That’s a strange title for what is in essense a “thank you” note, expressing my gratitude for yesterday’s generousity, but I’ll get around to it.
Your kindness – those who have corresponded with me here previously, and those who I have only now “met” – really was overwhelming. There’s no other word for it. The Kat can go to camp this year and then some, meaning that that we ourselves might even be able to shake out a few reefs in our mainsails this weekend. There ought to be a better word than “thank you,” but that’s what I’m stuck with.
Thank you.
When I get a spare, I’ll send the edited version of “Rhythms” along to each who either donated or expressed an interest. It will be before the week’s end in any case, I promise. I think I’ll probably put it in pdf format, make the moving of it around easier.
We were sitting down to table last night, just the three of us as the Biscuit had sought her entertainments elsewhere and son number one is re-embarked aboard the good ship Kitty Hawk, having blown out his gaff in Sydney. The Kat asked me to explain how this unanticipated boon had come about, and I reminded her how I had spent last Christmas leave feverishly editing my “manuscript” to make it ready for the Valour-IT donor – an effort which none had failed to notice even as they watched with a certain degree of enviably detached amusement. I told her that I’d offered up a copy of the revised work for those as who might consider a donation towards sending her to camp, and that I was very pleasantly surprised – before becoming almost astonished – at the level of support.
She was exuberantly pleased too of course, but then also I saw a certain degree of calculation in her eye:
“Is you book ready for publishing, dad?”
“Not yet, kiddo.”
“Well,” clearly thinking through the possibilities, “when will it be?”
It’s a good question.
That’s why women are smarter.
Rhythms is interesting, and darn good writing as well, but I’m having trouble seeing it as a mass-market paperback.
It will be interesting to see what you do with it though.
Smart girl, that one ;~)
Clever girl, your Kat. She’s trading YOUR labor for cash. LOL.
Ah, yes. That calculating gleam … I remember it well. And the trouble it caused, too.
Enjoy the next few years, Lex. The aliens will bring both girls back some day. And they’ll be semi-civilized, too.
Hey, SGT Jeff, Ward Carroll (former F-14 RIO), did pretty well with with “Punk’s War, “Punk’s Wing” and “Punk’s Fight;” and “Rythms” is every bit as good..although the gratuitous sex is absent from Lex’s work.
From my position, I look forward to buying a first edition, and a hell-of-a booksigning; which could be appropriately held on USS Midway in Sandy Eggo.
I was pleased (and a bit disappointed) at the speed which this fund was completed. Happy for Kat, and sad that I missed another chance to get a copy of Rythms. I check in nearly daily and I still missed it. Why don’t you start a “going sailing” bleg? An “I need a case of Guiness” bleg?
cheers
*raises paw to place pretty river rock on desk*
Didn’t give funds, but sent good feelings and a pretty rock…
Ya gotta love the inner Capitalist making an appearance. And it is a fair question Cap’n. Was happy to donate to Kat’s future equestrian efforts; and of course the dangled carrot of a book preview was certainly part of the motivation. But I’m with Bomber Guy – I want to buy a first edition printed from a publishing house, signed of course. I also think special edition printings should be done for your loyal fans – hint hint hint.
A first edition of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” – the UK version in leather and gold edges – is currently selling on Ebay for $4,000+. Something to think about Sir.
Although I missed the “Wranglerathon”, and would have been willing to put up for a “Ryhthm” edition, perhaps you should let Kat know that she has a skin in this game by providing all of us with after action report on how she fared with camp.
Maybe her eyes and dreams might be little less grandiose!
There is no shortage of a need for cockpit realistic action books.
Keith Douglass did 23 of them, and found room to do another 20 or so SEAL books too!
Some of my complaints in life:
Jake Grafton needs to get back in the cockpit, a re-hash of memories perhaps, ‘The Intruders’ Style.
Punk needs new adventures.
Sweetwater, Sundance, and Slim definitely needed more adventures.
Tombstone is the man.
Those are all ‘fictional’ characters BTW.
The first place I go in any book store is the Military History section, looking for new Aviation Books. I can’t tell you how many I have, or how many more i will have in years to come.
There may be more guy’s that have not made the cut in writing than have, but your career is a testament that you are already in the ‘have’ section of people in this world.
As funny as it sounds, apologies for missing the boat on The Camp. Glad to see it all worked out!
Lex, remember you’re outnumbered. I sense a conspiracy at work! (Twist and tweak – make him think that it was HIS idea…)
Lex,
Was tied up all weekend and missed your bleg. Not to worry though, I’ve just sent you some bucks for the next time she gets a look in her eye.
I too, know the look in womens eyes, my daughter had it at age 4.
If you’ve a spare copy of Rythms about, I’ll sign up for one too.
Best,
BeachBumBill
djvc-
Was that Sweetwater as in “Sweetwater, Gunslinger 204″ or whatever it was called. Thought I was the only one that read that.
