A number of people have been asking me why I haven't finished "that book" yet.
It's a question writers get a lot, often from kindhearted folks who (a) think it's cool that you're a writer but don't really understand it, (b) think it's pretty much a waste of time that you're a writer but are too polite to say so, or (c) think it's cool that you're a writer, kind of DO understand it, but can't for the life of them remember exactly what book you're working on even though you had a long discussion with them about it just last week. Sorry. I've been watching too much John Oliver, lately. :) My current WIP (that's Work in Progress in author lingo) is titled "The New Americans" but, for all intents and purposes, I just call it "Dad's Book." This is because it's based on an outline that my father recorded onto a series of cassette tapes shortly before he passed away back in 1992. If that intrigues you, I suggest you check out the podcast that Helene and I did on the subject. It's called "Legacy: The Novel Writing Experience." It's free, and you can find it pretty much anywhere podcasts can be found. I made a big fuss earlier this year, posting my rising word count almost daily on social media as I struggled to finish what is shaping up to be the hardest writing project of my life. At the time, I got tons of encouragement. Thanks for that, by the way. Now, I'm more than halfway through the second draft. After this is done, there'll be a third draft, and then likely a fourth. At that point, I'll hand it off to my "First Read," who is my wife, Helene. Following her edits, which can be both extensive and incredibly useful, there'll be a fifth and sixth draft. After the sixth draft, I'll be sending it out to prospective agents and editors. Welcome to my world! :) Editing isn't more or less difficult that writing the first draft; it's just different. You have to look at your own work with as critical an eye as possible, reword and often rethink huge passages. Sometimes you add characters, sometimes you take them away. Sometimes who chapters need to be rewritten. By the end of the second draft, the book can be substantially longer or substantially shorter. It's a lengthy, often tedious process that is 100% absolutely undeniably VITAL if you want your work to shine. And, perhaps more than any book I've ever written, I want "The New Americans" to shine, if only for my dad's sake. So, today, tomorrow, and every day for the foreseeable future, I'll be diving again into the world of my three Sicilian brothers who become reluctant immigrant to the US in 1915. This is a story about real people doing real things and living real lives. There's not a zombie, spaceship, or superhero is sight! Oh, and to answer the original query: Right now, I foresee handing the book off to Helene before the end of the year. But, no, that's NOT when the book will be "finished." When you're a writer, nothing's "finished" until it's sitting on a bookstore shelf. Until then, WIP is the order of the day! :)
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Haven't posted in a while. This isn't laziness on my part. My daughter just gave birth to my first grandchild and I'm afraid it's been a little ... distracting. :)
Well, I'm back now, and I have some exciting news! I'm pleased and proud to announce that the first Undertakers book, "Rise of the Corpses," has been highlighted in Ezvid's "11 Books with Inventive Takes on the Zombie Genre" Wiki! I encourage you all you to check out the link. There's even a cleverly made video that summarizes the genre overall and each book in particular, including mine. Promotion is difficult even for established authors, and the hunt for new ways to do it never stops. I'm working on a new one right now, as a matter of fact, the details of which I'll share in the near future. In the meantime, however, it's nice when some solid attention from a solid site comes my way. My gratitude goes out to the Caroline Eliasson and the other good folks at Ezvid Wiki! I'm a working writing, and I'll gladly and gratefully take all the help I can get! More later. I'm getting back on track with my other promotional efforts. And I'm writing. Always writing. Yeah, I know. A lot of you have been doing this for years. But, while I've been reviewed myself plenty of times, I've never had the confidence to publicly critique another author's work. As of the past week, that's changed.
I read A LOT, and so I have a whole library of books in my head about which I have strong opinions, either positive or negative. So, each morning, I've started logging into Goodreads and reviewing one of them, more or less at random. This morning, I submitted a review of "Hunger," by Jackie Morse Kessler. This short but wonderful novel isn't new. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt back in 2010, it's the first in a series of four YA fantasies that center around teenagers who find each find themselves declared one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. As I point out in the review, Jackie and I are very old friends, and I first read this fine book when it was originally published. I loved it then and I love it now. The only thing that's changed is that this time I've written a review. Here it is, by the way: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2852865891. I going to be completely honest here, folks. These reviews are part of a promotional "new leaf" that I'm trying to turn over now that I'm launching into the new and somewhat intimidating world of self-publication. It's only one leg of a many-legged stool, upon which I'm hoping to eventually launched "Dragons." I don't know what'll come of it. But, that said, I'm enjoying it more than I thought I would. Reviewing, I mean. Old dog, new trick. Who says you can't teach us? Sorry I haven't posted in a while. There's a lot going on!
