Hello old timers and new readers alike. I had to take a break from politics for a while, partially because I was very burned out following the Presidential election, and partially because I have focused most of my efforts on compiling a book of short stories. Long ago I learned that, while I didn’t have the skills and acumen to write a novel, I could write a very strong short story. My once-almost-every-day posts here on Kos prepared me for the endless revisions and the motivation needed to see my goal through.
I’ve gotten a fish on the line with a minor press. For those not in the know, minor presses are an excellent way to get started on the path to some degree of renown. They have limited press runs, print only a few thousand copies in totality, usually run on shoestring budgets, and fold all the time. As I said, they’re a good way to get one’s foot in the door. I can’t afford an agent right now, but hope to make it into the major leagues if I can. The only way to play with the big boys is to get an agent, otherwise you go no further.
I’ve published about eight short stories that have made it into the pages of various literary magazines and journals. I have two or three more that got turned down. These will need to be refined and edited judiciously to pass muster. But that’s the last step of the process. The next logical step is to get my first book published. And, while I’m on the subject, should you wish to pursue the same path, leave me a private message or comment directly to this thread so that I can pay it forward to you. I warn you now, it’s going to take a while and a lot of time. It’s taken me years to get here. The learning curve is steep, but should you master it, doors will begin to open.
The title of the book is going to be “Bird Dog.” A story of the same name will be featured first of all in the collection. It is the strongest story in the collection and needs to be placed there to grab the attention of my audience. I am tentatively going to be published on an aforementioned minor press, but rather than spilling too much information too soon, I’ll wait until a little later to go public with the news. Maybe that will be enough of a teaser to hold your attention.
In case you were curious, “Bird Dog” is the name of a 1958 song by the Everly Brothers. It refers specifically a slang phrase popular in the Fifties. Specifically, it’s a man who steals girlfriends from other men or a woman who acts in the same fashion, brazenly stealing boyfriends from other women. I was reminded of the phrase again in reading the most comprehensive Sylvia Plath biography ever compiled, Red Comet, which was released last year and runs to a massive 900 pages. You really have to be a Plath scholar and obsessive to make it all the way through, in my opinion, though it is exceedingly well-written.
Small presses require an immense amount of self-promotion. Spoiler alert: this is why I’m using 15 or so years of presence here for my own benefit. I hope I can get you to purchase the book when it finally comes out. What do I write about, you ask? I pull from every subject and source. Here in Kos, I often write about the intersection of religion and politics. There’s some of that present in a story or two in my manuscript draft. Fiction writers are said to be stealers of other people’s memories and life stories. I wouldn’t disagree with that assessment, but there’s a lot of myself present, too.
You probably won’t find me around here that much for several more months. I’ll be sure to post updates as I go. And again, if you request it, I promise to tell you the password to get into the secret playhouse. If you are persistent and really take the time, you might amaze yourself at how far you go. The choice is yours.