Happy Holidays!

Let’s see…   Ah yes, Title #2…

Though November saw many frequent disruptions and distractions, the new novel is bebopping  right along, thanks to Mr. Coltrane and company.  I say “halfway” because the story feels like it’s around that point.  The practical and common writer’s maxim is, “don’t worry about the length, just write it until the story’s done.”  How true!

Okay, I can’t do the holidays without some sort of “gift”, so here -

If you can figure out this out, you’ll have an excellent head start on my next book.
In other news,  I am currently researching marketing and distribution alternatives for Dust.  If you’ve visited my Facebook fan site, you may be aware of my apprehensions with electronic copies.  I have not given up on this possibility,  but I will be researching security ramifications.
Have a Safe Holidays and See You Next Year!

That Title #2 Thing

I am happy to report the manuscript for Title #2 is roughly at the one-third mark and progressing nicely.  There’s not much else to report.  Mr. Taylor is writing!
Okay, well there is this other thing…

I have to admit to a certain vice in which I’ve become addicted to lately – purposely getting lost in the late 60’s/early 70’s.  With the various types of diligence utilized in the past few months, I’ve concluded there is absolutely no better method of time travel than visiting your old local newspaper.  Check this link out: RETURN TO 1970

On page 3-A (Google page 4) at the extreme bottom-right is an article concerning a local trial for none other than Janis Joplin.  After being charged for lewd conduct and language at a Tampa concert, her lawyer dies from a crash on a rural Georgia highway.  Whoa!

Now fly to page 4-C (Google page 22) and scroll down.  New Dodge Challengers for $2,680.  Okay, so it was 1970.  In today’s dollars it’s probably around the $35,000 they’re asking for the modern version, right?  No!
$2,680 in 1970 dollars adjusted for inflation would equal about $14,800 today.  And there was my epiphany…  How did everything get so bloody expensive?

What is the best music for writing?
I’ve been experimenting with listening to various musical forms while writing over the past month.  Not surprisingly, most pieces with any lyrical content proved somewhat distracting.  So, what ended up motoring my keystrokes along at their fastest pace?
(drum roll…)  Bebop.  Particularly John Coltrane’s Blue Train – a perfect background for scrawling a period piece.  Now for that martini…

Month 10

Wow.  I allowed a full week to pass before giving everyone a monthly update!  With the exception of tidying up one section of an interview, “Title #2″ (as it is provisionally called until submission of copyright) is well underway with a tentative completion date late February, 2010.  Many of you have asked about Dust and when a second book will appear.  Unfortunately, Title #2 and Title #3 must take precedent due to the fact that many of the interviewees and content-related parties are aged.  A few are also in poor health.  Even if a publishing company gave me a really good reason <g> to drop the current projects and begin another Dust installment, I would feel compelled to decline.

Don’t forget to visit the Facebook link on the right (old link - disregard!).  In addition to viewing regular updates, check out the “Discussions” tab.  Please feel free to join in!

More?

Two more stories are currently in the diligence stages.  The first will be a fictional take based on a true story in the upper echelon drug industry porting through Miami.  If you guessed during the 80’s, you’re the big winner!  The second will be another crime novel, also based on a true tragedy from the 1970’s right here in Tampa.  Murder, extortion, mafia, federal investigations, “suicides” and  heroes.  This one must be told!

A non-fiction selection may also be down the road (pardon the pun) concerning a new direction in driving.  This would be another culmination in years of statistical research and evaluation.  The results may blow your mind.