Wow. My upcoming novel Fall From Grace is already listed on Amazon, Borders, Barnes and Noble, Chapters/Indigo! It seems that it comes out March 1, 2011 so if you wanna pre-order, you can go ahead. Once I get a final cover shot, I'll post it. I have a tentative one but I can't share it until it's officially approved by the publisher.

I'm pleasantly shocked by this development. I knew I had a book coming out in the Spring of 2011 but to see it already listed on the online book retailers makes things even more real. I was so excited that I pre-ordered, even though I will get my own copies in the future. I can't wait! I love being a bigtimewriter.

As I said a couple days before, I'm not known enough in Canada to be considered overrated. And the same goes for underrated (see link below). I find this kind of ironic and some of the reasons these writers are considered underrated is because they haven't won awards. The Canadian literary scene focuses on awards way too much. It's nice to win awards but it doesn't mean you're a better writer or that your book is better. Considering how the Canadian publishing industry works, I'll probably got from unknown writer to sellout hack. Enjoy the list.

http://arts.nationalpost.com/2010/08/25/10-underrated-canadian-authors/

Finished the second novel in my bigtimewriter book deal. It only took about five or six months to write, about half of it written during a week long retreat in Banff. Soon it will go to my proofreader and then it will go to my bigtimeagent and then to my bigtimeeditor, about two months ahead of deadline. Once my editor gets it, I get another D and A (Delivered and Accepted) cheque (or check for all you Americans).

Whether this novel will be my last bigtimewriter novel, I have no idea. For the next couple of years as my two novels get published, I'll get to act like a bigtimewriter. Afterwards, who knows but at least I made it to the show for a short period, much longer than Crash Davis did.

Even though I'm a bigtimewriter, I'm not known enough in Canada to be on this list. Or the next one for underrated writers.

http://arts.nationalpost.com/2010/08/24/10-overrated-canadian-authors/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

I'm back. No one's missed me because no one follows. But with my book coming on in the Spring of 2011, I should get on this.

Okay this is what has happened so far. My editor liked my novel, the one I wrote in six months last year. We did the edits, which was relatively painless and no it's in production. There are blurbs. I'll include some of those next time.

As for the second one in the series, it was supposed to be the first manuscript I submitted, the one that attracted and got me sign to my agent, and attracted and got my editor to sign my to a two book deal. But that story takes place before the events of the one that's coming out in Spring 2011. And my editor said he liked that novel so much, he wanted to know what happened next. "So forget about that novel you've written, the one that got my attention, tell me what happens next"

Sigh. Oh well, when you're starting out in the big leagues, you don't ask too many questions or posture like an all-star, you just follow the signs and take your swing. So I said sure but I'll need a few more months past the contracted deadline. "No problem," said my editor. "I just want another great book from you."

And so I started writing and within six months, I'm one scene away from finishing it. And soon I'll send it to my editor and I think he'll be happy.

BTW, you know that photo at the back flap of those hardcover books? Did you know that if you're just a new bigtimewriter like me, you have to pay the photographer out of your own pocket? Surprise!

When you read about a writer getting such and such advance, they don't get it all at once you know. Well a few do, but most don't. First you get a chunk when you sign the contract. Then you get another chunk when you delivery your manuscript and its accepted by the publishers, the D and A check. And I delivered my manuscript on July 1, 2009 and it was accepted by my publisher not long after. This means it will be published sometime in the future. Don't know when yet. But here it is, a few days before Halloween and I'm still waiting on my D and A cheque. Some things never change; you write, send it in and wait for the cheque.

I'm back

Hey. I'm back. ANybody miss me. No. I can tell. Anyway a lot has happened since I wrote my last post. I finished my novel in time for the publishers deadline. All 94,000 words of it. And usually the editor suggests changes, etc. before the novel is deemed acceptable. That's important because you don't get the next advance cheque, the delivery and accepted (The D&A) cheque until this happens. But in my case, my editor just asked me for a synopsis of the book, a description of two or three key characters and a possible book jacket idea. And when I did that, I would be eligible for my D&A cheque. My agent was shocked by this development, claimed she had never heard of such at thing in her long career and added that this means my editor must really like me and trust me. So happiness at that. However, a couple months later and the D&A cheque hasn't arrived. My editor has approved it and sent the required paperwork to the publisher but the accounting system seems to be slow. I know the money is coming but unfortunately (for me at least) the Canadian dollar is almost at par with the US dollar.

That's about it for know. I will keep this updated more regularly this time.