Yes folks, I finally got around to writing the book. It only took forty-some-odd years. But what the heck, I got it done. I did the whole deal. Wrote it, edited it, sent it to a real editor. Rewrote it. Sent it around to folks to read (them call ’em “beta readers” in the book biz…). Got a lot of great feedback, both positive and negative. Changed it around some more.
Sent it to another real editor.Started looking for a book agent. Finding an agent is like trying to carry a double armload full of chicken livers. I’m not sure it’s possible in this day and age, unless you don’t happen to actually need one. They live in a rarified world, and it’s pretty much impossible for a first time book hack like me to win one over. So, after several months of fishing around, I decided to just publish it myself. We live in a time when it’s possible to publish, print, and promote a book, all from your laptop. So, that’s what I set out to do.
In the meantime, I started going through boxes of old photos of Gizmo and me, news clippings from the ride, slides, old film, and whatever media I had that I could use. Ended up with a bazillion photos and started sifting through ’em. I hadn’t looked at most of them in many years–decades, really–and they brought back a whole lot of memories, and jogged my mind with lots of things I’d forgotten about. Just going through all those pictures was worth the price of admission, I reckon.
So, I was able to piece it all together (with the help of some knowledgeable friends), and out pops this book. You can check it out on Amazon, here: https://www.amazon.com/Man-Horse-Long-Across-America-ebook/dp/B075821TZ7/
Amazingly, it’s getting really good reviews. Of course, I was smart enough to keep Gizmo up front, and you can’t go wrong with having a horse on the cover. Everyone likes horses, so having Gizmo as a pal is still paying dividends.
And even though I’ve been in the publishing business in a roundabout way for a long time, producing records for musicians, I must admit that I’m finding it pretty compelling to be a very small cog in the giant machine that makes up the book world. It’s all new and uncharted territory for me. And if there’s one thing I’ve always been a sucker for, it’s a new trail.
Wish me luck. I think I’m gonna need it.
PS: here’s a link to Writer’s Thesaurus
I loved the book! It was about riding a horse across the country, which was my daydream every time I rode along the cotton turn rows as a kid, so you had me from the get go. On top of that you’re a natural storyteller, and the tale was honest, uncontrived and eloquent. Mark Twain couldn’t have done a better job of describing the people and places you saw and the emotions you experienced. It’s one of those books you don’t want to end but don’t want to stop reading to slow it down.
Really enjoyed your book.