MEET PA’U HANA

Click on the cover of Pa’u Hana to go to Amazon to purchase it!

It was a big writing week for me. My book, Pa’u Hana was published. It’s an awesome feeling to be able to publish your first novel.

I also got Bourbon Mixology online in a Kindle version and an iBooks edition should be out there soon as well. Click here to see the Kindle edition.

The other big news is I’m going to overhaul my newsletter in 2016. Not only will I be moving from a quarterly publication schedule to an every-other-month format I’m going to add some new content. Look for the final newsletter to go out under the old format on December 1 and the new look newsletter to start on February 1, 2016. If you would like to receive my newsletter directly to your email, click here.

Next week I’ll give you an update on Architect of Passion, the other project I’ve been working on.

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LOOKING AHEAD (JUST A BIT)

With my three projects for 2015 finally winding down, I’ve just started to look ahead just a bit. Before we see what I’ll be up to for the balance of 2015, let’s do a quick recap of the trifecta of books I’ve spent this year working on:

Bourbon Mixology                                                                                                                        

Status: Published (Picked up a copy here: Bourbon Mixology)

It’s true, the first one is officially out there having been published earlier this week. This one truly looks special with it immediately selling right out of the gate.

Here’s a look at the cover:

Pa’u Hana 

Status: Final edits being done

My first novel is complete and I have five people reading proof copies. I’ve got notes from two of them, still waiting on the other three to get me their thoughts. This one should be out in October.

Here’s a look at the cover:

Architect of Passion        

Status: Rewrites complete

A few weeks ago I spent 6 hours with Greg Schredder, the subject of this biography going over some changes he requested. I have finished those rewrites and now am awaiting some information from him to complete the rewrite. Once I get that done, I’ve got final editing to complete before getting it published. I’m guessing this will go on through October and we will get this one out in November.

Here’s a look at the cover:

So what’s going on for the rest of 2015?

I’ve got two things I’ll be working on, though they won’t likely be published until 2016. This first is a short story blending of fact and fiction. It’s called Brain Tsunami and its the story of my brother-in-law. This past summer he went on a bike ride and came back home with a gash on his head and no knowledge of what happened. I’m pleased to say he’s fully recovered and doing great, but he still doesn’t know what happened. I’m going to publish a short story with some different, and fun scenarios of what might have happened.

Here’s a look at that cover:

Lastly, I have yet an untitled piece I am probably going to be working on. I have a rum company which has been reaching out to me for a few years now wanting to get into one of my Small Brand America books. With no plans in the works to have a sixth edition of this popular series focusing on small brands competing against much larger competitors, I think I am going to propose to them a book focusing solely on them… their history, the owners and their facility. Should be fun if they like the idea.

That’s it for now!

MARATHON REWRITE SESSION

Yesterday, I was finally able to spend some time talking to Greg Schredder the businessman whom I am collaborating with to write Architect of Passion, his biography. He’s had a rough draft in his hands for a while but busy schedules have kept us from going through his suggested changes.

Yesterday we spent 6 hours and 8 minutes on the phone going over the changes he is suggesting. I don’t think I’ve ever been on the phone with anyone for 6+ hours before!

The changes ran the gamut, from wording he didn’t like, to new stories he remembered as he was reading to clarification to some of the facts. While this is going to equate to some significant work, in the end it’s going to make for a great project.

Greg’s had an unbelievable life. He’s had some of the greatest successes imaginable along with some of the most unbelievable failures. In between he’s rubbed elbows with some of the biggest names from the world of celebrities.

I’ve got to get busy writing because you are going to want to read this!

DESIGNING A COVER – A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK

I’m really going the extra mile to ensure my first novel, Pa’u Hana, is as good as it possible can be. One of the critical areas I’ve been focused on this week has been ensuring the cover really grabs potential readers.

I had conveyed how important, on a personal level, writing my first novel was to the graphic artist I use for my covers. He sent over the following cover as a first attempt capture the spirit of the book:

The first draft cover for Pa’u Hana

I liked it. A lot.

Still, while it conveyed the Hawaiian spirit, it didn’t necessarily tie-into the story. We talked about it and he quickly started sketching a custom piece of artwork on his iPad. A few minutes later he flipped it around and bingo, there it was:

Pa’u Hana rough sketch of final cover

This piece not only captures the spirit of Hawai’i, it pulls the reader into the story from the moment you see it (two guys living on Kaua’i wanting to go to Los Angeles).

While I don’t have the final version back just yet, I know it’s going to be a gem, worthy as the showcase of my first-ever novel!

WHERE ARE WE?

Let’s see where we are at in the three projects I am juggling right now…

Pa’u Hana (my novel) – My graphic artist is working on the cover and an interior graphic which depicts the Island of Kaua’i and many of the spots featured in the book. I thought this would help those not familiar with Kaua’i get their bearings.

Architect of Passion (my biography) – Greg Schredder, the person featured in this bio has read the book. I’m happy to report he loved it. He’s busy making notes on each page to ensure everything presented is 100% factual.

Bourbon Mixology – This book features one bourbon cocktail recipe from 50 different iconic bars. I have all 50 bars identified and more than 1/2 of the chapters completed. I’ve been very busy tracking down those that have committed to get them to send my everything I need to finish their chapter.

All three of these projects are coming along nicely. I don’t care if it’s a big project at work, tasks around the house or writing a book, the last 15% of the project takes the most of your personal effort.

