Ed,
Below is really an email I wrote you about why I could NOT write a new books piece. Seems to me it turned out to be a new books piece. I've attached the cover.
Every time I start a new books piece about this is sounds like I'm tooting my own horn. I mean, I have to say how every book I've ever sold--all 540+--has been sold on the basis of an outline. I'd never written a book on spec and then tried to sell it--until this one.
I decided one day just to see if I could do it. Write a book I didn't KNOW I was going to get paid for. It took a while, because I had to fit it in between the books I WAS getting paid to write. It also took time because it's the hardest thing I've ever tried to do. So hard that the book didn't come out the way I wanted. I was trying to write what would be a big successful thriller. What I got was a pretty good mystery novel about a father and son coming to terms with their relationship while they both work to keep the father alive.
I put the book in a drawer. It wasn't so different from everything else I'd done. It was in a drawer for years until I made contact with John C. Boland, a writer I knew in the 80's. In 2009 John was nominated for a Shamus Award for Best Short Story. He had also been nominated in the same category in 1984. I emailed him to say congrats on the two noms so far apart. We got to talking and he mentioned that he was starting Perfect Crime Books. Did I have anything I wouldn't mind letting a small press publish? We made a deal for a short story collection, THE GUILT EDGE. And then I said, "Well, I have this book . . ."
John turned out to not only be a good writer and a new publisher, but a damned good editor, as well. And the rest, as they say . . .
RJR
------------------------Art Linkletter
Last night I talked about how I never really cared for Art Linkletter. I was being hypocritical. I once lashed out at Jeffrey Wells for doing the same thing about Bob Clark when Bob and his son were killed in car crash. Wells didn't even wait twenty-four hours. I waited a few days but the same lesson pertains. Who really gives a shitwhat Wells' opinion--or mine?
Heck, Ed, I care what you think. Even when I don't agree I find your opinions reasoned and thoughtful. And what's a blog for if not for spouting our personal beliefs? I say keep 'em coming.
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth, I didn't find your comments on Linkletter out of line, either...he was a public figure, and, as you note, he eventually retracted much of his more unhealthy assertions.
ReplyDeleteHope this doesn't sound to cold but I was amazed that Linkletter was still alive. I'm 43 and he was gone and retired most of my life. All I knew about him was that he heartily endorsed Life -- the game. (And that game is fixed, you can't win unless you, get married, have kids and buy a lot of insurance.)
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