Don't Self-Publish Your First Draft

Number 1 of 5 Rarely Discussed Self-Publishing Mistakes: What NOT To Do

1. Don't Self-Publish Your First Draft: Amazon reviewers will blast your book for the many errors they're bound to find. They'll write things like, "I couldn't get past the first chapter because of all the errors," and, "This is obviously self-published." Fine-tune your manuscript by going through at least one round of revisions and self-editing and then hire a professional editor to bring a different perspective to the project. To paraphrase Ernest Hemingway: "The first draft of anything is crap. Don't publish crap."

The statement above is correct in many ways. I personally rewrite my manuscript twice before sending off to an editor. You won't believe the changes you make, the mistakes you find, and how much better your story becomes as you revise it. Yes, it takes time, but it's worth it in the end. Readers know there will be typos, but so long as they're kept to a minimum and your book has been professionally edited, you will likely receive more positive reviews.

My third book, Big Jim, has a release date for November 2015. Will keep you posted on its progress.

Keep on reading!

David

www.Lucerobooks.com

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

It’s been quite a year for all of us. As for me, I’ve shuffled from a few stores before landing on my feet in one of the best places I can be. That’s pretty satisfying to know I’ve a career which can support my family.

I took a family vacation to the Grand Canyon (my third time) and hiked to the bottom and back (my second time doing that!). My wife retired after forty-one years (a great achievement for anyone). And I’m nearing completion of my third book (to be published in late 2015 if all goes according to plan).

I certainly hope all of you are well this holiday season. Some good news to share is how independent bookstore sales have increased in 2014. To all of you who have supported these stores, you have our many thanks. Remember, reading takes you to places you dream of visiting, but have yet to do so.

May you be blessed to spend this time with family and have an equally successful New Year!

All the best to you!

David

https://www.facebook.com/WhosMindingTheStore?ref=hl

https://www.twitter.com/DavidLucero

Everyone Needs To Hike The Grand Canyon!

Our Grand Canyon Adventure

by David Lucero

July 2014 marked my third visit to the Grand Canyon National Park, and my second time to the bottom and back. This was more special for a number of reasons, far too many to name.

It started with my wife, Martha, and brother in-law Albert, who did a large part of the planning and prep work. My wife’s family in Mexico wanted to visit the Grand Canyon, their first time, and Albert wanted to hike to the bottom of the canyon with his son, Jesse, who had never been there.

Ten years earlier we hiked to the bottom with a different group. Let’s see…There was Albert, his daughter (and my niece Daniza), Martha (my wife), our son Carlo, his then-girlfriend Winter, and me!

When we arrived we immediately went to the Back Country Information Office to see about hiking permits to the bottom. Whenever you hike the trails you must have a hiking permit. These take months, sometimes years in advance for reservations. Well, much to our initial disappointment, the office was not issuing hiking permits due to the water lines down the Bright Angel Trail having broken down. We did manage to get on a waiting list though.

Midway in our vacation we received notice the water lines were fixed and were issued hiking permits to the bottom. We had much to learn. Firstly, we didn’t have the right gear. Nor did we make reservations for meals at the Phantom Ranch Restaurant at the bottom of the canyon. We had to rent backpacks and sleeping pads because we thought we would need the equipment. Turns out we were way wrong!

My brother in-law used hiking poles, which I thought looked silly. My father bought us wooden hiking staffs, which I thought was more appropriate. Another mistake! That journey taught us a lot.

The reason this year’s hiking adventure was more special was due to how well prepared we were. All of us utilized hiking poles. We had the right trail hikers, clothing, sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, back packs, fleece blankets, and sleeping pads. We even had small pillows. And we made reservations for a camping spot in the Bright Angel Campground at the bottom, along with reserving meals for dinner and breakfast     a must!

Before I jump ahead of myself to the good stuff let me tell you what we had to do in order to make this one of the more memorable trips I’ve enjoyed.

The Planning

Martha and I began prepping our equipment six weeks in advance. Albert and her made the reservations about three months in advance for the Mather Campground sites located on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park. We were lucky! You really should plan your reservations at least a year in advance.

Our group was 28 persons. Albert, Jesse, Justin, Carlo and me would leave Saturday morning at 4:30 AM, while Martha and the family would leave San Diego on Monday to Sedona, and meet us at the Grand Canyon on Tuesday the following week.

Martha and I have a small trailer and most of the equipment. Tents, kitchenette sink, tables, screen tent for the picnic table. We lacked nothing. We opened all the tents and cleaned them up. Made sure we had enough tarps for the tent floor prints. We even had to borrow some tents from our good friends Debbie and Tim. Good thing because we needed them!

We stacked chairs, tables, inflatable mattresses, cots, hammocks, camp stoves, plates, food, you name it, and we had it. We lacked nothing in the way of camping comfort. Martha even had to repair a tear in our screen tent made by a black bear during our visit to Yosemite National Park in August 2012.

Albert helped me grease the ball-bearings to my trailer, I had the 4Runner checked and tuned up, put the Yakima rack on it. We even did training hikes in the nearby Mission Trails Park in San Diego and other areas. During this time we still had no reservations for meals at the Phantom Ranch Restaurant. We planned on making up for this by taking hydrated food packs bought at REI. Expensive, but good. I had a small hiking stove should the need arise.

We left San Diego at 4:30 AM, most of the gear packed and ready to go. Five of us stuffed in the 4Runner. We took the 805N Freeway to the 163N Freeway, to the 15 N Freeway and drove through to Temecula, and took the 79 Freeway to Palm Desert. At 6:30 AM we stopped for a breakfast-to-go at Del Taco. Don’t laugh! We wanted to save time by not going to a fancy restaurant. The breakfast burrito never tasted better.