I've finished a new science fiction young adult novel that I'm very excited about. DRAGONS is set a century in the future, in an age when space travel has been privatized and mankind has extended out to colonies on Mars, many of the larger asteroids, and even a Jovian moon. It tells the story of eighteen-year-old Andy Draco, who awakens to find himself a prisoner in a peculiar prison, held by nameless and faceless kidnappers who are making seemingly impossible demands of him. But Andy is more than he appears - much more. He's the keeper of a secret that's thousands of years old, a secret that much never be shared with anyone, no matter what! It's also a secret that his kidnappers are determined to get him to reveal ... by hook or by crook. But they should be careful what they wish for. If you're intrigued, then stay-tuned. DRAGONS will be seeing publication before the end of 2019! DRAGONS will be the first book ever published by Allegory Publications, Ltd., which is the company behind Allegory, the Online Magazine of Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Horror (www.allegoryezine.com). In preparation for its launch, over the next several months I'm going to be executing a book promotion plan. This plan is slowly taking shape, as indicated by the photo of my Project Wall, which I took just this morning. It's going to involve social media, Goodreads, and blog sites with which I'm acquainted. I've never attempted anything quite this time before. I'm more or less on my own on this one. No editor. No agent. Just a great book, if I do say so myself, and time and drive enough to make something happen with it. The publishing world is changing, and authors need to do more than just submit their work and hope and pray for a sale. These are my first steps down a brand new path. It's scary, but it's also exciting, and I can't wait to see where it takes me. Want to come along? Writing the book is only the beginning.
Don't get me wrong. Finishing a novel, any novel, is an achievement unto itself. Most people I meet who "want to be writers" don't understand a single fundamental truth: If you want to be a writer, you write; there is no other requirement. But the reality is that your average "would-be writer" isn't a writer so much as a well-meaning soul who thinks it would be cool to be a writer. So I have nothing but admiration for anyone with the moxie to sit down, write the first draft, edit the second, third, fourth, fifth, etc. drafts and then submit the final product (if there is such a thing) for publication. But even that is only the beginning. Great! So, you've got a book on Amazon. Now what? How do you draw attention to it, garner attention, garner reviews, garner sales. Here's the short answer: Any way you can think of. Lately, I've found myself in the perhaps unenviable position of trying to promote a book that was not published through "traditional channels," i.e. a publishing house. My newest novel, TORQ, of which I am blisteringly proud, was published in partnership with my literary agency, which opened its own publishing arm. That's great, and it makes for an interesting alternative to the usual and often frustrating business model of small royalty percentages. But, it's a method that's also in its infancy, and often leaves the writer, me, with the unenviable task of handling 100% of the promotion myself. It's been slow going. I started by setting up my own store, on which I sell signed copies of all my published novels, TORQ included. You can find it by clicking the BUY BOOKS! link at the top of this page. It's actually working out surprisingly well, though I'm still ironing out the wrinkles. From there I've expanded my social media presence on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. I'm currently working on a long novel and, as a means of both self-motivation and, yes, self-promotion, I've been posting daily (or nearly so) word counts. This keeps me honest from a writing perspective and, I hope, helps generate a little buzz about this project and my writing in general. Jury's out on that one. I've been trying to entice book bloggers to read and review TORQ. So far, there have been some takers, but the turn-around on this can be lengthy as these are people and people have reading lists and reading takes time. So, on that score, I am both grateful and patient. For years now, I've been doing school visits to promote my Undertakers Series. I'm planning a new push for the Fall, 2019 to promote TORQ. I'd hoped to do one in the Spring, but life is getting in way. Anyway, that's what I've been up to from a promotional standpoint. I'd be interested to hear from some of you. What ideas have you tried, successfully or otherwise, to attract attention and interest readers? Writing is a lonely business, but that doesn't mean we're alone. So speak up and maybe we can learn from each other. And, in the meantime, keep writing! Do you read a lot of books? Do you have a favorite author? Have you ever left a review on Amazon?
