Harddaysknight: Blog

I have begun my second book of LiR a bit differently than I wrote the first. I have a good reason. I am trying to gloss over my glaring weaknesses. I should be encouraged in that regard.

My story, in Book 1, left the two kids a continent apart and in institutions of higher learning. I know nothing about Stanford and less about the Naval Academy. I thought about that issue, as much as my mind is capable of rational thought. This story would literally take years if I covered the kids' day to day life through college. The idea came to me to jump ahead five and a half years to when Steve is a SEAL and Gwen is half way through medical school. Important events that occurred during those years in school will be recalled in flashbacks, pretty much in chronological order. That way, I don't have to know what they do everyday at the Naval Academy or what term of endearment they use for other folks at Annapolis. I already have been told about my many errors on politics and military. I apologize that my imagination far exceeds my experience and knowledge on almost all of this stuff, including smart, sexy, big chested girls that often drop their clothes. I do not know this kind of people, but I have heard that they do exist.

I will hit the high spots and then go into real time from this point. (Shortly before Memorial Day, less than six years after they parted ways to go to school.) People are complaining that they didn't get the details of the first football game. They will, but not from Gwen's POV. We will get that from Steve's recollections. I will have characters refer to things that will be recalled in flashbacks later in the story. Kate mentioned that they all were in the next movie. We will get to that, and much more. This story will need time to be fleshed out. If a person waited to read about eight chapters at one sitting, it might make more sense. But, if you follow closely, it should not be too hard to follow in installments as I post them. Regardless, thanks for the opportunity to post, and to hear criticisms and corrections. It is all appreciated.

I dropped my laptop, broke it, and lost the couple chapters of Lady in Red, Book II, that I had already written a month or so ago. As I tried to reconstruct the story I had written, I realized that I was not telling the story that I wanted. I was doing a Cliff Notes version, with very little detail or emotion. I decided to stop and regroup. I'm going to tell the story I want and not try to rush something out so I can maintain reader interest. I hope to start posting again this month, but I have been very busy at my real work, so I promise nothing.

I'd like to address my fans now. You both have been wonderful, very supportive and complimentary. Seriously, I do appreciate those that take the time to read and to tell me what they like or do not like. I was too repetitive and my dialogue was stilted are the two most common criticisms. I am trying to improve those areas, but old habits die hard. Thanks again.

I also wondered if anyone would ever ask about any names, like Jack Timberline, or Jordan Quick. Jordan is a combination of Taylor Swift (Swift=Quick?) and Miley Cyrus (Original bad girl). Jack Timberline is a less cool Justin Timberlake. Clyde Davis should be obvious, or so I thought. He's a combination of Quincy Jones and Clive Davis. Sometime in the future, I'll reveal the TV actress (along with a certain SI swimsuit model) that I had in mind when I came up with Gwen. This dark haired lady has been a lead on a show for about 9 years. Gwen is more voluptuous, more athletic, and a tad more attractive (In my imagination), but this actress is even smarter (On TV), and was my inspiration. Thanks again for reading my saga.

I always thought that people that claimed that they lost their work because their computer broke were clowns and jokers. It was much like having your dog eat your homework. How could anyone be that dumb? I dropped my laptop today and it won't work now. I will try to have my hard drive recovered, but if I cannot, I will be starting over on Book 2 of LiR.

I posted the last chapter of Book One of Lady in Red. The response was very gratifying, to say the least. (Maybe readers were just happy it ended?) I received more feedback on this last chapter than on any previous story or chapter I have ever posted.

I admit that I will be treading on unfamiliar ground when Steve enters Annapolis. I rely on a few readers that have walked that walk to help me. I will have things done wrong, or things that would never be allowed in the military academies. I ask a the readers to suspend disbelief again. Maybe the President will change the rules for a guy like Steve! Many have questioned my statement about having an honest politician or two. I am going out on a limb by trying to make that believable. It's easier to believe a couple kids can negotiate world peace than to believe a politician can be honest, at least for many readers. I hope to get a few chapters ahead before I start posting Book Two.

I acknowledge errors in my prose. I am not one that believes that misuse of words is acceptable. I do not. I am simply too impatient to wait for an editor. My mistakes in punctuation are usually because I really feel I'm right, even when I'm wrong. Go figure. Readers have a right to expect clean stories without those stupid slips like 'was' for 'has' and things like that. My little brain is light years ahead of my fingers. I noticed to my horror that I have the Governor's name wrong in a chapter and no one wrote to tell me about that foolish error. Football is over, so maybe I can write on Sunday afternoons now and then. After the recent Super Bowl, I felt like having Steve skip college and turn pro! He would do much better!

Finally, I truly appreciate everyone that read my story. I thank those that sent comments to me. The reader is having a peek into what my mind thinks about when I'm day dreaming, which is often. I hope everyone takes the time to dream now and then. It beats watching the news!

I was going to give a list of excuses and reasons why I have slowed production on my Lady in Red series, but who cares about that crap? I am working on the last chapter of the first book. Once I post that, I will try to get ahead of the story again before I go into Book Two, which will be great. (At least my mom says it will.) I have no intention of giving up on this story. (Although many have begged me to do just that!) The last chapter of book one will be a long one. It will begin to set up the amazing future these two kids and their friends will experience. I know that some readers have tired of my saga, but there are some that are still with me and I appreciate it very much.

The truth is that I see it as something I will leave for people to read for years to come. They will not be waiting for chapters. They will have the ability to read it all in a sitting, a chapter a day, or skip the whole damn thing. It really doesn't matter very much in the big picture. I just ask those of you that do enjoy the story, take the time to write to me and let me know. It is always appreciated and keeps me trying to entertain the readers. Thanks to all and have a great 2014!