Well, I’m in that mode now… times three!

OTHER PROJECTS

As I’ve got a couple of people reviewing my novel (Pa’u Hana) and biography (Architect of Passion), I was in a bit of a holding pattern on those projects this week. With some down time, I went to work on a couple of other projects I had in various stages of completion.

First of all, I completed and published the second book in my Coffeehousehouse Jazz series. From the highest look, these books are simply lists of great jazz songs. The goal is to help build the ultimate jazz playlist. This little gem has something for everyone. For the biggest jazz fans, it’s a chance to compare and contrast the songs on my list versus yours. Perhaps I’ve uncovered something you never heard of before. For the minor fan, you might recognize the song but didn’t know the artist.For those who don’t like jazz, give these songs a chance, you may convert! The books in the Coffeehouse Jazz series are only 99 cents which is less than the price of downloading a single song so check them out today!

My second project I spent some time on this week was a sequel to my book Bourbon Mixology. This time I’m featuring bourbon cocktails from 101 iconic bars. I’m having great luck getting some of the coolest bars in the United States, and around the globe, sharing their signature bourbon cocktails with me. Can’t wait to get this one out there!

Happy Father’s Day to all of the dads out there!

SLIGHTLY TERRIFYING…

I’m preparing to face something completely different in my writing career very soon, and it’s more than a little daunting…

One of the projects I’ve been writing about on this blog is entitled, Architect of Passion. It’s a biography of Kaua’i businessman Greg Schredder. The first draft of the book is complete and I’m in the process of going through the first round of editing.

Once the first round is complete, I’m going to send a copy to Greg for him to review.

Whoa!

Think about it. I’m going to send a book to a person about that person’s life. I mean it’s his life! He’s been involved in it for well… his entire life!

I, on the other hand, have only known Greg Schredder through a series of phone interviews over the last few months. How can I possibly encapsulate everything he’s done and accomplished over the course of his personal and professional life in 100 pages?

Well, from my perspective, the work is solid and we’ve collaborated to make a great book. It flows. It tells a story and relies on the facts. It hits the highlights and really provides great insight on what makes Greg Schredder.

Still, there is this deep-seeded fear of “What if he doesn’t like it?”

I mean I know we can fix anything in terms of writing, but really all I want him to be is proud of the work. I want to introduce people to Greg Schredder and, yes, I want to sell books, but those goals really pale to the biggest questions hanging out there…

Will he like it?

I guess I’ll know the answer to that one pretty soon!

NOW WHAT?

After more than a week of slacking, I’m back to writing. (Note: “Slacking” is probably a little overstated… my daughter just graduated high school and we’ve been busy getting ready for the big event, we had out of town guests staying at our house, a party with about a 100 people and then we took a family trip to the Wisconsin Dells so I’ve been pretty far detached from writing recently).

Anyway, the first drafts of the two projects I’ve been working on are now complete. It begs the simple question: now what?

For my novel, Pa’u Hana, I’ve got some rewrites to do. It’s based in Kaua’i and I’ve let a few friends who live there take a look at the first draft. They’ve given me some insight on making it a little more authentic. I need to incorporate their changes into the project.

Once I get those rewrites done it’s more editing and then a proof copy. We are moving forward and I’m pleased with the progress.

I’ve also completed Architect of Passion, a biography on businessman Greg Schredder. I’ve been in contact with Greg to let him know it is done. He’s working on photos for the book for me. I’m busy doing some of my own editing before I get him a review copy.

When you get to this point, you really just want to get your work out there. Unfortunately, editing is every bit as important as writing so I need to stay the course and go through the process.

Can’t wait to get these two gems into your hands, though.

Soon.

KAUA’I TWINS

I have two projects I’ve started referring to as twins since they both are centered in Kaua’i. They definitely aren’t identical, so they must be fraternal twins.

My novel has based in Kaua’i since I started sketching it out late last year. The other book, a biography of a Kaua’i businessman, came together when he reached out to me after reading another one of my books. He’s a fascinating guy so I pitched the idea of writing a biography after speaking to him.

The novel is done. I’ve still got some editing to do and there are a few rewrites I want to make to give it a little more of local feel.

I just completed over 8 hours of interviews with the businessman from Kaua’i. It’s going to be a brief bio, about 100ish pages. I’ve already got about 60 of those pages written.

Even though they have nothing related beyond the Kaua’i connection, I’m going to release them on the same day. If one ends up getting done before the other one, I’ll hold it back until both are ready.

You never separate twins!

WHAT’S NEXT?

With the first draft of my novel Pa’u Hana complete I start to wonder, what’s next. Well let’s see…

Well, first of all, Pa’u Hana is far from done. There is the editing of my book. The rewriting. Getting a cover designed. Marketing it.

I’m also working on Architect of Passion, a biography I’m writing on businessman Greg Schredder. That piece is about 50% done. My goal is to get both of these books published at the same time since both highlight Kaua’i (the novel is based there and it also happens to be where Greg Schredder lives).

I’ve also just completed the second of my Coffeehouse Jazz trilogy. I’ve started talking to a guy about a different biography. My third jazz book is 75% done. I want to get another Leo book out there this year. Small Brand America VI begins in November. Oh yeah, I just started a new Bourbon Mixology book earlier this week. Finally, my daughter challenged me to write a science fiction short story on aliens. I’m always game for a challenge.

So, that’s the answer to “What’s next?”