By 7:00 AM we were on the 10 East heading to Prescott, AZ. It wasn’t as comfortable due to the heat. It reached 100 degrees and I didn’t turn on the air conditioner due to the extra weight I carried in the trailer and on the top rack of the 4Runner. I’m sure Carlo, Jesse, and Justin won’t forgive me for that!

It was smooth driving for much of the way. I was surprised how inexpensive gas was. Only $3.59 a gallon! We reached Prescott, AZ at 1:30 PM. The drive through the desert was uneventful, but impressive. Nice views of the desolate territory which I hadn’t seen for some time.

In Prescott we enjoyed a hearty lunch at the Prescott Brewery. You’ve gotta stop here. They make a mean Jalapeno Burger with Potato Wings. The beer is good, too! Unfortunately, we needed to make a stop at the grocery store for some quick food. You see, Martha was taking most of the food with her group so it wouldn’t spoil. This meant we needed to eat on the basics. Beer, peanut butter sandwiches, and hydrated food packs. They never tasted better!

We didn’t leave Prescott until 3:30 PM, a bit longer than we wanted. We arrived at the park entrance around 5:30 PM, via the Williams City route. You can avoid this by continuing on the 10 East and taking the Grand Canyon exit, but still have 60 miles to travel to the park entrance. Check in was simple, and by 6:30 PM we had our tents and hammocks up.

Mather Campground by far has the best outdoor facilities I’ve enjoyed. After serving in the Army I want to be sure to take a shower every night and use a decent bathroom. Go ahead and laugh! But I want my comfort even in the outdoors.

We enjoyed beers, peanut butter sandwiches this first night. Our campsite was simple and we didn’t need to break out all of the gear because the main party wouldn’t arrive until Tuesday. I slept under the stars in my hammock for the first time. Got a bit cold so I used my hammock, otherwise it was very comfortable. Be sure and use hammock straps versus nylon ropes to protect the trees!

The next day we had to move camp to our permanent site, but it was close and we were able to carry our tents to the new site without having to tear them down and put them up again. We enjoyed a breakfast at the nearby general market in the Yavasupai Café. No sense roughing it yet. We needed the carbs and a good meal for our upcoming hike.

Spent the day relaxing in camp and saving on energy. The plan was to get up at 3:30 AM and be at the Back Country Office at 4:00 AM so we could get the shuttle at 4:05 AM to take us to the South Kaibab Trail. You can leave you vehicle parked in the Back Country Office Lot D overnight so long as your campsite tag is on the window. This lot is not too far from the Bright Angel Lodge. You can’t park and leave your car in the South Kaibab Trail, so you really have no choice here.

The Hike

By 4:45 AM we were marching down the South Kaibab Trail. It’s dark this time of morning, so be sure and invest in reliable head lamps. These have a strap which goes around your head with a light to your front. This allows you to keep your hands free and use your hiking poles while shining the path in front of you.

If you want to enjoy the scenery, be sure and stop walking before looking at the vast canyon views. One misstep can send you tumbling to the bottom. The first thing you realize is how the canyon changes the further you descend. The views are magnificent beyond description (an ironic thing for a writer to state, but so true).

You can see the sunrise over the canyon and it’s something to behold. When you go down a third of the way you come to a rest stop with a better-than-average outhouse and more views of the canyon. Remember, when taking the South Kaibab Trail you must be completely self-sufficient. There are no water lines here. Take a minimum 3 liter water bag and two liter bottle. Fill the bottle with electrolytes to give you the extra energy needed and be sure and eat energy bars filled with carbohydrates. Beef jerky is also good along with orange slices. Take plastic bags for trash because there are no places to leave it and you aren’t permitted to bury trash either.

When we neared the Tonto Trail we came across a lone hiker, a Navajo who called himself the Crazy Navajo. We asked why they called him that and he said, “The rangers say I must be crazy because I never leave this place.” Turns out he hiked the canyon 70 times, including 28 times rim-to-rim. He was 70 years old, but if he’d said he was 50 I would’ve believed him.

After a second bathroom break at the Tonto Trail we started the 4.5 mile trek heading east toward Bright Angel Trail. It surprised me to learn less than 1% of visitors hike to the bottom, and even fewer hike the Tonto Trail. This part of the canyon is quite barren and flat, skirting the rim halfway down. The views here are one of a kind, but you must watch your footing carefully. The trail is loose in some areas and it’s a long way down should you have a misstep.

The orange slices came in handy along with the Tanko Beef Jerky. We even saw the condors flying overhead. When we reached the Bright Angel Trail be sure and head left so you can refill your water bladders. Take a break, enjoy the scenery, but don’t get too comfortable. You still have 6 miles to hike down to Bright Angel Campground.

We lucked out because of the rains. The creeks were full and crystal clear. Along the way we were able to remove our shirts and wash ourselves in the ice cold water. The weather never got above 90 degrees, but it was still warm. We came across deer drinking in the creek, and a lot of squirrels while hiking down the switchbacks.

Your knees will begin to ache at this point, but that’s normal. This is where you appreciate having hiking poles. They saved me from losing my footing on more than one occasion, and relieved the pressure on my knees.

I recommend having hiking gloves, a handkerchief, a broad-brimmed hat, long sleeve shirt (it’s okay to roll up the sleeves), and the best pair of trail hikers you can buy. I bought the North Face Trail Hikers and they were fine. You’re not forging a new trail, so no need to have ankle-high boots. And make sure your socks are thick and comfortable. Take an extra pair, too!

