Tag: Novel

The Time I Accidentally Interviewed John Lennon’s Best Friend 

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This is something that happened a couple of years ago and even though it’s such a bonkers and interesting story, I never got the chance to share it on the blog.  

As a writer you often have odd and specific questions that come up during your draft. And since I was writing a book about a real historical person, I was heavily researching all the time. Most of the novel takes place in 1958 and during that time, John Lennon was a student at the Liverpool College of Art. So I was trying to dig up any information about teachers, summer assignments, general environment, etc. But I couldn’t find a whole lot in relation to John… mostly because he hated going to school and caused so much trouble there, he got kicked out lol.  

As I was Googling this very specific question, I found a Facebook group for those who attended the college at the time. There was this guy from Liverpool that had randomly commented something on that page. I thought he seemed pretty sharp,. It was a long shot that he would have actually been in Lennon’s year (’58) or had a class with him or anything, but he had at least been a student and would know some of my specific questions about the college. So I sent him a message.

Just want to say, I do not solicit strangers on the internet. This was a huge deal for me to do this, really. When he wrote me back I was overjoyed that he would want to talk to me! My heart was pounding so hard. I mean, this was a person that walked the same halls as a Beatle, my goodness. He could’ve known someone who had an actual conversation with John or touched John’s old discarded gum on the underside of a desk for all I knew. (foreshadowing wink)

So I talked about the college with this stranger named Bill. And I didn’t dare ask him directly about Lennon, because I just figured people were tired of talking about him honestly. His strong personality was very much hit or miss in art school. But all the sudden, to my absolute astonishment, this Bill guy started telling me personal stories about John. “John and I would go to this pub and we had this secret club and we used to do this and this.” And I was like… wait… I looked up this Bill Harry guy… and holy $#!%! I WAS ACTUALLY TALKING TO ONE OF JOHN’S BEST FRIENDS FROM SCHOOL SUPER CASUAL ON FB MESSENGER.

I barged into Dan’s room full on shaking and sobbing.

ME: *hysterical* I just got a one-degree separation from all The Beatles.

Hahaha! So anyway, even though Bill Harry went to this art school he ended up becoming a writer. And he actually even sent me some articles he wrote about John (K he’s like the nicest guy ever. First off) He ended up becoming this amazing contact. I could go to him with any questions regarding Lennon or the 1958 Liverpool music scene or anything!  

I’m so happy to tell you that many of Bill’s personal stories of John made their way into the book!  

I don’t know if you believe in fate, or synchronicities, or kharma. But I personally believe that I was led to talk to this person. I mean… One of John’s good friends during the exact time period the book takes place AND someone who became an accomplished writer themselves AND was still alive and accessible! It was just pretty amazing to me.  

If you’re anxious to pick up Love Me Do and start reading, you do not have to wait until February! All of my patrons who sign up this month will get immediate access to the first chapter. AND there is a bonus never ever ever before seen opening. Different tiers have different rewards going forward and you can cancel at any time! Click below to learn more: 

My Patreon Page

Chapter One posts next week and if you would like to be notified by email, enter your address here:

I’M RELEASING ONE OF MY BOOKS NEXT MONTH!

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Hello, hello! I’m back after a much-needed break and horrible morning sickness.

Several months ago I was talking to one of my best friends. And I asked for his honest opinion of which book idea I should work on next. As I rattled off each ideas his “ooh’s” grew more enthusiastic until finally when I was done he said, “Okay… my honest opinion, is that you need to learn how to mass produce so that you can write every idea you have.”

And I felt that in my soul.

I started writing even MORE and FASTER than before. I worked up my own process into what I call a “half-draft”. (Cramming the bare bones of a novel into 30k words and then editing from there). And when I realized I could actually “mass-produce”, I suddenly saw my work with a clearer vision.

I saw my books in different places with different audiences. I saw different platforms and distribution. I saw the books that strongly fit into the traditional publishing market and the ones that were better suited elsewhere. I metaphorically looked at the several projects in my lap for the last five years and said to myself, “People should read this.”

And on top of all those revelations, the most glaring one was:

This Beatles book is going to be impossible to publish.