Lex,
Women say smart things every once in a while, but that doesn’t change the fact that they are all completely nuts. Even your own offspring. I’m sorry to break it to you.
N
Lex, send Stephen Coonts a copy of your scribblings. I suspect he’ll tell you to get the damn thing to an editor, most skosh, and may even point you in the right direction.
You sir, have the “touch”. You can paint the picture for us, make us be right there, cause us to gasp and laugh and cry, all in one paragraph. Hie thee to the keyboard, sir, and let it come out.
Cap’n,
Mr. Audler and many others offer good advice. As everyone who has spent any time here knows, ‘Rhythms’ is an excellent story. One does not need to have any salt in their veins to feel a part of the story. I also understand your need/desire to develop the characters and plot lines, but that’s where a good editor will help you.
As you explained to me once a lifetime ago, ‘Rhythms’ is your story. It will come out only when it is ready. In the meantime, we will wait.
Much like a swimmer ready to dive off the blocks or a sprinter in the starting block. Tensed, eager, ready to spring into action when the tome is published.
Surely you don’t want to keep us in that mode for very long.
Women say smart things every once in a while, but that doesn’t change the fact that they are all completely nuts. Even your own offspring. I’m sorry to break it to you
Says the man whose screen name is “Nose” ;~P
Seriously, yes…we are all nuts. Stark raving insane. How do you think we handle all that life throws at us so WELL?!?
Don’t comment much, but I’ve been reading your blog for the last few years, Lex, and I can tell you in all candor that, having read everything Carroll, Coonts, and Robert Gandt have written about carrier aviation, I think you could top them all. I really believe that you have the writing chops to possibly become the Ernie Gann of the brown shoe set, so please, as has already been suggested, find an editor and get Rhythms published somewhere. I’d certainly pony up for a first edition!
If you are serious about getting published you may wish to look into finding a literary agent. Yes they will take a cut (generally 10%) of your earnings but a book contract is very complex and most publishers will pay attention to agents they have worked with in the past and ignore unsolicited manuscripts, as in not even read them. Also a good agent works with many publishers and will have a much better idea of who to approach and how, then you do. That is, of course, his business. He will have a much better idea of the implications of various contract clauses then you will and has a vested interest in getting you the best deal. Having read all of your blog archives I think you have an unusual talent fo writing and should be able to find a profitable audience but the actual marketing of good quality writing is not a simple task and entails lots of decisions with non-obvious answers. Doing it effectively, on your own, means you have to spend a great deal of time and effort learning the ins and outs of publishing once you have a finished work, which is probably not what you want to spend your time doing. (its not that interesting but it is complex). If it were me (and I am not an expert or an agent) I would guess your best bet would be to look at something like the Naval Institute Press but there may well be better options. The point is that as a gifted writer you want to get your story to as many people as possible and maybe make some money as well and that takes planning.
What Byron, and others, said. I was almost physically sweating, with heart-rate up and all, reading some of “Rhythms.”
Even without benefit of Vogon Imagery Intensifiers.
Sir, you are a bard and a harper, a warrior and a poet!
Nose, I believe the correct spelling is NuTz.
Uh – being an author is kind of like being a basketball player: A million guys shooting hoops, one thousand in the NBA, one hundred getting rich. Only I don’t think the odds are that good.
Or it’s like having kids. Very expensive and maybe rewarding, as it appears to be in your case, but certainly not a way of getting cheap farmhands like it used to be.
Best approach is to get a book contract from a publishing company. They’ll pay an advance approximating how much they think you’ll get in royalties and then credit you with a dollar a sale, first printing 10,000 books (maybe). Good news is you don’t have to give the advance back if they don’t sell enough books and you get a dollar a book more after you reach your advance. If you want to make a living at it, better write fast or get lucky like Tom Clancy (see the NBA analogy above).
Best approach in your case is to send the manuscript for Rhythms in to publishing houses. One may bite. Can’t hurt – if you can take rejection…
And I liked it. But what do I know? I don’t think much of Country and Western music and it seems to be doing okay.
But what would it take to turn Rhythms into a novel? Or was that ever the point? Just a short story, perhaps?
“Just a …” not meant in any derogatory way of course. Rhythms is amazing, best writing I’ve seen in a long, long time. But I would love to stay with those characters in that environment, get to know them a lot better. See how they play off each other or if even do. And have lots more action.
It would take a lot more writing to turn Rhythms into a real book. And this conversation has got me curious. What do you want to do with it Lex? Other than tease and tantalize us and leave us wishing for more?
Nose-
Yes that is the very book. I think it was 201, but it has been a while. Also by the same author are the books ‘Hornet’s Nest’ and ‘Road to Gold’ [which is a great account of AOCS].
[...] appear the good Calliope has been working overtime by the looks of these here premises – Lex is refining his embryonic tome, Steve is blowing the dust hither and yon with his offering and fresh off a 72-hr watch cycle [...]