I Wrote A Book!

Well, that might be overstated. I have written a story and not a published book. However, I am posting it chapter by chapter on WordPress to motivate me to finish it so I can move on to "book" #2. Story #2 is dying to be written and wants released from my head, lol!

I started the writing process in 2008/09 and kinda dropped it in 2010 when my Dad passed away. I remember writing like crazy when my dad was in the hospital - he was watching football on the television as I was writing on my laptop.

I've picked it up a few times over the last seven years and added to it but I have to tell you it's a bit like starting over each time. I have to remind myself of where the characters are, who they are, the time frame and season, etc. Writing a story where you want to carry the characters forward is a lot of work! And, I'm picky as I try to avoid inaccuracies.

This story is just an easy read - I cannot imagine the work that novelist who create real literature must do. The one thing I do have in common with real writers is an understanding that writing is a process and not just something where you sit down one day and create a finished product. It's editing (a.k.a. write/rewrite/write/rewrite, etc.). I'm somewhat organized having created cards for characters to keep up with them but even that is work.

So, with the "book" 95% finished, I am thinking that publishing it online chapter by chapter (hopefully one each day)  will cause me to finally create the ending. I'm not too good at WordPress yet so this link to my story takes you to chapter four. You can scroll to other chapters if you are interested.

https://thetruthbetold2010.wordpress.com/

Chapter Three

Thought I would share one of the things I have been doing isntead of blogging - I have been writing a story. I hesitate to say "book" because that seems to imply something that is published. It's a triple murder mystery that takes place in Kodiak, Alaska. Here's one short chapter (keep in mind this is a FIRST DRAFT):

She barely had time to register that the truck in the driveway was backed so far into the driveway that it pressed against the garage door before she heard the knock on the door. Her heart wanted to greet him with “why are you here” but her brain displayed images of two little girls in her head that caused her to soften. “Is there something I can do for you?” She said with the most civility she could muster.
“I’m here to get my TV” he replied.
She considered standing up to him and refusing his request but since she didn’t watch much television and she lived by her mother’s rule to choose your battles carefully so she stepped aside and let him in. It wasn’t the issue of the television that annoyed her as much as it was the idea of more disruption in her life. She moved toward the mammoth television to help unhook it from its life support of electricity and cable.
“It’s raining so I would like to take it out through the garage” he said. “If you wouldn’t mind, could you open the garage door while I unhook everything?”
She instinctively obeyed without even considering she had a choice and headed to the garage through the kitchen access. She reminded herself to get a decent light bulb for the garage fixture. When the old one burned out all she had available was a 25 watt bulb and the light would have been insufficient for an organized garage much less this chaotic one.
As she weaved through the clutter and approached the garage door lock and handle, she felt an arm slide around her waist trapping her left arm and another around her upper chest trapping her right arm. What was he doing? Trying to hug her? Something didn’t feel like and she resisted. The arms tightened and soon she felt something soft covering her face.
What is that smell? She tried to think and break free but her resistance was waning. Suddenly she felt so tired. That smell, so familiar. Ether!

Largo Library

Went to the library today to return my books and get a couple more just in case I am left with time and no electricity - will need something to do. I can always read by flashlight or candlelight.

This library is fabulous! Has a huge genealogical department. It reminds me of the Loussac library in Anchroage which is the first library I ever saw with reading rooms, comfy furiture, etc.
I remember when I was a kid and spent summers with my Dad, the library in Osceola (where he lived) would not let me check out books because I wasn't a full-time resident. We had a "membership" at a local hotel with a swimming pool that happened to be across the street from the library. I would swim in the mornings then in the hottest part of day would read Nancy Drew books in the library before returning to swim later in the afternoon. I can still smell that library when I think about it. I would hide my book in the stacks to ensure that no one checked it out before I finished. Bad girl!