If the answer to the first two questions in "yes" and the last "no," then shame on you. Okay, maybe "shame" is too strong a word. But, honestly people, do you have any idea how important those reviews are? I'm a working writer in 2019. I struggle along in a world where the traditional publishing industry is shrinking more and more. There are now only perhaps five major publishing houses and a plethora of indies who do great work but, by and large, don't have the marketing and distribution clout necessary to compete with the likes of Random House. Writers like me aren't bestsellers, at least not yet, and we sure as heck aren't rich or particularly famous. We write for the love of it, the passion of it, because storytelling to us is as natural and necessary as breathing. We write in the hopes of being read, acknowledged, appreciated. We write to entertain, inform, inspire. We are poets and novelists and essayists and journalists. We are ... and this is a word that most writers tend to shy away from ... artists, many of us of the starving variety. Reviews, to us, are about more than vanity, more than bragging rights. They are a professional necessity. Reviews attract readers, who then provide more reviews, and so on. They are the gasoline in the engine of "buzz," and they are the vital corner piece of every writer's marketing puzzle. Dig those metaphors! So I'm blogging today to ask, beg even, that each and every one of you go on Amazon and write a review TODAY. Right now. It doesn't take more than few minutes, it costs nothing, and it matters. So, if you know a writer, or simply appreciate one, spare them just the tiny bit of time and effort it takes to tell them that. It means more than you can possibly imagine. Sorry I haven't blogged in a while.
Blame some of it on the holidays; there's always so much to do this time of year. But blame the rest of it on the writing. I'm close to 133,000 words on my father's novel and it's fixing to be the longest book I've written in many a year. We still have no title for it. Helene and I have been tossing around some ideas but, so far, none of them has hit the wall and stuck (not sure about that metaphor). For those of you who both care and are not yet aware, it's the story of three Sicilian brothers who are forced by circumstances to emigrate to America in 1915, and the different lives they live in their efforts to find their places in a new world. If you're itching to know more, I suggest you give our podcast a try! It's called "Legacy - A Novel Writing Experience." It's kind of an author's tutorial told through the "lens" of Dad's book. You can find it wherever podcasts may be had (iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn, and others) and it doesn't cost a dime. Anyhow, at this point I think I'm somewhere about 60% of my way through the first draft. After this, of course, the book will need a TON of editing, so don't expect to it on the shelf all that soon. That said, I'm loving the story and I've become very attached to my father's characters and their adventures. I know this may sound a bit crazy given that I'm the guy writing the book, but I honestly can't wait to see how it ends! That's all for now. Back to work... Best, Ty I'm pleased and proud to announce that Volume 34/61 of Allegory hit the net on November 1st! This issue features twelve fantastic, speculative short stories authors from around the world. One of the questions I get most often regards our Volume Number. This issue is 34/61. But what does that notation mean? Well, for what I'm sure won't be the last time, here's the answer: Allegory started like in June, 1998 as Peridot Books. The original name was something of a leftover. You see, I already owned the domain, which I'd bought with the intention of opening an online rare bookstore. Well, the bookstore idea went south ... but when the idea later occurred to me to create an e-zine, Peridot Books, while perhaps not the most descriptive name in the world, seemed close enough to suffice. And so it all started. Eventually, however, I realized a name change was mandatory. So, after a lot of thinking and rethinking, I settled on Allegory and, in 2006, the name of the e-zine was officially changed. The second half of our Volume Number, "61," is the number of this issue since our e-zine began its life as Peridot Books. The first half, "34," is the number of this issue since the name change. It's that simple! All this tedious history aside, I really do hope you'll give Allegory a look! In twenty years, we've gone from a tiny publication that no one had ever heard of to a "Grand Old Lady of the Internet," with a staff of eight dedicated volunteers (myself included), and 65,000 unique visitors a year. You'll find us here: www.allegoryezine.com. Hope to see you there! - Ty Announcing the Release of TORQ by