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I wrote up a blog post while working on the most recent draft of Bottom of the World. For this draft, I had the e-book formatting on my mind and wondered if it would be possible to both reformat and revise at the same time. Was it possible? Read the post....

Posted a new short story over in the Stories section. Check it out if you need a little distraction. How to Buy a Shovel is sort of a dark comedy or dark, dark tragedy depending on your mindset, I guess. It wonders just how far you'd go if you had the ways and means to start over and the guts to go through with it. Could you do it? How? Would it go according to plan? Does it ever? Read the story....

Now that Shaking the Tree is out there, I'm anxious to dive back in and get the second book (it's a trilogy in my head) revised and formatted. It's already been through two drafts and countless piecemeal rewrites. I plan to go over it one more time for a final polish and clean up (it's amazing what continuity issues and details you screw up while you're neck deep in writing) and get an e-book versin up by spring. That's the plan at least.

Now that I've conquered the Amazon's digital text platform and the book is up and live, I'm turning my attention to the other e-book formats. So if you have a Nook, an iPad, a Sony or just really like Google Books, it's coming. Just need to find some more time. If you missed my cross-post from my personal blog, I wrote up some thoughts and helpful links on using DTP and publishing to the Kindle.

While it's not as easy as they (the ubiquitous they) make it sound, it's not terribly difficult either. It doesn't require a ton of coding skills, though being comfortable with HTML certainly helps. What it certainly does require is patience. A whole lot of patience to get the kindle file looking nice and professional to not feel guilty charging for it. I post a quick piece on my personal blog about the experience and what tips, tricks and links helped the most. Read More

By the time you read this, my novel, Shaking the Tree, should be up and live at Amazon for the Kindle. Priced at a measely 99 cents, it's less than a copy of coffee and a whole lot more fun and bloody. Unless you have an ulcer, I guess. Than maybe drinking coffee isn't such a good idea. Shaking the Tree is a thriller and, if I can give the elevator speech, tells the story of Max, a recently released ex-con trying to start over. He's doing a pretty good job until his roommate shows up with a locked briefcase, a body ends up in a tree and suddenly lots of people want their hands on that briefcase. It doesn't end well for everyone. Or even most. I posted the prologue, if you want to try a little sample. Or you can download the first chapter via Amazon. Or better yet, spare some pocket change and buy the Kindle version (via US or UK).

Lookie here. Getting to the New Year's Resolution almost two weeks early. How's that for overachieving? Here's the new site dedicated solely to my scribbling. Hope you like it. I think the new digs are going to work just fine. The monthly payments are manageable. Neighbors seem nice. All the appliances are working. Ok, I'm beating this analogy up. New site, new design. Hope you dig it as much as I do. Now back to work on actual writing...

Added a new short story for your reading pleasure over in the Stories section. It's becoming a pseudo tradition in our house for me to write a Halloween themed or at least scary story to read after the Trick-or-Treaters have come and gone. The Dark Man was written a few years ago and I still like it enough to share. Nothing particularly new or original, but hopefully a story well done enough to enjoy and maybe prick up a few goose bumps. Read on, if you dare!

I think it's time. How do I know? I've lost all perspective on the manuscript and actively loathe it. As good an indicator as any that I've spent way too much time with it and it's best for all involved if we go our separate ways. For me, it's on to the next book. For the manuscript, it's on to e-book conversion. Look for the Kindle version early next year (if all goes well).