I’ve noticed geese flying south for the winter. That annoys the hell out of me because the days are growing shorter. I much prefer summer to winter, or maybe I prefer the light to the dark. Whatever the case, I don’t like to be left behind like this. The party is just getting started and already people are leaving? There’s still rum in the bottle and a bag of chips yet to be opened.
A friend of mine saw an injured goose on the lawn at his apartment complex. The goose’s wing is broken which he confirmed by approaching the flock and all the geese flew away except for this one. He volunteers at an animal rehabilitation shelter so he decided to capture the goose so it could have a chance to heal.
He literally went on a wild goose chase.
It reminded me that my goal of becoming a successful author is its own wild goose chase. It’s not easy to catch a goose. In fact, they can be ornery as hell. It’s not easy to sell books. Readers demand a great story, and can be downright ornery with their reviews.
A goose with a broken wing should be easier to catch but my friend discovered how fast they are. The goose he was attempting to rescue made it the pond at the apartment complex. My friend wanted to help, but he didn’t want to get wet.
Continuing the metaphor, there are many ways to publish books these days, and lots of books and training on how to be a successful author. But you have to be willing jump in the pond, maybe up to your neck, or maybe even over your head for a while, to figure it out.
Still, even if you catch the goose with the broken wing, you have to subdue it and get it in the car and take it out to the rehabilitation center without it hurting itself, or you, in the process. So it is with becoming an author. You might write a good book, but you still have to get reviews, figure out how to let people know, and keep the interest in it going long enough for critical mass to be achieved.
I don’t expect to become a successful author soon. (I used to think it would happen quickly but now I know better.) I am going to keep chasing it, though, and hope enough of you enjoy my books enough to tell other people about it (like by writing reviews for these advance copies, if you know what I mean.)
Meanwhile, at My Writing Desk…
I’ve been continuing the publishing part of being an author, developing two books. One of those is HIVE and I’ve shared the beginning of it. The other is still too early to share.
I also worked on a couple of humor pieces the past month and there’s a link to one of them below. First, I want you to know about some books…
Books and Stuff
I’m hoping you’ll read an advance review copy (ARC) of my novel The Forgettable Marriage of Lina and Joe. It’s a romantic comedy about overcoming the fear of growing up, and the fear of becoming your parents. Some of us avoid those fears our entire lives, and don’t give it a second thought. For Lina and Joe, they have no choice but to face those fears and push through to learn what’s waiting for them on the other side.
For everybody else, it’s the amnesia love story that will make you forget every other amnesia love story.
If that’s not doing it for you, then…
Maybe You’d Like
I’m sharing two books you may enjoy instead…
The first is Return to Shark Cave by Jen Watkins. It’s about Eagle Tempestro, an adventure-loving ex-pat cooling his jets on a Belizean beach when he receives a note with a mission to return to the site of his greatest failure.
The second is WTF Are You Thinking by Sarah Zolton Arthur. It’s about Luisa who used her job to help recover after she was rejected by Rob. But now the jerk is back and he wants Luisa. And he’s hired her company to spend a week with her. So what is she thinking??
Recommended Reading
Ernest Hemingway’s birthday was last week (July 21). You may know him from some of his later work: Ernest Goes to Camp, or Ernest Goes to War, or the popular Ernest Shoots A Gun. His earlier stuff is considered pretty darned good (despite his portrayal of women) but that didn’t stop me from writing a satire/parody of The Old Man and the Sea. You can check out The Old Man and the Sea and the Reverse Mortgage.
Next Month
I’ll have HIVE to share soon and possibly that other book, as well. I hope to have a summer adventure to share of my own, like doing something awesome here in Michigan. Or maybe just throw a frisbee to Ollie the dog for as long as I can stand the mosquitos before hustling back inside to write.
Thanks for reading the Mickey Picayune.
All the best,
–mickey
P.S. We’ve had hazy days and eerily glowing sunsets thanks to the wildfires in the west. I used the word “thanks” but, obviously, I’m not thankful. I’m horrified because people are suffering and it’s going to get worse before it gets better. We’re past the point of thoughts and prayers. Instead, we need to do whatever we can to influence our politicians to pass meaningful legislation to combat the climate crisis.