I made a previous post about my soon-to-be published novel, "Between the Whistle and the Gun". Finally, after fifteen years it's done. The final publication steps took place over the past few days, it's now awaiting the publishers approval. Which is more a formality at this point than anything. Next week, it will be live (on sale) on Amazon, both in paperback and as an e-book. At the point it becomes available for sale, I'll post a link in my blog.
The 'fifteen years' is not a misprint. I started this book in 2011, shortly after finishing my first novel "The El Morro Connection." It was an on and off endeavor for a number of years, but since retiring in 2024 it became a full time job. The best job I've ever had, by the way and the boss is great. So many hours, so many late nights, so much research, and I don't regret a minute of it. Not everyone was cut out to be a writer, it's a lonely job. But for me it has been the most gratifying experience of my life. Writing the first novel was wonderful, it was fun. Finishing the second one was enriching, rewarding on a personal and professional level. I'm proud of it. If you read it, I'm quite sure you will understand why.
The first novel was a thriller, simply because I enjoy reading the genre so much. I love the excitement, the suspense. This one is historical fiction. That's quite an arc, but let me explain. My wife is an American Indian. Listening to the stories of her grandparents experiences and the stories her grandmother told her of her parents and grandparents, was fascinating. As I listened to the many stories I knew that this could be the makings of a hard-to-put-down book. It is based on actual people, places and events from history. Some of the characters are based on some of her ancestors. Some of the characters are based on real people in American history. Most of the events are fictional. Put it all together and you have one helluva story.
I wrote my first novel in about a year. Every bit of it came from my imagination. "Between the Whistle and the Gun" came from my imagination and a lot of historical, factual information. The amount of research was extensive, and time consuming. Much more-so than I ever imagined it would be. Through the fifteen years there were countless opportunities and temptations to give it up and get on with life. It would have been so easy. But I guess I was meant to be a writer. Because I kept at it. At some point, I have no idea when that was, I decided that giving up was not an option. This effort had a purpose. This novel was going to make it to the shelf, barring nothing less than my own demise. I'm happy to say it made it to the shelf, and I'm still vertical. Both of which are major accomplishments.
"Between the Whistle and the Gun" will be available on Amazon sometime next week. If you are a reader, and I know most of you are, please check it out. You won't be disappointed...