Yours Truly!There is no feeling in the world like holding your own book in your hands. Pictured here (not my best photographic work, I know) is a copy of the trade paperback of TORQ, along with both sides of the bookmarks I've had made to help promote it! To say I'm excited does begin to capture it! This book represents a new and unique publishing experiment for me. Rather than going the traditional route, TORQ has been published directly by my agency, Scovil Galen Ghosh of New York, though their new publishing arm, Swallow's End Publishing. The actual printing and distribution is entirely through Amazon's White Glove Program. This allows us to keep much more creative control over the book's production. The cover art, for instance, is my own design and I have to admit I'm happier with it than I've been with a cover in a while! But enough about the boring publishing details. What's TORQ even ABOUT? I think I'll let Amazon answer that: Welcome to the Machine, an enormous, ancient, broken device that has become home to a million souls. After a hundred generations spent without doors or windows, all knowledge of the outside world, if any, is lost. Today, society is split between the all-powerful Upperfolk, who rule, and the helpless Lowerfolk, who work, suffer, and die. Helpless, that is, except for Torq, the Lowers Champion. Concealed behind his golden mask and armor, Torq alone fights for justice and freedom. Until the day when sixteen-year-old Rand Roberts, the poorest of the poor, witnesses his hero's demise and subsequently discovers Torq's disillusioning and heartbreaking secret. Now, Rand decides, it's time for the Machine to have a new Torq. A better Torq. A real Torq. So, donning the armor himself, he and his best friend Lucy form an unlikely alliance with a courageous uppergirl and a mysterious little boy called No Name. Together, the four of them set out against overwhelming odds to do the impossible - free the people of the Machine. To accomplish this, they must face dangers, monsters, and madmen, and ultimately reveal ancient truths that will shake the very foundation of their world. Let the revolution begin... If you're intrigued, there's only one way to find out more! Paperback Edition: https://www.amazon.com/Torq-Ty-Drago/dp/0985020547 Kindle Edition: https://www.amazon.com/Torq-Ty-Drago-ebook/dp/B07J5WPDBP Listen, I may be retired but that doesn't mean I sit around watching I Love Lucy reruns and missing the days when I was relevant. When people ask me what I do for a living, I usually reply, "I'm a writer." That works most of the time. But, if I'm filling out an "official" form, more often than not I have to check the "Retired" box under "Occupation." Then the person reviewing the form looks at it, looks up at me, and says one of two things. Either it's "You look young to be retired" or "Good for you. I wish I could stop working."
So, let's get this straight right now. I'm retired from a 30+ year career in Corporate America. I did not "stop working!" I write at least 1,500 words a day, primarily on my new novel. I recently topped 80,000 words and I'm still going strong. I'm also working with my wife Helene on our amazing podcast, "Legacy - A Novel Writing Experience," putting out a new episode every two weeks. I also work twice at week for The Knight School, a company that partners with schools to teach chess to kids in a new and exciting way. I also teach a writing class at a local adult school. I also visit middle schools throughout the area, conducting writing workshops and giving presentations on an author's life. I also manage a thriving writing career, with a new book called "TORQ" coming out in just a few weeks. I also manage, edit, and publish Allegory (www.allegoryezine.com), a well-respected online magazine that, for the past twenty years, has published quality short fiction by new and established authors from around the world. Oh, and I occasionally play Candy Crush. Shut up. The point is that, and Helene (who is also retired) will back up on this, I'm busier now than I was when I worked a "day job." The difference is that, for the first time in my life, I'm working exclusively at what I love. And that, my friends, is the real blessing of retirement. You don't stop working, at least not if you're smart about it. I'd shrivel up and die if I simply sat on the couch and watched television all day. No, for me at least, retirement means redirecting your energies toward the projects you really care about. My life has never been busier, more exciting, or more relevant than it is right now. That said ... yes, I do look too young to be retired! |
Who is Ty Drago?I'm a husband, father, published novelist, and editor/publisher with 20 years experience in the modern publishing arena. Archives
April 2024
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