OK, NOW THIS IS APRIL RIGHT?

You might wonder what that title means...well, considering that it's April and SPRING...who the hell ordered the SNOWFALL I woke up to this morning? I know that live in the mountains of western North Carolina, but give me a break already! Three days ago it was in the 70s here and today we have snow? Is the Goddess playing some kind of practical joke here or what? Ah well, better to let her have her fun than question it too much, I suppose...at least we have enough firewood and have both fireplaces lit and blazing so it's nice and toasty here!

On to other matters, I did sort of get another chapter done last evening, but I reached that place where most authors get to where you're merrily writing along, happy as a clam, when suddenly you get to the end of a paragraph in a chapter and...BOOM! What comes next? After sitting here for nearly a half hour thinking about that, I told myself, "Self...go to bed...it'll come to you tomorrow." And, when I start talking to myself, I know it's best to listen and not argue!

I still am having trouble believing that I was ever worried about having enough material to wrap up book three...but considering I'm on chapter 14 and plan to finish up by chapter 19 or 20, that seems a moot point now. In one aspect, though, I'm kind of sad that this one is nearing completion. I've kind of grown to love the characters I've been writing about and they've become a part of me, but I'm guessing that all writers have that feeling, so I don't feel alone. On the other hand, I'll be happy when this one is done because then I can move on to the other writing projects that I'm already thinking about and have somewhat fleshed out.

Oh, and about that darned sink. I don't know if the plumber will get here today because of the snow, but that I can understand. I hate driving when it's snowing and I couldn't blame him for not coming until tomorrow. Still, it would be nice if he did get here and fix the sink, but it's not a do or die thing, so I'm remaining calm about it.

Anyhow, time for me get cracking back on the work here. Plans are to get that half-finished chapter 14 done and maybe even get two more done as well. That'll get me closer to finishing it up and I know my publisher would really appreciate it, even though he really hasn't pestered me...that is, yet...(G)

Have a great day all!

MULTITASKING R US...AT LEAST ME!

Is it just me or do most authors wake up each morning with these what I can only call "delusions of cranking out volumes of material"? I had hoped to get busy and down to the business of getting more chapters done in the last book of my trilogy, but as life goes, it went.
After coffee this morning, we discovered that one of the hot water feed lines to one of the bathrooom sinks was leaking. Being moderately handy with tools...(ok...I hear that laughter! not THOSE kind of tools although I am handy with those as well! LOL!)...I worked for nearly an hour to try and get that damn feed line off in order to replace it without success. The only thing I can figure is that whoever put it on originally must have used concrete to secure it in place. Anyhow...we ended up calling a plumber to come out and do the job for us, but he can't be here until Wednesday, of course. Thank goodness we have more than one bathroom sink!
After that bit of drama, I had to relax some and then it struck me that my hopes of writing would happen later in the day.
I have to say at this point, however, that I did get two more chapters done yesterday so at least I don't feel like I'm as behind as I thought. I know my publisher is anxiously awaiting me to send the third book, but at least he already has everything he needed for the second book which, hopefully, should be out most likely by end of month, so I have a small modicum of breathing room...at least for the time being.
I'd really planned and hoped to have the third book done, chapter wise, by the end of this week, then work on the introduction, acknowledgements and bio for it. (Yes, it's true, we authors have to write those parts as well...we don't have magic geniis that do that for us!)
Book Three, however, is coming along well even though there are lots of loose ends to tie up, but anyone that knows me knows that being tied up is one of MY favorite things! LOL!! But, I digress...
OK, time for me to get back to it...it's midnight here already and I'm damned determined to get at least another chapter done before I crawl up the stairs and find my neglected bed. It probably thinks I've fallen into a hole and never coming back!
Later!

ANNOUNCEMENT FROM PUBLISHER!

BlackNBlue Tavern - Book One of a Trilogy
by Dan Carroll
Price: $16.95
Paperback: 165 pages
ISBN: 978-1-935509-03-5

Welcome to The BlackNBlue Tavern and the lives of the men that arrive there with a thirst. Everything’s on tap including a can of Grow the Fuck Up!
When a former pro wrestler named Joe opens a bar catering to men who love manly combat, not even he could predict the arrival of the men that would soon become like a family to him. After meeting a man out of his past and taking an unexpected heart-punch, Joe and his partner leave the bar in the capable hands of Fist, a man known for being a rough street brawler but with a heart of gold.
Standing up, CJ grabbed Fist by one arm and waved at Joe and Jeff, who waved back as he led the bartender toward the door. As the door closed, Jeff said, "You know, babe, I just realized...it's NOT about the fights here, is it?"
Suddenly, the men and the bar find themselves threatened by a mysterious pair and it's up to all of them to band together and defend their place. Boys will be boys, but it takes some MEN to fix the problems…
Meet the men of the BlackNBlue...they’ll never be the same, what makes you think you will?