We reached the river about 1:00 PM. From here you have a mile hike to the Bright Angle Campground. It’s slow-moving in loose sand, but you have no choice. The campsites are first-come, first-serve. No place to put up hammocks, so be sure and have a 3” thick full body inflatable sleeping pad. Have an inflatable pillow, too. You have to keep your hiking and camp permit attached to your back pack for the rangers (they do check).

You can strip down to your shorts and cool off in the creek once you choose your campsite. It feels good! Dinner at the Phantom Ranch Restaurant is at 5:30 PM and you MUST have reservations! Make the reservations months in advance for dinner and breakfast. You’ll need the energy and the food is great! We had beef stew, corn bread, salad, beer, water, and cake, all you can eat, but don’t eat too much. You don’t want to risk getting sick. Keep it to a serving and a half.

You also have to have reservations for breakfast. All of the food is brought down on mules each day, so make these reservations at the same time you reserve a hiking and campsite permit. Be diligent! They don’t respond quickly to emails and calls. It is what it is.

I suggest getting as much rest as you can. I slept in camp from two to four PM. Stripped down to my shorts and soaked in the creek before joining everyone for dinner. Take a spare set of shorts and shirt, and be sure and bring sandals for the creek. I forgot mine and regretted not having them.

There are no showers here, but there are bathrooms. If you want a shower you have to rent the dorms or cabins. We roughed it by staying in the campground. More fun this way.

Wake up at 4:30 AM, breakfast at 5:00 AM. The breakfast was scrambled eggs, bacon, pancakes and coffee. Don’t eat too much. One serving will do. By 6:15 AM we were on the trail back up.

It’s much warmer at the bottom of the canyon. Be sure and drink regularly whether you are thirsty or not. You can refill your bladders at the Bright Angel Campground, so be sure to do so because you won’t be able to refill until you reach Indian Garden which is a good 6 miles up the canyon floor.

You will see many different type of rock formations, many which date back to prehistoric times, untouched and unchanged for millions of years. At some point you may not appreciate this because you’ll begin to feel exhausted and want to get the hike over with. This is okay, it’s natural. Stay focused, watch your footing, drink water, and talk with one another. This will help you remember why you’re here. And be sure and take photographs! This is the hike of a lifetime and you’ll want more than memories to look back on. Nothing like a photo to share on websites, right?

We reached Indian Garden, refilled our bladders, ate oranges, power bars and beef jerky. Then we began the hike of Jacob’s Ladder. This is a series of switchbacks which will take you to the top. Along the way there are two rest stops with water lines to refill your bladders. Take advantage of it, and take advantage of electrolyte cubes to suck on. They give you the extra boost of energy you need.

The hike is strenuous and you appreciate the hiking poles every switchback you cross. You will see plenty of hikers coming down from the top on their way to Indian Garden, and it’s gratifying to see their stares of admiration when they realize you are the fortunate ones who have hiked to the bottom and back.

When you see mules and their riders coming up or down the trail give them the right of way. You’ll be wishing to take one up the remainder of the trail, but there are no taxis here, so tough it out and finish the hike.

We reached the top of the Bright Angel Trail at 2:00 PM. What an achievement this was! My second time here and most gratifying hike ever. You will feel like you experienced the Grand Canyon in a way it was meant to be. We got back to our vehicle, stopped at the general market for a twelve pack of beers and cracked them open back at camp. Beer never tasted so good!

Justin surprised us by pulling out a bottle of tequila saying, “Because we did this hike, this bottle is for us and us alone!” I think he started a tradition for us.

Some things to remember are listed below for you.

·         Make reservations to hike to the bottom months in advance.

·         Make reservations for meals (breakfast and dinner) at the bottom at Phantom Ranch.

·         Take hiking poles, a 3 inch air mattress, broad brimmed hat, sun tan lotion, hiking gloves and good trail hikers. Keep your pack light and comfortable. Sunglasses too!

·         I also suggest going on hikes in advance of your trip for preparing yourselves for the grueling hike you will endure. It’ll be tough, but something you will cherish for the rest of your life.

See you on the trail!

David Lucero, author

www.LuceroBooks.com

Writing Takes Time, And Is Time Well Spent

Writing takes time. If you haven’t figured this out, that’s okay, you will soon enough. How to make the most of your time depends on your experiences in writing. For me, I have learned to balance my personal life with my desire to write, and although writing is extremely personal for me it’s important I learned not to become so absorbed in my desire to write that I forget about the important things which matter, like family, friends, and work.

I usually make time for writing on my days off from work. I’m an early riser (6:00 AM) and enjoy the quiet in our office or dining room to whip out three to five pages. This takes anywhere from two to three hours (Yes, that long for so little), but that’s how it works when you write a book. Doesn’t happen overnight, but I do this consistently I can have anywhere from 260 to 300 pages in a year (a book!). This time-frame is practical when you consider the amount of research required for your book subject.

My latest work was completed on Thanksgiving morning (before the family arrived) and I shelved it for three months before returning to it for a first-time edit. This helped me look at my book with a fresh set of eyes. I also allowed someone to read my book and review it for feedback, a helpful thing. I knew I had hit home when the reader told me he found himself searching google.com to look up some of the things I wrote about for more information. This means he paid attention and was intrigued.

I’ve been asked time and again how I find time to write. Well, like anything in life one must make the time. It’s no different than making time to go to the grocery store, exercising, going out on a date-night, and doing what needs to be done around the house. Pick a day where you can realistically spend two to three hours writing and in no time you’ll have yourself a book.

So to my fellow writers I say, I look forward to hearing about and reading your next book!

