I wrote another book!

After I had released “The Easter Sparrows” I stated that would probably be my last book. The key word there was ‘probably’. 🙂

Up to that point I had written Children in the Outdoors, Volume I, II and III followed by Nature’s Christmas Story.

An Easter story would round things up nicely or so I thought. Five books would be quite an accomplishment don’t you think?

Then there were those other nine holiday stories that I had labored over, and they sat there in their manuscript form whispering to me, “publish me, publish me!”   🙂

Since I was self- publishing my books, nine holiday stories in color would have been very expensive, I convinced my very talented artist Janine that she could produce a nine- story holiday book in black and white.

So along came book #six titled “Holiday Adventures for Kids”.

Well, most certainly my writing career would now be complete I thought.

And then I went to a craft fair in the little town of Rosholt, South Dakota where I met an enthusiastic Christian lady named Prudence who reminded me that there was a need for good Advent stories for children.

If you have ever tried selling your wares at a craft fair, you quickly discover there is a lot of down time. Time to people watch and time to develop a plot for a new Advent story.

That craft fair fortunately had more down time than usual so by the end of the evening I had developed a plot for my next children’s book, The First Advent! 🙂

So much for ending my children’s book writing career. In just several months it was time to market “The First Advent”. 🙂

Certainly, an Advent story would be the perfect book to end one’s career with and I was content with that possibility.

Until that day when I accidentally encountered my friend and talented artist Janine, and you’ll never guess what the first words out of her mouth were!

“Mike, I’m ready to illustrate another book!” she said.

Never use those words on an author, whether active or retired it doesn’t matter.

Instantly I was ready to produce another book. If only I had an idea for a plot.

Any author worth their salt as a writer has a few manuscripts covered with dust and discarded on an office shelf somewhere.

“Nature’s Rhyming Riddles” popped into my head in a flash. Ten years previously I had experimented with writing Dr. Seuss style rhymes.

In fact, I had two rhyming manuscripts. Along with “Nature’s Rhyming Riddles” there was a second manuscript titled “Say That Again”.

Rushing home, I searched through my office and quickly located the rhyming manuscripts.

Janine liked them both and after some discussion we decided “Nature’s Rhyming Riddles” would be the next children’s book.

But of course, that would be the ‘Amen’ book, the last hurrah!

I would have to live without producing a best seller, but I could do that. The joy of writing the eight children’s books was gratifying enough.

So “Nature’s Rhyming Riddles” became my eighth book. But it did not take long to discover I had made a poor selection of publishers.

The book sold more copies on Amazon than any of my past book titles. Good news, right?

Not good news when to date I have never received any royalties from the publisher plus future books I ordered from them were never delivered.

Note to self, do a more thorough job checking out the credentials of a potential publisher! 🙁

So, a writing career that had been an exciting and fun filled experience had hit a bump in the road.

I couldn’t end my writing career sitting in the middle of a bump now, could I?

I spent several frustrating months attempting to rectify the situation but when that went nowhere, I decided to pick myself up out of my bump and give my artist Janine a call.

We discussed the possibility of turning the manuscript, Say That Again, into book number nine.

At least four publishers were interested in the manuscript and made offers to publish Say That Again. Of the four offers I was impressed by a publishing house that had been publishing children’s books for over 100 years and in the end, I choose them to produce book number nine. 🙂

The book’s title came into question, however. One day my wife, Kathie, was on the phone visiting with her friend.

Her friend inquired, “What’s the title of Mike’s new book?”

Kathie replied, “Say That Again”.

Her friend replied, “What’s the title of Mike’s new book?”

Replying more forcefully, Kathie said, “Say That Again”!

Her friend responded, “Kathie, I think you need hearing aids!”

The confusion was finally cleared up and to this day laughter erupts as the incident is recalled. 🙂

So, book marketing is once again a top priority in my life.

Last week I received the first copy to be printed. It is a beauty!

Twenty-four complementary copies followed and a day later a box of two hundred “Say That Again” books were on my doorstep.

What’s the book about you ask?

There will be a book signing in the Wheaton Public Library sometime in September. Stop in and I’ll tell you about it. 🙂

Actually, I can tell you one more thing that will hint as to the book’s contents. “Say That Again” has a subtitle that reads, Words With Double Meanings In Nature.

I just can’t seem to get that biology ‘stuff’ out of my system! 🙂

Until next time.

P.S. This will be my last book! (Probably)     🙂