The copyright issues of using real people, real songs, real events is kind of a nightmare. Which, I knew (slashed ignored) that problem when I first began the novel years ago. And now I’m here like, “What do I do with this thing?”

So I thought…

If I can’t sell it… what if I gifted it instead? … To YOU… FOR FREE. I’ve talked about it for so long on this blog and besides I have a lot of other projects that I could develop for publishing.

The reason WHY I wrote the book in the first place was because an elderly writer on hospice gave me this advice, “Take the strangest idea that you have and write that.” … Well, the strangest idea I had (at that time) was a time-traveler who was forced to go back in time and marry John Lennon away from his band. That advice liberated me from expectations, and I wrote a whole ridiculous book just for me. And since I wrote it for myself for fun, I don’t see why you can’t just have it for fun.

So I’m releasing Love Me Do here on the blog. Totally for free. One chapter every Thursday starting in February.

*This will NOT effect “Kid’s Say the Darndest Things” that will still come out the beginning of every month.*

>>Click here to learn more about Love Me Do and read the “back cover blurb”<<

*You do not need to know anything about The Beatles to enjoy the book. Although fans would probably enjoy this book best, it was written in such a way that a non-fan could easily follow along.*

I’m SUPER resisting the urge to tell you how convoluted the plot is. And that it’s kinda dumb and hasn’t seen a professional editor. But I’M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU ALL THAT OR HOW BAD IT IS, SO FORGET IT!

I’m terrified of putting myself out there, but I am doing it anyway! And speaking of putting myself out there… I’m also launching a Patreon in a couple of weeks! So even though the entire novel will be released FOR FREE one chapter a week on this blog you can support me by becoming a Patreon and get lots of monthly goodies like early access to chapters, sneak peeks of other projects and even a physical signed copy of the book in the mail!

Stay tuned for lots of fun “behind the book” stories and mark your calendars, Chapter One posts on February 3rd.

Resolutions Update: Summer Quarter

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Let’s check in on some of these resolutions shall we?

MAKE A LIST OF THINGS TO PUT TOGETHER IN THE NEW HOUSE; DO SOME OF THE THINGS:

Things are HAPPENING! Let me tell you I am THRILLED. The first half of the year, I thought things were going so slowly, but now as more and more things are checked off the list, I see just how much progress we’re actually making! It’s great! We even checked off our two biggest projects this quarter. Fixing our irrigation system and putting new lights in the basement. Man, you know you’re a boring adult when you do some remodeling and then that’s all you want to talk about. Every time anyone comes over I’m like, “Look at these lights! Have you seen how bright it is?? You shoulda seen it before! The paint color is different! Aren’t these great lights? Look, they’re smart lights I can make them Christmas colors wheeeeeeeeee!”

MAKE A HABIT OF STRETCHING EVERY DAY, SLOWLY BUILD UP A YOGA ROUTINE:

Well, this one suddenly died. Pffffffft! I don’t know what happened! I was doing so well and then suddenly I wasn’t doing well anymore!

CLEAN WHILE THE BOYS ARE IN THE BATH

And then this one suddenly came alive. HAHAHA! What happened was Jack started going to school every day. And so I was like THIS IS IT. I am DOING A FREAKING CLEANING ROUTINE. And so far it’s going well. I don’t know why I can’t have a cleaning routine AND an excersice routine. It’s like one or the other. Like I have to just pick one to win at in life.

WRITING WRITING EVERYWHERE

I mean… I don’t know. I’m at a little bit of a loss. I’m now in the middle of two books. Both paranormal thrillers. Sooooo… I JUST DON’T KNOW! I was doing great with the one and then suddenly I stopped writing in the middle of May. And I have not been able to pick it back up. It kind of freaks me out. This happens to me a lot. I will be PLOWING forward on a new project and then get burnt out at thirty thousand words. HOW DO YOU GET OVER THAT HURDLE??? Comment any advice please!! At least I’m back to blogging so that part is okay. Short story I don’t know. But first draft done by fall?? UGHHHHH! JUST LET THIS HAPPEN FOR ME PLEASE MUSES!!