David Lucero, author

www.LuceroBooks.com

http://www.twitter.com/DavidLucero

https://www.facebook.com/WhosMindingTheStore?ref=hl

All Must Do What We Enjoy

Don’t hate me because I like writing most of the time. Sometimes I actually get lucky and come up with something good. Sure, I enjoy a ballgame here and then, a barbecue, going out for dinner. But when you see me holed up at the library, a bookstore, or at my dining room table or office punching away at the keyboard of my laptop it isn't necessary to think I'm wasting my time or being a bore. Writing is what I love. It is my passion. It's when I get to be my true self and helps define who I am, what I have become. We all do something for ourselves. Some cook, some go for a walk, some go for a hike alone. I write. And if you take a moment and read what I write, I'm sure you'll agree I come up with something good from time to time.

David Lucero, author

www.LuceroBooks.com

http://www.twitter.com/DavidLucero

https://www.facebook.com/WhosMindingTheStore?ref=hl

What is a Plot?

The basic definition of a plot is a casual sequence of events that make up a story. This does not mean the events need to be in order. In fact, many stories prove successful back-tracking as I have done in my book(s). The most important part of the plot is what drives the story, and how the events connect throughout the chapters, eventually coming to a conclusion which leaves readers satisfied. I've been asked by readers how I come up with stories and make them into a book. The answer is, I make sure my events throughout the story connect with the main plot of the book so that readers understand the resolution at its end. For me this is the most important part of writing, making sure characters and scenes throughout the story connect, sometimes in a large way, sometimes in a small way, but they must connect in order for readers to make sense of the story. This can be easily achieved if the book is 400-plus pages long, however, many readers prefer books 300 pages or less. This is where connecting scenes in a story can be challenging. 300 pages is not long and the writer must be concise, convincing, and the story entertaining. Not an easy task when you consider over a million books are published each year, leaving readers a multitude of topics to choose from. But then, if it weren't challenging, where would the fun in writing be?

If you want to write a book, I suggest outlining your book in 25 words or less. Call it a blurb. This will tell the reader what it's about. Then create character names. Write descriptions of them in your notes, and how they will connect with the main character(s). You should know how the beginning of your book will start, and what you want up to the middle, but be prepared for major changes as you write your story. Nothing ever goes as planned, and you will find yourself making changes as the pages flow. I like to have an ending in mind and written in notes, too, but this almost always changes, especially as you develop your characters and plot in words. Depending on the plot, you may not be able to keep your book under 300 pages, but that's okay too. Certain stories need to be longer due to the plot. This was the case with my second book, 'Who's Minding the Store?' My first book, 'The Sandman' was a modest 309 pages, but this was due in large part to it being an action-thriller. Those type of stories are relatively easy to keep short and entertaining. This is due in part to readers' ability to easily piece together the plot as they read chapter to chapter. In my second book I had characters the reader needed to know more about. This meant diving into characteristics commonly shared by you and me, and this resulted in a much longer book. It's also testament when it comes to writing a book, always expect the unexpected. Nothing ever goes as planned, and you'll find yourself adding characters and scenes and coming up with new endings you never dreamed of creating. But this only makes writing all the more fun. But don't forget the importance of keeping your story confined to a certain number of pages. The last thing you want is a book the size of an encyclopedia. Readers will only move on to the book on the next shelf if you're not careful.

Keep on reading!

David Lucero, author

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The Professional Writer

I have been asked if I wish my books were a best-seller, or made into a movie. It's a silly question because every writer has grandiose fantasies of readers flocking to bookstores for a copy of their books, and then for a movie producer to say, "I want to make your book into a movie!" It may sound childish, but then we all have a little child's play aching for release. To have such fantasies are not necessarily the sign of an amateur writer.

I have learned through the course of years of writing that success comes through hard work and dedication to your writing. And there are many levels of success. To finish a manuscript. That is a success. To have it published. That is a success. To have readers purchase a copy of your book. That is a success. For readers to write reviews of your story. That is a success.

The professional writer does not always achieve best-seller status, and their books may never be made into a movie. The professional writer is satisfied with the work they created and the success which follows in whatever shape or form.

David Lucero, a proud and professional writer.

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The Editor Is Always Right

Stephen King wrote, To write is Human, to Edit is Divine.

As I begin editing my third manuscript I find the editing part not only fun, but highly necessary. Every writer has a vision how their book will be understood by readers, and yet our vision is often far from the mark. I hear editors say, “It’s necessary for writers to step back and let us do our work in order for the book to be ready for publication. Without proper editing things like book flow, punctuation, repetition, in-depth descriptions of characters and story line will be missed.”

I could not agree more. I am as proud of my work as any writer is, but without editors our books would not be half as enjoyable as readers deserve them to be. I take my hat off to those men and women who make our books that much better. Here’s to another good year of books to write and read.

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Keep on reading!

My Blurb For My Sequel to THE SANDMAN

I have yet to begin the manuscript for the sequel to my first published novel, THE SANDMAN, but I write down ideas as they come. Thus far I think this will be the caption header to grab the readers' attention.

'In 2009 the CIA's top saboteur, code name: SANDMAN, accomplished an impossible mission. Today he is about to accomplish another....Only this time he is not under orders.

I have yet to come up with the blurb for the current novel I finished. I'm still working on the editing before sending it to an editor for the real-deal, so to speak. It is set in 1953 Africa during the golden age of safaris. A white hunter faces a mystical beast summoned by a medicine man who seeks vengeance for those who doubt his magic.

THE SANDMAN is available in hard and soft cover, and eKindle.

Who's Minding the Store? is available in paperback and Kindle.

I'd appreciate your reviews on amazon.com. Authors love to hear feedback from readers.

David

Follow me on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WhosMindingTheStore?ref=hl

and Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/DavidLucero

www.LuceroBooks.com

My New Year Resolution

Seems like everyone has a New Year’s resolution, and that’s not a bad thing. New challenges are exciting. They encourage us to make improvements with ourselves in the way we live and treat others.

