Welcome back to the bar. We have a lot of ground to cover, and David is impatiently waiting for some adult refreshment. We’ll enjoy that and work our way around Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt:
“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is ‘starts with pro.’ Find a word that starts with ‘pro’ and use it any way you like in your post. Enjoy!”
If we were having a beer, you’d seem anxious to start drinking.
“I suppose you’re buying this week, Dan.”
“Why would you suppose that, David?”
“I figured you’d be in a good mood after that nice review your second book got.”
“Well, not to gloat, David, but that book has several nice reviews. I hope I don’t have to buy you a drink for each one.”
“Let’s try this again. Dan, it’s your turn to buy.”
“You guys can figure out who’s buying later. I’m going to start pouring your usual drinks unless you’ve changed your minds.”
“It is my week to pay, Cheryl, and I’ll have a Corona.”
“I’ll stay with my usual, too—a John Howell’s Special.”
“David, for the umpteenth time, you only need to call it that when Skippy is tending bar. I know what you drink and where to put the cherries.”
“I like the sound of it, Cheryl.”
“I’m sure John does, too, but you could just ask for a glass of Willet.”
“Nah, that sounds boring. Speaking of boring, Dan, are you bored now that all three books are finished?”
“Here you go guys, beer, bourbon, and stuff. And he’s not bored, David. He’s working on his next book.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because we talk about our writing projects. He has three books in the wild and is working on a fourth. Meanwhile, I’m getting ready to publish mine.”
“I am looking forward to reading your book, Cheryl. I love fantasy. But Dan… a next book? I thought you’d be working on promoting the books you already wrote.”
“For what it’s worth, David, I have to do a little bit of each.”
“Not that I’m eager to see, ‘Hey, I wrote a book’ messages all over the place, but why haven’t you been promoting them, Dan?”
“I released them in such quick succession, I didn’t want them to collide.”
“Collide?”
“The books, the blurbs, the reviews, and comments, all contain what might be considered spoilers. I wanted to give the people I knew were reading a chance to read them.”
“So, now that they’ve had six months, are you ready to promote The Evil You Choose?”
“I am, and Sally Cronin gave me just the nudge I needed with that review.”
“It’s a good book, Dan, and it doesn’t spoil anything in the first book. I’m not sure why you waited.”
“I was busy with the next book. As Damyanti said a couple weeks ago, it’s hard to do promotion and writing at the same time.”
“Is the next book coming out soon?”
“No, not until summer.”
“Then why not set it aside for a while?”
“I had to fix something.”
“Like this tab you’re running? You want another round?”
“I do, Cheryl. The book changed course midway through. I parked nine chapters on a siding and had to rearrange the rest of the train. I wanted to get that fixed before setting it aside.”
“The book changed course…? Don’t you mean you changed the book? I mean, you are the author…right?”
“Apparently not.”
“Here’s your beer, Dan. I bet I know where this is going.”
“Where’s that, Cheryl? Cuz I’m lost.”
“Sometimes the authors aren’t in charge, David. Did you have a character revolt, Dan?”
“I did, Cheryl. Has that happened to you.”
“Yes, and I’ve had to move chapters around—that’s hard—and I’ve argued with characters who wanted to be in scenes where I hadn’t planned having them.”
“You guys are making my head hurt. You’re both writing fiction. It should go wherever you want it to go.”
“David, it didn’t even work that way when I was programming and writing code.”
“Did that happen with the first three books?”
“Well, there wasn’t going to be a first book. I mean, I wasn’t planning to write Knuckleheads. And Billy was going to be an insignificant character that was mentioned in a couple chapters of The Evil You Choose.”
“I love Billy! I’m glad he argued for more. The books wouldn’t be the same without him. Wait, are you telling me the next book is part of the same story?”
“Yes and no.”
“I hate that answer, Dan. Yes or no. It can’t be both.”
“It’s not another Zach fights the bad guys book, but it features some of the same characters.”
“Characters who wanted a bigger role?”
“Characters who felt their story wasn’t complete.”
“Any new characters?
“Yes, quite a few.”
“Did they derail the train?”
“Nope. They were supposed to be the only passengers on the train. Several others decided to get on, and then it when off the rails.”
“Can you tell us who’s on and who’s not?”
“No. Not without…”
“I know, introducing spoilers. I get it.”
“You guys want some food.”
“I can’t Cheryl. My in-laws are coming over for dinner.”
“How ‘bout some fries? We could pick at some fries.”
“What’s your captain buddy say, Dan? Make it So!”
I am planning a soft promotional campaign for The Evil You Choose. It will be an on-again/off-again thing between now and the end of March. For those who have already helped with posts and reviews, I may revisit/reuse your kind words. If you’re interested in helping now, let me know in comments or via email. There’s a Contact widget on the sidebar.
In other news, I have enrolled all three books in Kindle Unlimited. In still other news, I have read Cheryl’s book, and it is amazing. When she makes it available, we will hire Skippy for the day and have her here as a guest.
