There are numerous reasons I haven’t blogged for a couple years. This post is about one of them.
On-and-off over the course of a few years, with multiple interruptions , I’ve been writing something. I alternate between calling it “my Great American Novel” and “my doorstop.” My misadventures in graphic novels comprised the latest, longest interruptions. More on that in the future, maybe.
But now the rough draft is complete. I can’t remember the page count for War & Peace; but this book probably will rival one of Tolstoy’s works in length.
The scope of the novel includes such topics as manhood, leadership, relationships, football, America, history…with action and adventure spread throughout, of course.
When the saga begins, Pete is a pre-adolescent boy growing up as many men from Generation X did: in a broken home with a party girl mother and absentee father, left to figure stuff out on his own. He’s smart and talented; but also hopelessly ignorant. His fate is to make stupid mistake after stupid mistake, and pay dearly for them the rest of his life.
But Fate gets outflanked when his time-traveling uncle arrives on the scene to teach him about life, love, and full-contact sports. And to rescue him from a cross-continuum hit team of invisible assassins.
To use movie terms, fiction I’ve written up to now could be described as rated PG13, with R-rated action. This is more of a solid R, due to language and “strong sexual content.” So if this were a movie, there would be some nudity and some “love scenes” where there is no question what activity the characters are engaged in–though graphic details are left to the imagination.
As with most of my books, I can guarantee you somebody will be offended–whether it be because it’s from the opposite political perspective most readers are used to, or because of what the uncle teaches Pete about game, frame, and hypergamy. But I don’t plan on changing that.
Unlike the first few books I brought to this stage, I’m not in a hurry to publish (ironic, considering how long it’s taken so far). Former fighter pilot (oh yeah, there’s air-to-air combat, too. Did I fail to mention that?) and stand-up guy John Earle is helping me proof it. I also tend to do a lot of revising/self-editing during and after the rough draft. Typically, I then have some beta readers look at it before I polish and publish. With this book, I think I’ll find my beta readers differently.
Next time, I intend to start posting chapters right here on the blog. That means you can read my doorstop masterpiece for free. You can also share your thoughts in the comments. No commitment; no expectations. But if you have the time and find the story interesting, you can tell me what you think along the way. Or not. IOW, you can be a beta reader.
I don’t know how well this will work. I’ve shared excerpts from other books after-the-fact; but never offered a sneak preview like this. I know others have, so this is not unprecedented.
See ya next time.