As I approach the age of 50 (Yes, it still hasn’t quite sunk in) I find myself more focused and appreciative for what I have than at any other time in my life. You might ask why, and my answer is, as I approach the age of 50 I have done what many do. Which is, I look back at where I’ve been and what I’ve done, what I’m doing and what I’m going to do, along with where I’m going to go. I realize now more than ever, anything is possible.

Last year my wife and I went on the trip of a lifetime. You could say it was the highpoint of many wonderful trips we’ve shared with family and friends. I released my second book. The store I ran closed, but I was selected to run the new store replacing it in a different location. My wife is one year closer to retiring, and that means I can come home to dinner on the table each night (Oh, did I forget to mention my wife loves to cook?). My brother is doing well and my son is, too (I’m very proud of him). My father continues to travel in his retirement, leaving me to wonder if any of us will be so lucky, and I seem to have more spare time than ever on my day off. I suppose being organized is paying off.

My New Year’s resolution has been a bit tricky. It’s not that I have everything I want, because no one ever does. But I want my spare time to be occupied with something meaningful, something I can look back on with pride. So, here it goes…

1. Learn a second language. I’ve been studying Spanish because it is helpful at work and having a lot of fun, too. My wife and son are fluent, so I have plenty of help, and I found a terrific website called www.SpanishDict.com. It’s free and full of great lessons. Asegurese de probar. Te divertiras!
2. Pick up skiing again with our friends. Last year was the first year in eight years we passed up our annual trip, but for a good reason. We traveled to Europe!
3. Visit the pyramids in Mexico City. We’re going with the same group of friends we traveled with to Europe. Everyone should make time to travel. It’s an eye-opening experience.
4. Be successful at work. After all, we all have bills to pay.
5. Get my next book published. I finished the manuscript Thanksgiving Day, so late in 2014 I should be able to get my book released if all goes well.
6. Be a better husband to my wife. After all, she’ll be retiring soon and we’ll be sharing more time together than ever. Twenty-three years of marriage have taught me one must be a good listener to be a good husband, but I still have a lot of work to do, as I’m sure my wife will say (I had to beat her to that one).

That’s it for now, but I’m sure I’ll have more challenges throughout the year. How about you? Want to share your challenges with us? Please feel free to add comments.

THE SANDMAN, a novel of suspense

Who’s Minding the Store?, a novel which raises the question, ‘Who says the customer is always right?’

Time For A Celebration!

No, I’m not referring to the holidays, although I am celebrating those as I’m sure everyone is.

I finished my manuscript this holiday week as Thanksgiving approaches. What a ride it has been. This particular book was inspired by my wife and son. My wife’s favorite author is Stephen King (go figure). She loves his books so much I make sure to buy them for her whenever they come out. You could say it’s been easy deciding what to get her for her birthday, even.

My son read the first manuscript of this story, set in 1953 Tanganyika, Africa, during the golden age of African Safari.

The plot: A white hunter known as Big Jim faces off with a mystical creature summoned by a witch doctor, called a Jabilo, who seeks revenge against those doubting his black magic. This Jabilo is angered over his village turning to professional white hunters for help against troublesome elephant, hyena, lion, and other animals that destroy their crops and kill women and children. In the past the villagers believed the Jabilo could drive away the animals with his magic, but with limited success. When the white hunters came this changed everything for the Jabilo. Their guns vs. his spells were no match, and soon the villagers turned to Big Jim for everything. In desperate attempt to regain confidence and prestige, the Jabilo has summoned the Mnyama, or beast, to destroy the white hunters. Thus begins the most dangerous hunting safari for Big Jim. It is one where must defeat the beast, or die in the African bush.

I shelved this manuscript in 2004, and now that my two books, The Sandman and Who’s Minding the Store have been released, went to work on this in October of 2012. I’ve read several books on the subject of professional hunting and how this way of life has practically disappeared today. It has been an exciting experience for me. The research never felt like work, instead a load of fun selecting books and learning the history of how Africa drew attention of people all over the world.

Now comes the editing stage. But first, I’m going to let my son read this rough draft version for his insight. Although family, I know he will give me important feedback so when the final version is ready for print, readers will have the best version possible.

Keep on reading!

David

www.lucerobooks.com

Keep Thanksgiving A Tradition

I wish you are able to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with family and friends and have a wonderful time! Things seem to be changing right before our eyes, and I for one appreciate what I see.

I recall the time when everyone had the day off for New Year, Easter Sunday, July 4^th, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Most major holidays fall victim to big-box retailers who are slaves to the unholy dollar, and keep their doors open. Now it looks like Thanksgiving is going away, too. Why we should take note of this? If it can happen to Thanksgiving, we may expect Christmas to fall next.

Already we see movie theaters, grocery stores, and gas stations open. It’s only a matter of time before Christmas goes altogether. I think it’s a shame people find themselves saying, “I’m just grateful to have a job.” Translation: Work or else!

What happened to the days when people felt secure in their job? Secure enough to enjoy the holidays with family and friends and not fear losing their job because of an Ebenezer Scrooge employer?

If you’re one of those people who must work on the holiday, my thoughts and prayers go out for you. I wish you are able to enjoy some of this time despite having to work in order for people to spend this holiday season spending money when they could enjoy this time with people who mean the most to them.

I hope you don’t feel I’m sounding morbid. I only hate to see special holidays disappear for all the wrong reason.

Happy Holiday and God Bless!

David

Is It Hazard A Writer Makes Money?

In his book, Green Hills of Africa, Hemingway wrote of his two-month safari in 1933. I'm reading his book as research for my next book, about a white hunter facing off a mystical creature summoned by a witch doctor to bring swift justice against those who no longer respect his magic.

