It's been a while, I know. Summer appeared rather abruptly, offering its various distractions. Plus, I've been trying to catch up on my reading, which has been lovely, to be honest. I'm getting ready to head east for a week or so, first to visit family and then to travel to New York City for ThrillerFest, as well as a reading event at the New York Center for Independent Publishing.
The NYCIP event will be Wednesday, July 11. It's called LITERARY CAGE MATCH: WHO’S THE MOST CHILLING THRILLER WRITER: CHICAGO NEWSHOUND, NEW YORK EDITOR, OREGON ARTIST? I'm the Oregon Artist, and I'll be reading along with Jason Pinter and Shane Gericke, two writers you'll want to pay attention to if you haven't already. Jason's debut thriller, The Mark, just came out and it's terrific. Shane debuted with the award-winning Blown Away, and his new novel, Cut to the Bone, was just released to great reviews. Learn more about the event here.
At long last, I've last settled on the title for my second novel. It's to be Chasing Smoke. I've delivered the final draft to my agent, and she's doing the agenty stuff she does. Once I know something, I'll be sure to wave my arms and yell. You can read an early draft of chapter one here, though I have to admit the final draft is considerably different, having changed in the interim at least as many times as I changed the title.
For the record, the titles I've considered are, in chronological order: Death with Dignity, The Five Dead Men, Skin, Rat, Oblivion of Hummingbirds, Tin Man, and Smoking Women, before settling on Chasing Smoke. The two finalists were Oblivion of Hummingbirds and Chasing Smoke, and in some ways I like Oblivion a little better of the two. Both work thematically, but in the end I have a feeling Chasing Smoke will be more effective in the marketplace.
Meanwhile, I've begun work on my next novel, tentatively titled The Paths of the Dead—though heaven knows how many times it will change before it's through. It's still very much in the development stage, so I don't want to say very much about it. As in Chasing Smoke, Skin Kadash returns, but a number of new characters will join him, including a new antagonist who I think will make Jake of Lost Dog seem like an Eagle Scout.
That's all the news for now. I'll be posting from New York at InkSpot next Thursday, and at Killer year after I return from New York.
4 comments:
I think I'm really going to like this Skin Kadash fellow...
Very nice start to "Smoking Hummingbirds" or is that "Chasing Oblivion." I suck at titles....
haha...
i finished Lost Dog last night... thanks for the sore neck you caused me because i could not put it down!
i liked the characters in Lost Dog and i am happy to see from your blog that Skin is coming back in your next novel (though i would love to see what Peter & Ruby Jane are up to...and i hope that Mulvaney and Owen make future appearances).
i met you in Phoenix as you passed through a month or two ago at Barnes & Noble. you were giving away a galley copy to the store. i've since ordered copies for our stock and will start recommending it today... sorry for the delay, as you can appreciate...there are a lot of books to read and i have many stacked around my place and on lists that i've made etc.
I enjoyed your book and look forward to reading your next one when released.
good luck (not that you need it),
Tv
I'm sorry about the neck! If you get up to Portland anytime, let me know. I know I really good massage therapist!
And thank you! I'm so thrilled you enjoyed my little pup. No worries on the delay -- I have that big stack of books myself. I'm always behind!
For the record, Ruby Jane, Mulvaney and Owen will be back in Chasing Smoke, and Peter plays a small role -- though I have plans for him in a future book.
Thanks again!
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