If you like magical realism with suspense, action and a bit of family sarcasm, you will enjoy these books:
Knuckleheads
The Evil You Choose
When Evil Chooses You
My profile page (and books) on Lulu
All available on Kindle Unlimited!
No Facilities 
Love the different colours from the sky onto the world turning Gulls golden :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. It was a great time to be at that park.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“You guys are making my head hurt.” That’s exactly what anyone would say trying to listen to writers talk about writing. Writers certainly are not in charge of their writing! Writers at a bar are probably avoided by most others. I really like those photos of the gull on the lamp post; both bird and lamp are photo-worthy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Prior to retiring, I was looking forward to writing because “my writing won’t be subject to the whims of others…” Yeah, right. That gull kept getting blown off the perch. I felt bad, but he was persistent.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the crocus but sure is early. Happy weekend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s always the first flower to pop up. Some hyacinths are breaking through the ground, but I’m pretty sure the bunny will eat them before they get very far. I just hope we don’t get a lot of early blossoms and then another big freeze.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fun to read. I love your golden hour photographs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sherry. I was at that park at a great time.
LikeLike
Good luck with your new book venture. You may have to put your characters on the payroll Dan.
Love the photo where the golden sun meets the clouds edge. Beautiful. And the gulls on the lamppost and lamps. The photo of Hartford is wonderful.
Awwww, that crocus. Way too early.
Terrific shot of Old Glory waving despite the dark cloud.
Have a great weekend.
Ginger
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t think I can afford to pay these guys, Ginger. I can barely afford their bar tabs.
I had a 7:30 am haircut appointment, so I was at the park at a great time to catch the sunrise and the action by the river. The gulls were swarming. There were about six of us spinning around trying to get pictures. So much noise!
That crocus popped up, bloomed and is gone. Either it froze its you know what off, or somebunny had it for a snack.
The sun against the edge of the clouds is my favorite thing in these pictures. Have a nice weekend!
LikeLike
Dan and Lois both retire. Dan writes four books. Lois is a slug. hahaha! You are most amazing!
The golden gulls are such beautiful photographs. All of them are beautiful with that golden light, but the first three would make such a wonderful triptych.
‘I know what you drink and where to put the cherries.’–Cheryl cracked me up with that line. Have a great weekend!
LikeLike
Thanks Lois. Dan has been waiting all his life to write these books – any books. I think you’re right about the gulls, although I have to confess, I didn’t know what a triptych was until just now. You would have felt right at home in that park. Everyone there was trying to get pictures as thos gulls swarmed overhead. Their squawking was so loud. Cheryl gets in a good line now and then. I hope you have a great weekend.
LikeLiked by 2 people
So, you’re already working on book #4? I can’t keep up, Dan. My “to be read” pile is going to keep growing if I don’t get busy with books and you and Cheryl both publish. Yikes!
You have flowers popping out and we had a fresh coat of snow on Thursday. I think spring will be waiting until at least March 20th, but only if the weather cooperates.
Dan, is it just me, or is your pingback not showing up on Linda’s page? I’m not seeing many pingbacks at all, including mine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the alert on the pingbacks. I had trouble with them with Thursday Doors as well. Hugh (Hugh’s Views and News) brought it up with WordPress. I hope they can fix it.
I was hoping to write more books, Mary, but I wasn’t planning on writing this one. I like it, but it was a surprise. I don’t think I’ll be releasing it until August or September, so you have time to catch up. I know, I’ll soon be competing with a bicycle seat, and I know I will lose. That’s OK.
That crocus is gone. Either it froze of the bunny ate it. I hope you have a great weekend, and I hope spring beats the deadline.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I may get to your books in 2025…lol. I am trying to finish up Blue Bar (slow and steady), then I have three I bought before yours, then I have yours, then I have the three-book gift my brother gave at Christmas. I may have to make an appointment every morning to read!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved The Blue Bar. I guess I should have released mine over time, but I’m glad I didn’t release the first three until all three were done. That would have been a disaster. So many changes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingbacks have not been working since Thursday. With as much complaining as bloggers have written, I hope WP is working on this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too! I had some early on Thursday Doors, but then people started complaining. I chased down the regulars, but I fear some are MIA.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yeah, another book! It sounds like my summer reading list just grew by two books with Cheryl publishing a book too!
Have you had time to read any Dickens? I’m on my second book for that challenge. I finished Marley’s Ghost now I’m reading the Chimes.
Your sunrise morning walk had gorgeous light, colors, and sights.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have been reading the Cricket – almost done. I’m going to move onto Marley’s Ghost next, in case I end up stopping at two.
I doubt my book will be out before the end of summer. Hopefully, Cheryl’s will be out sooner than that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Cricket on the Hearth is next after the Chimes in the book I bought. My goal is to finish the book. 🤞
Best of luck with the shuffling of chapters, and finishing your 4th book!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s exciting to hear about all your great reviews, Dan.
Those seagulls are a hoot. Hugs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Teagan. I didn’t want that to sound boastful. My real bar-buddy had read a few and commented on Thursday.