I've read many books on the subject, of African safaris, and like many writers and readers I have been drawn to Hemingway largely due to his popularity. He's considered the greatest American writer, some say. I cannot disagree with him being one of the greatest known writers in America, and probably the world, but to bestow him, perhaps anyone, with such a title as the greatest writer would be an injustice.

In Green Hills of Africa he writes, 'Is is only by hazard that a writer makes money although good books always make money eventually. Then our writers when they have made some money increase their standard of living and they are caught. They have to write to keep up their establishments, their wives, and so on, and they write slop. It is slop not on purpose but because it is hurried. Because they write when there is nothing to say or no water in the well. Because they are ambitious. Then, once they have betrayed themselves, they justify it and you get more slop.'

Hemingway continued the paragraph how writers who believe critics when they say they are good, must also believe them when they say they are rotten. Hemingway believed a writer could lose his confidence and ability to write well when he/she wrote for critics instead of readers, and the love of writing itself. I suppose some of what he wrote is true. However, I could not help feeling what a hypocrite he appeared to be.

I've read Hemingway's books, not all, but some. I found his short stories to be a large disappointment. The Snows of Kilimanjaro, The Killers, The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber, all were made into enjoyable movies, and yet Hemingway wrote these as short stories. Extremely short! And highly disappointing. When I read his words above I could not help wonder, is he being a hypocrite, or talking about how he himself lost his edge? I asked myself this question because when I read his books I could not help wonder what all the brouhaha was about him.

I'm a writer, and like all writers we crave to be published. After all, the only way people can read what we write is if we get published. The more well-known we are, the more our books are read. In retail, how I earn my living, I advertise what I sell in order to make money. The more well-known we are, the more I sell my products. It's the same with being a writer. The more well-known we are     Well, I you get my message.

In a way, I feel bad for Hemingway, because many of his books, or stories, I have read of his are, as he says, slop. They are short and hurried. I felt robbed when I finished them. My time is important, too. But sitting here and writing this post I cannot help wonder if he wrote that part in his book to explain why his passion was no longer there. Maybe I am too quick to judge, and should admire him for the courage to explain himself when he had no reason to explain to anyone other than himself.

What do you think?

Keep on reading!

David Lucero, author

www.LuceroBooks.com

https://www.facebook.com/WhosMindingTheStore?ref=hl

I Like Writing a Lot!

And this takes up much of my time, as any writer will tell you. So when do I find the time to write? Well, it is not easy to do. Any writer can tell you to simply write, but in truth we all have lives to live. We have work to pay the bills, families to spend time with and love them the way they love us, things to do around the house (we have to do our part too!), take vacations (remember, vacations are a necessity, not a luxury).

Here's an example of how difficult in can be to write even on your day off. I'm writing this post after I completed my 9:00 AM appointment with my insurance agent to review our coverage for our home, auto, and life policies, did the grocery shopping, paid the bills, walked the dog, folded the clothes. Now it's nearly 3:00 PM and I'm a bit wiped. You know, ready for that late afternoon drink to take the edge off and enjoy the quiet time. But I still have that itch to write!

And so, instead of kicking back with that drink in the backyard, or relaxing in front of the TV, I'm going to write a few pages on my manuscript-in-progress. Tired as I am, I know it will make me feel good same as a good workout would. And you know something...Sometimes I actually come up with something good! Imagine that!

Keep on reading!

David

www.LuceroBooks.com

It's What Writer's Do

A person reached out to me about my experiences as a writer, saying he wants to write a book and didn't know where to start. I provided him with tips about plot, characters, book flow, editing and such. Then he asked, “Why do you write?”

I asked him, “Why do you want to write a book?” He said he still wasn't quite sure, only that he thought it might be a good hobby seeing how he’s nearing retirement.

Without skipping a beat, I answered, “Writing is an obsession. Writers write because it feels like what kids feel when going to Disneyland. It’s fun! It’s more fun than an evening having dinner with the in-laws (pun intended). Writing is more fun than going out for drinks on guys-night-out (another pun intended). We write because we have a story to tell you. We write because we have to. Writers write because it’s our moment of expressing our creative side that can only be felt when we write. We write because it’s what writers do. Writing is not a hobby. It's an obsession.”

You know what... I think Glen appreciated the clarity.

Keep on reading, and I'll keep on writing!

David

www.LuceroBooks.com

How to Organize a Book Event - A Guide From One Who's Been There

How I Organized an Author Event with the Public Library

I walk my dog, Zion, an energetic Schipperke, each day to keep him trim and fit     and hopefully wear out some of the never-ending energy he has that sometimes makes him unbearable. Little did I know this daily habit would help me learn how to organize a book event.

On a Monday I walked past the Paradise Hills Public Library, a small branch part of the San Diego Public Library down the street from where my wife and I live, and decided now was the time to introduce myself to the branch manager. I'd been wanting to do this for a long time and for the life of me cannot fathom why I didn't do this sooner.

You see, once I became a published author I quickly learned the potential of participating in author events. Street fairs bring huge crowds, as do libraries. Being published is one step. Marketing you and your book is a whole new ball game. It didn't take long for me to realize seeing how my name is not ending with Grisham, Clancy, King, Meade, Rother,Matthews, Hilborne, and the like, well... to put it plain...why would anyone want to buy a book written by me?

Don't get me wrong! Because my name is not any of the above mentioned does not mean my book is not worth a reader's time. After all, many of the best and favorite books we read are from authors we never heard of. We bought their books because someone recommended the title, or we saw the book cover and title in a bookstore (new, used, even a thrift store), liked what we saw, read it     and loved it! Besides, even the famous authors who are household names were once like me, which is to say not in the famous and household category     as of yet anyway.

