Discussions

Have you ever had everything going so well that you thought you had it all figured out and were making giant steps each day? ... just sailing along like there was no tomorrow. Then suddenly out of no where this great big monkey wrench comes at you, nailing you smack dab right in between the eyes, knocking you right back on your butt ... and it really hurts. Then you pick up that monkey wrench and realize that you yourself had placed it in a very inappropriate place. You got hit so hard by that wrench that you can not work at your project any more - and basically have lost confidence in what you were doing. At this moment that is how I am and I feel I must make amends in this very public forum so that maybe I can get back up off of my butt and get back to that project. That said, this is probably one of the hardest things I have ever had to write, mainly, I suppose, because I know how very wrong I was and I know how unkind some can be here. Maybe a few lashes may be what I need to repent but please don't whip too hard.  
 
A little over three weeks ago I received an email from a reader of New Beginnings ... the first I received that was not send on a positive note. It was not a polite email, but not completely unkind and I answered it as reasonably as possible. In the last chapter I stated that there were probably some historical things that I did not have correct and would appreciate being told, so that should there be a second printing it will be made right. I expected small corrections, not the big huge mistake that was made known to me. I have since learned that the communities of Grand Valley, Tanner's Crossing and possibly more where not yet developed when I implied that they were in the novel. For the time being I have not been brave enough to give my book another read lest I find more devastating errors. I was doing major research for my sequel, working it like a full time job and the ideas were starting to come ... ones that I do believe will make it compliment the first book (possibly better than). But BANG ... that all stopped when that email came. I had a table at Ladies Night in Forrest on Friday night and promoting the book that I once believed in was very difficult. My balloon has been deflated. I am hoping that this admission will give me the ability to blow it back up again.  
 
How this mistake got by me I am not sure ... I really dislike excuses although I do have lots ... but that really does not cut it in my books (pardon the pun) ... it was shoddy work on my part. So I must extend my very sincere apologies and hope for some forgiveness. At a workshop only a day before that fateful email arrived Fred McGuinness told us to get our history right and "don't write stupid" ... I should have talked to him back in 2002 when the biggest part of my novel was written.  
 
I will follow up a little later with the changes that need to be made in my book and before any more are sold I will include an exurb in all. If you do know of more mistakes please do let me know so that I can make those corrections and get this past me.  
 
As I responded to the writer of that email, " If you are not able to enjoy the history in the book I hope you are at least able to enjoy the story behind it." Thank you.