The gulls were amazing that morning. There were so many and they were so loud. I hope you’re having a great day with your new family members :-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I understand. That’s why we call it the “obligatory shameless self-promotion.” It’s a job requirement.
The kittens are getting a tad too enthusiastic with their wrestling. If anyone was going to see my hands, I’d need to wear gloves! LOL.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s so hard for me to do. My buddy is a salesman. The kind who could sell ice cream to polar bears, and he was berating me for not doing more shameless self-promotion. An old proverb say “The peacemaker receives half the blows.” I think the person who said that owned two cats.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have always thought that I may have held the pen but the characters wrote their own story. I think your books deserve to be read together. I got more pleasure out of it that way. And I would look forward to another with some of the same characters. They’re all that good. Anything I can do . . .
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Pam. I thought the first three should be read together. Knuckleheads wasn’t necessary, but I thought (and many people agreed) that the other two were better having read that first. The next book could be read standalone, but it, to will be better having read the other three. There’s enough of the back story in it to prevent you from being mad at me for releasing it so late. I assure you, it wasn’t the plan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know it will be worth the wait.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love your Hartford sunrise photo.
I’m with Mary. My to-be-read pile needs some whittling down, but I will get there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Maggie. The books will be there when you get there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful pics!
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Cheryl
LikeLike
Loving The Evil You Choose. If I can help promote it, let me know!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I will. I’m glad you’re enjoying it.
LikeLike
I love the banter at the bar, I love the talk of all the books and I love the photos 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Willow. I may re-run your post about The Evil You Choose.
LikeLike
Do feel free they are great books 📚
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for all your support.
LikeLike
Awww…thanks Dan. 😊I can’t wait to read this new book. Have you ever had a moment when you’re stumped with changing a bit of your story and suddenly you get this ‘aha!’ moment of realizing you are the god of you book world. YOU can have it be/do whatever you want but in e it takes on a life of its own we tend to forget that power. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
On this one, I had to reach that moment after accepting that there was one more story to tell. I fought that urge and then realized it was ok. Also, several people encouraged me to go in that direction
LikeLiked by 1 person
When it takes on… 🤦♀️
LikeLiked by 1 person
As always, I enjoyed the photos. It must be a wonderful feeling to hold your actual books in your hands (as well as reading all the great reviews, of course.) Congratulations once again!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Janet. The self-promotion thing makes me nervous, but the reviews were nice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m willing to help spread the word. Wednesdays are the days for supporting other authors.
LikeLike
Thanks John. I’m not in a hurry, but I’ll get you something you can use. I appreciate it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s interesting to read about your fiction writing process. I like Billy, too and the golden light on those gulls.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks JoAnna. I got to that park at just the right time. There were several people there. The gulls were all over the place and we were all trying to get pictures. So much noise! I am glad I decided/agreed to give Billy a bigger role.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Dan – looking forward to reading your books … the time will come! and I can learn about Billy … I just congratulate you on achieving your dream of publication – cheers Hilary
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Hilary. I don’t like bombarding people with promotion, but I guess I have to do some. I am happy that I got the books out, and I am thrilled by what people have had to say. They’ll be there for a long time, so no hurry on reading them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The photos this week have that When Evil Chooses You vibe! I’m happy to report I’ve read all three of your books. I just need to get my butt in gear and write a nice post reviewing them – sorry I haven’t done that yet. PS – I’m also glad Billy made it known he was an important character. Congrats on promoting your books, Dan, go big and confidently, you’ve done well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww, thank you so much, Shelley. I’m sure Billy would thank you as well. No hurry on the review. I happy you enjoyed them (and I owe about 30 people a review, so I understand).
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome. Billy probably knew before I told you, right? 😉
But…you’ll know about the review before Billy does though!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha – sometimes, I wonder.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂
LikeLike
As always, your photos are lovely, Dan
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Dale!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Birds, I love birds. Dan this was excellent, because it wrapped up a lot of things, told some new things, and kept readers wanting more. Nice! You know I’ll be reading over the summer. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jennie. I love seeing birds.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLike
Some terrific nature pics in here, Dan. Those birds could hire you as their PR agent!
LikeLike
I have let myself get behind (too much going on here)….I need to read your second book and work at getting caught up…Kirt you’re behind by two now!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Understandable, Kirt, given all you’ve been through. Please don’t mistake the shameless self-promotion as disappointment. People tell me I should do more of this, but I don’t really like doing it. Even when I was a consultant, I never liked sales.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Dan!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Dan, this evolving of books things happens to us all. Twice I’ve had short stories turn themselves into longer books. I am happy to host you with a promotional post for your second novel. I have it on my TBR and will be getting to it soon. You know where to find me when you are ready.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Robbie. I can imagine a short story evolving into a novel. Once I start thinking about a story, things keep moving. I will reach out to you in March. I’m going to take it slow and spread them out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That does seem to work well. I’ve notice a few people doing that lately.
LikeLiked by 1 person