I learned right away my biggest supporters would be family and friends. Book lovers would come later, but better late than never, right? Fortunately I'd been talking about how I loved to write since I was fourteen, so 30 years later when my first book, the award-winning thriller The SANDMAN, was published I had a lot of support from the people I chewed their ears off about how I wanted to be a writer. Not just any writer     a published writer. Family, friends from my personal life, friends from work, all supported me and helped me realize my dream. However, when interest waned it was up to me to market my book in order to keep the momentum rolling. After all, I spent so much time and effort doing what I loved it didn't make sense for me to sit behind my desk and do nothing.

After my second signing at Bay Books in Coronado, CA, I knew I had to do something. So I attended book events at street fairs and libraries. It soon became obvious how these large events drew crowds. My publisher at Navigator Books told me to attend as many as I could because if you could get half a dozen or more authors to attend an event, the chances of drawing a larger crowd were greater than if you alone were the sole author expected to be seen and heard.

But let me keep things in perspective for you. Any event is a hit-and-miss. I've been in retail for twenty-five years and do a lot of marketing for products. Even when we plan and execute everything right the crowds don't necessarily come. But the exposure for what you do and are trying to sell is still worth its weight in gold. Take for instance the Reader's & Writer's Event I organized with the help of branch manager Shaun Briley at the Paradise Hills Public Library in San Diego, CA. The library created a flyer with the pictures and bio of 13 authors (me included) who would be in attendance of the event scheduled for September 21, 2013. This flyer was located in every library branch associated with the San Diego Public Library for a full month. That means our name and picture and book(s) were exposed in high-profile buildings where hundreds of people visit each day. Have you ever walked past something that caught your eye, didn't buy it or pay too much attention to it, but some time later you saw it again, only this time you stopped walking, went over to the bookshelf and reached for the book that caught your eye some time earlier? Next thing you know you read the back cover, liked it, bought it, and took it home to read it.

This is the kind of exposure that is worth its weight in gold. For instance, yesterday one of the guests visiting the event listened to my pitch about my books. Authors love talking about our books. Anyway, she said, "I've heard of your name before, but don't remember where?" Well, this person bought a copy of my latest book, 'Who's Minding the Store?' It's a comedy taking place in a retail store. I have no doubt she bought a copy of my book because she'd heard of my name somewhere before, could not remember where, but this time grew more interested and actually wanted my book. So she bought it!

This is what I mean by the power of exposure. You may not sell a lot of copies of your book at these events, but the exposure will pay off in the long run, and people will applaud you for going to the length of making things happen for you.

To get back to how I arranged the book event. Shaun Briley, the branch manager, shook my hand, listened to me explain how I am an author and wanted to know if the library would be willing to host an author event here. It so happens this little library has a great children's turnout, but not so much adult turnout. Shaun was looking to improve adult participation and we both agreed an author event would do precisely that. We arranged for a meeting the following Monday, but which time we would agree on a pre-determined date for the event and how many authors would participate.

This is where the tricky part could have been had I not participated in a number of street fairs and library events in the past (I've been published since 2009). When you go to these events it's important to make friends with other authors. Get their business cards, ask them to remember you for other events they are part of so you can participate. Get your books entered in contests. The SANDMAN was entered in the 2009 Military Writer's Society of America's Book Awards and placed 1st Runner-Up for Best Fiction! Now I can promote myself as an award-winning author.

In any case, I asked my publisher, Maria Edwards at Navigator-Books in San Diego, and Karla Olson with San Diego Read Local, to get me in contact with their list of local authors who would be interested in attending an event with the Paradise Hills branch library. Both thought I should reach out to the authors I'd already met first, and if needed, they could forward my request later. Their reasoning was that both knew I'd attended enough events that we probably already knew the same authors who want to participate.

They were right!

I got an overwhelming 13 authors to commit participation, and when I met with Shaun the following Monday in late July 2013 I was ecstatic. I felt to be a credible author who in fact could not only help promote myself, but genuinely help the library improve adult participation. Some of the authors in attendance had huge credits to their names. For example, Caitlin Rother is a New York Times Bestselling author and Pulitzer Price Nominee for Journalism. Thomas K Matthews is a Top 100 Bestselling author with Amazon. Jenny Hilborne is a Bestselling author with amazon. Terry Ambrose's books have been praised by bestselling authors, Sarah Bates' book was accepted and is on display in the Arlington National Cemetery Bookstore. Kimberly O'Hara writes children books. Shari Lynn Brown writes the Mystery of M series. Teresa Burrell is a lawyer, advocate, and successful author. Brae Wyckoff is promoting an epic fantasy adventure trilogy beginning with The Orb of Truth. Jeff Edwards displayed his Navy Thriller books that won Clive Cussler Admiral Awards twice! And Paul R De Lancey displayed his hilarious books from the Lords of Fun series. And then there was me. I had the privilege of setting my table alongside these talented authors with my books on display. Sounds like a pretty good list of authors in attendance, doesn't it. Well, I got there names from the business cards I'd collected, and when I reached out to them some of the authors I know said they would ask other authors they knew, who in turn did the same. Before I knew it I had the list of authors willing to spend three hours of their day with us for this event.

Shaun and I agreed we needed time to market and promote this event. It was late July 2013, so we agreed September 21, 2013 from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM would be a perfect time. This way we had over a month to promote the event. Two weeks later the library had created a flyer announcing the event. You can view it on my facebook author page at https://www.facebook.com/WhosMindingTheStore?ref=hl. The back of the flyer had pictures of each author with their bio and books. We also donated a copy of our books to be put on display a month prior to the event to help generate excitement inside the library.

