I’ve had some crazy things happen in my life. As my friends can attest, some really interesting stories and times over the years. Some of these will show up in my writing, many won’t. I never thought I’d be living a scene from one of my own works of fiction though…

As I continue plugging away on A Shadier Place, I find one of the running gags from Shady Place filling my own life. Many of you have read Shady Place and should recall this silly gag that ran throughout the novel, but if you haven’t read it this may still ring true for you.

In this version of Life Imitating Art, our neighborhood apparently has a serial pooper. Yes, that’s right, someone is bringing their dog to our end of the neighborhood and filling not only our yard, but the yards of several of our neighbors with an endless supply of landmines.

I’ve been working out of town a lot lately and really didn’t know how bad it had gotten until last night. Ashley informed me that the builder, who is still finishing a few houses in the neighborhood, has received multiple complaints. Our neighbor on the right has had to receive help cleaning it up as she’s in her 70s and lives alone. The house on the other side is for sale and the Realtors are embarrassed to show the house…

It’s all bringing out my inner Jim Phillips. Somehow I feel uniquely qualified to solve this particularly mystery…hopefully when I find the culprit, I do a little better job of keeping my cool than everyone’s favorite curmudgeonly Shady Placer.

I’ll keep you updated on our progress with the “case.” Definitely open to suggestions on catching this scoundrel and just what we should do with them when we do (I’m thinking of finding out which house they live in and emptying our litter boxes on their driveway a few dozen times:P).

I’m flirting with the idea of running a Kickstarter for A Shadier Place to present an exclusive cover and allow early access to people on this list.

What do you think?

Is that something that would interest you as a reader?

Please don’t hesitate to drop me a line, I love hearing from everyone!

Next up is Warren’s lone patient when our story begins. Jong-Ho “Johnny” Kim. His extreme case of OCD keeps him up at night and while you’d think it would aid in his job at the city planner’s office, it only make his life more difficult…

 

I’m finding the experience of being an author a bit perplexing.

I’ve only ever wanted to write and have other people get a chance to read my words and hopefully enjoy them a little.

Today, I found myself at three different locations, none with any connection to writing or books sales, and people were clamoring about the book – engaging, asking questions, truly excited.

By no means am I near the point where I can say “I’ve made it,” but it’s exciting and gives me hope for the future, and maybe, just maybe, I can make it in this crazy business.

It’s humbling and surreal for a first time author from Ormond Beach, Florida, but only the beginning.  Thanks again to everyone who has purchased, read, and/or reviewed the book!