrong. I really do understand when to use each word. I have been corrected on things that I had to look up to find the correct term, or to believe that I was truly wrong. Inaugural is a good example. It's an adjective. I used it as a noun. It won't happen again, I hope. I had to look up the word "risible" that was used in the critique of my story. That's how dumb I am. (Synonyms and antonyms for risible. 1. risible (adj.) arousing or provoking laughter. Synonyms: funny,; humorous,; mirthful,; humourous,; amusing,; laughable) I appreciate that many readers overlook my stupid mistakes. I appreciate when readers point out errors. I try to correct them, if I remember. I just don't quite understand the point of the above email. As a reader, when I start reading something I feel is poorly written, I simply stop and look for something else. I guess I should be happy that I am able to supply some mirth to some readers with my misuse of terms and wording. I do enjoy a good laugh.

I thank all of you that have taken the time to email me, and/or comment, as well as read the entire story. I received an email the other day and I decided to admit my shortcomings, or at least some of them. The email follows:

"Not to go on and on. You have a good yarn, so bring those parts you can into reality. How do you do that? Lots of research (some authors take years to write a book due to research) and reach out for folks with expertise to review and suggest. There are folks who will do it for nothing just to get to be part of the process and to be the first to read the story. I have done some writing and had a story with a private railroad. Went to my son who happened to have worked in RR maintenance and closely with the FRA (like the FAA for railroads). Did I get a lesson on what needed to be changed for reality."

My response may not be what some people expect, or hope for. I make this shit up. It's that simple. I lack the time and ambition to do more than Google a word, place, or event. It isn't real. I admit that I have taken liberal literary license on numerous occasions. I will not be doing extensive (read ANY) research or even taking suggestions from seasoned veterans and other experts. It could interfere with the story that's in my head. I am not trying to be condescending. I am simply trying to explain my thought process. I'm posting LiR 2 as it appears in the old cranium, for better or worse. I hope folks enjoy it, but if not, that's okay, too. Again, thanks so much to all of you that have taken the time to read my little fantasy/romance/action adventure.