The novel: MIST. A gentle story, a heartwarming story. A story for all to enjoy.
There is a new picture on the views page... the last one. It is the book cover for the new book; a brief description follows:
The Castle Rock Legend was completed on April 21st. and the manuscript sent to Tate Publishing. The publisher's release date was January 7, 2014. It also is a clean, no sex no cuss-word adventure story. It is based on legend that was born in Wyoming 1850s near the then village of Green River. The author was employed in that area in the early 1980s. During that period of time, the author heard of the legend from two different individuals, neither of whom knew the other. This does give some authenticity to the legend. It is a tale of banditry; stage coach and lastly train robberies until the gang was caught holed up in their cave hideaway. The entrance to the cave was dynamited closed by a group of fed-up local citizen vigilantes, trapping the bandits inside. If this legend were true, it would be of the real hole-in-the wall bandit gang of Wyoming. The 'home' of the famous 'Butch Cassidy Hole-in-the-Wall' gang was actually situated in an open valley mostly ringed by low hills a few miles southwest of KayCee, Wyoming. No 'Hole' to that; that area was accessed by a shallow narrow canyon on the western edge of the valley. Well, the author is deeply involved in making this Green River rendition of the Castle Rock Legend true... or not. That's what authors do, right?
The completion of MIST came in December of 2009. The search for a publishing agent began. This required weeks of attempts with absolutely no results. Finally, attempts were made directly to publishers. After several weeks of this search, a publisher was found and a contract was signed. Then the author was informed that the entire manuscript needed a complete overhaul. The publisher required a maximum of 125,000 words. The original first draft of mist was 146,000. So editing was necessary but the plot could not be altered. The author went back to 'square one' and finally managed to reduce the manuscript to the required 125,000 words without alteration of the story.
By the time the revision of the manuscript was completed, it was early in the fall of 2010. Choices of print style and size had to be made, quality of paper, content of back cover... all this preparation seemed endless.
MIST finally went into the printing stage and was completed released December 6, 2010.
In May of 2012, the author was notified that MIST is listed at roxy*media*uk at US $31.46 in England with a positive feedback of 99.3% and also at Collins Booksellers at US $37.95 in Australia.
The editing of the newest book, THE CASTLE ROCK LEGEND was easier than MIST; the author's experience with MIST helped considerably in the preparation of LEGEND for publishing.
LEGEND's quality and printing is the same as MIST; that saved considerable time by eleiminating 'back and forth' mailings between the publisher and the author. The author was able to avoid literary traps in LEGEND that previously created editing problems with MIST.
Preparation of a third book is in progress. Several years ago, the author wrote over ninety non-fiction short stories that were published in California with the exception of two that were published nationally. The update of the best of those shortstories is in progress from the urging of the retired Dean of South Plains College, Nathan Tubb and the current owner-publisher-editor of the Levelland News-Press, Stephen Henry. The title of this non-fiction short story collection is scheduled to be "The Book: Counting to One Hundred" from the name of the very first story the author wrote. It will also be published by Tate.
The updated and edited manuscript for 'The Book' was turned in to the publisher on December 7, 2014.This collection of short stories are in the same vein of MIST and LEGEND: No sex, no cuss words, thanks to the influence and teachings of the Engish literature instructor of many years at Seagraves, Texas High School, the late Mrs.Eunice Holt.
The approved and edited manuscript has been sent to Tate on March 27th. Hopefully the release date will be by May 1. There is a total of sixty short stories in the collection ranging in time from my age of four to date. The stories are mostly about personal experiences and observations. Most are humorous; some are very sad. The passing of time in a person's life is not always that of happiness.
Update for "THE BOOK..."
Actual release date was August 11. It will be available at both Hastings Entertainment Stores in Lubbock and at Barnes and Noble as well as on Amazon. It may be ordered at any bookstore outside the State of Texas.
I have started a new book, "The Canyon of Wild Horses". This will be a sequel of "The Castle Rock Legend" after the passing of twenty years. I am not going to predict the release date of the new book. The work is difficult and slow to promote accuracy of the continuation of the story of the 'Legend".
At the present time, I do signings at 82nd St. Hastings on the first Saturday of each month, and the second Saturday at the 50th St. Hastings (excluding the months of November and December).
When I retired, my wife and I moved to Wyoming where I had previously worked for several years. The creation of MIST continued. I did want authenticity in the book. And the creation of the plot had taken me into somewhat unfamiliar territory. I was raised in agricultural and cattle country. I had been involved in farming in my younger years and later the raising of chickens, ducks, turkeys, cows, goats and horses. But I did need actual experience in cattle roundup and branding. When we lived in Wyoming, I met and became good friends with the working foreman of the Twin Buttes Ranch; it covers fifty square miles. So I volunteered for a four-day roundup and branding job. A great experience! Spending four days on horseback chasing cows... every young boy's dream...
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MIST is available at:
Amazon.com
Barnes and Noble Bookstores
Hastings Entertainment and Bookstores
Sugarbee's Gift and Floral at 802 South College in Levelland, TX
Visit:
http://tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781613461464
The Castle Rock Legend is now available at the same bookstore outlets and also at:
Copyright 2010 Mist. All rights reserved.