Bookstore Orders

Distributed by:

United States and Canada
- SCB Distributors
15608 South New Century Drive, Gardena, CA 90248
tel: 800/729-6423
website:
http://www.scbdistributors.com

UK
- Turnaround Publishers Services Ltd.
Unit 3 Olympia Trading Estate, Coburg, Wood Green, London N22 6TZ
tel: 0208 829 3000
website:
http://www.turnaround-psl.com

Australia
- Bulldog Books
PO Box 6406, Alexandria NSW 2015 Australia
tel: (02) 9700 8600
website:
http://www.bulldogbooks.com.au

BOOK ONE ON AMAZON!

Here's the link to my first published book on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/BlacknBlue-Tavern-Dan-Carroll/dp/1935509039/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238616482&sr=1-1

Enjoy!

IT'S CURTAINS FOR ME!

No, not that kind of "curtains"! Actually, went out today and bought real curtains for the windows in the living room and dining room. Buying them was the easy part...hanging them, that's another story entirely! We kind of misjudged about how many rods and panels we'd need and ended up only getting about 75% of the windows and doors done. ARRRGGGHHH!!! But, we're not giving up! We more correctly NOW estimate that we'll need seven more panels for the remaining door and two windows. Anyone who's seen our house will understand why we need so many curtains!
Anyhow...got the word from my publisher today that Book One is bound and ready to ship! So, I'll be adding a link to where you can buy a copy as it'll be available from both the publisher as well as Amazon.
Book Two is 99% complete and ready to go to press as I write this which helps a lot as I still have about half of Book Three still to write and get done! But, once that's over, am I taking a break? Of course not! I've already got TWO other projects in the works but at least with the BlackNBlue trilogy done at last, I can concentrate on the new stuff better. I say the trilogy is done at last, but the way it's going to end up, it seems to leave itself open for being revisited somewhere down the road, so who knows?
That's about all for now as I've got to get the last bits for Book Two sent out to Nazca and then dive into Book Three, sooooo...later all!

The Latest From The 'Treehouse'

Well, it's FINALLY a beautiful, sunny Sunday here in the mountains of western North Carolina...after several days of rain, we definitely need some clear blue skies and light! And now that I've had my coffee (with more to come!) and played with the cats, checked emails and greeted the day, today will be a writing day for me!
As you can see from the last post, my first book will be out the first of next month and that's been a great, exciting time for me. It seems as though it took forever, but as with all good things, they come in their own time. My second book in the trilogy is nearly complete, i.e., my publisher has it but now comes MY real work on it as far as proofing the galley, approving the cover art (and the photo of me as well..yikes!) Well, at least I didn't break the camera...THIS TIME! LOL!
But, today, instead of working on the proofs for book two, the final book in the trilogy needs working on and this one, to me at least, is harder to get done than the first two. For two reasons. When I started book one, it was all new and undiscovered and I was inventing and writing like a madman the whole time. With book two, it was familiar ground and the words just poured forth. Now, with the final book, I'm forced to have to tie up all those loose ends and bring the story to a, hopefully, satisfying and worthwhile end. For both myself and the millions of you out there that will be buying and reading it. But, that's not to say that I might not revisit the characters and story again at some point. If the response for this trilogy is as great as my publisher and friends say it will be, I could probably be talked into doing another book down the road with some of the same characters.
Once the last book is done, I'm taking a different tack on writing and working on a series of short stories concerning love between two men that happens in unusual and surprising situations. After that's done, who knows? Of course, I have some ideas kicking around as to what I do next, but then, doesn't every writer always have ideas swimming around in their heads?
One thing I have to do today is get up with the man who got me involved in all this craziness we call the publishing world. He's become a great friend, advisor and much-needed ear that's always willing to listen to me rant and rave and what more could I ask for, right? Look out, Dan, I'M AWAKE! LOL!
I'll be adding more information in the next few days as book one hits the stands and promoting the hell out of it, so look out world!
First though, a nice hot bath is called for and then, of course, for anyone that knows me, MORE COFFEE!!

IT'S OFFICIAL! FIRST BOOK ABOUT TO HIT THE STANDS!

It's been a long time coming but my first book, BlackNBlue Tavern - Book One is due out the first of next month.

Published by Nazca Plains
(website: http://www.thenazcaplainscorp.com)

I'm very excited by this and looking forward to enjoying a long association with them.

As well, the second book in the trilogy is near completion and I'm currently hard at work on the final book of the trilogy as well.

Next comes a book of short stories with a twist...love between two men that happens under strange and unusual circumstances.

What comes next? Always, I'm thinking about new story ideas and concepts and have a few kicking out.

Please check out the website at Nazca Plains and take a look at not only my work but the work of everyone they publish...you won't be disappointed. Also, Nazca is always looking new talented writers. Take a look at their 'Are You A Writer?' page on their website!

Thanks for stopping by and I'll be updating this a lot more often!

Dan