Then I asked each author to please reach out to our family, friends, and readers using facebook, twitter, google, tumblr, and anything else they could think of. I visited the local businesses in the area. A grocery store, restaurants, a retirement community, three churches, a boxing gym, a healthcare center, all of which willing accepted a flyer to be put on display in their building. These locations were within two miles of the library and high-profile places, too. Even the elementary school down the street from the library agreed to display the flyer.

Parking was a bit of a concern. The library was small, so I visited the St. Timothy Lutheran Church across the street and they graciously allowed us to display on the flyer,additional parking is available at the St. Timothy Lutheran Church. Pretty cool, huh? The library being part of the San Diego Public Library got maximum exposure on the library's website main branch, two thousand emails were sent to persons connected with the library, and because the library has resources I don't, well, their help was instrumental in letting the public know what we were hosting on Sept 21, 2013.

Each author spent the next month tweeting and facebooking and reaching out to connections about the event too. My son said, "If just three persons from each of you visit the library that's 39 people alone." I thought that sounded good, too. Shaun told me he felt we'd done all we could, and so did I. As I pointed out earlier, these type events can be hit-and-miss even when you do everything right. The main thing for all of us was exposure. Letting people know what we were doing. I'm sure person's who did not come read about the event the next day on facebook and wish they had come to visit. I'll even bet they went to the bookstore and ordered a copy of a book from one of the authors, or plan to in the near future. As I said, exposure was the main thing here. Yes, we all want to sell copies of our books. We want a copy in every household. We want readers to write reviews of our books on amazon. We want them to write comments about our books on our websites and on facebook and twitter. And by participating in this type of event with so many authors was a good way of doing this.

In retrospect, you have to build your network. Get names of authors who want to attend these type events. Give them plenty of time to schedule and make arrangements with work. Remember, life intrudes and sometimes an author may have to back out for personal reasons. Have a list of authors ready to stand in place of those who may cancel, but get strong commitments from those willing to attend. Everyone must do their part. That means reach out to your network. Talk about the event on facebook, twitter, and other free online sites. Ask radio stations and local news networks if they will do a segment about the event. I personally was not able to get a response in this area, but the library did! I posted the websites and short bio of each author on my own facebook author page to generate excitement. And then I continued talking about it to people I know. Fortunately, the feedback was great. Even my neighbor across the street, Eddie, brought his daughter to visit. I thought that was great!

Take a look at my facebook pages and see pictures I posted about the event. I kept my table display simple and small, and that was effective. I learned from Terry Ambrose the importance of having a good poster of your book, hence the enlarged picture of my back cover on my table display. Caitlin Rother had so many books in print I had to commit a large table for her, and I find this inspirational because I plan on having that many books published in my lifetime, and more, too. That's another thing to talk about. We used the library tables for consistency in our display, but they only had six. We needed to share tables, but I brought my three 4 x 2 tables just in case, and it turned out we needed them. A local vendor agreed to donate coffee and pastries, and that was very nice. At first we tried to see about getting a local restaurant to donate higher level of food and drink, but city health codes prevented that. The coffee and pastries sufficed well enough. I also had three tablecloths for the ones I used, but not enough for all. Teresa Burrell said she had plenty of matching tablecloths, but I didn't think about asking anyone. Consistency is a good thing when having your books on display with so many authors, so next time I'll know better. But in the pictures I think you'll find it turned out well.

Thomas K Matthews had some good feedback about the event. Because things are changing right before our very eyes we all appreciate these events much more. You see, not all libraries and bookstores hold these type of events. I've reached out to some with no help or call back whatsoever. Can't put my finger on why, but that's the way things are turning out. Many people are buying online instead of through bookstores, and I get that's here to stay. But you can also order your books through a bookstore and save on the price of shipping when you pick up your copy in a bookstore. That's a $3.98 savings on shipping charges and you end up supporting your local bookstore in the process.

Lastly, make sure you bring a pen to sign copies of the book you sell. After all the planning and organizing I did when I sold a copy of 'Who's Minding the Store?' I reached for my pen and realized I'd forgotten to bring it. Fortunately, Jeff Edwards recognized the look on my face and loaned me his. I thought, we have editors to help make our books better, and we have each other to loan pens when the need arises.

If any of you have questions or need more information about how I made this event come to life, with the help of Shaun Briley at the San Diego Public Library, please feel free to reach out to me at lucerobooks@gmail.com, or on facebook and twitter. Should you buy a copy of our books, please don't forget to write a review. We appreciate the feedback.

Keep on reading!

David

www.LuceroBooks.com

https://www.facebook.com/WhosMindingTheStore?ref=hl 

A Look at an Author's Next Work...

Chapter 1

In early 20th Century Africa a professional hunter stood a fifty-fifty chance of being mauled by a lion or leopard, impaled and trampled by a bull elephant, or gored by a buffalo or rhino. These dangers shattered the romance and mystical image of going on a hunting safari….But did nothing to stop people from all over the world to venture here.

Africa, 1953

The three white men sat around the fire in the middle of camp, smoking their pipes and letting their food digest. Dinner consisted of eland, potatoes, carrots, and champagne. The Englishman would have preferred his favorite bottle of cabernet sauvignon, but wine did not fare well on safaris, so the champagne would suffice.

Author's note: This is the beginning of the first chapter of the manuscript I am currently working on. I last worked on this in 2004 before shelving it to continue work on THE SANDMAN (my first novel). After my son read this manuscript I decided to go back to it and update it. I've been reading plenty of books on this sort of subject, and the story will take the reader to the farthest corners of Africa during a time everyone dreamed of an African safari.

http://www.LuceroBooks.com/

https://www.facebook.com/WhosMindingTheStore?ref=hl

https://twitter.com/DavidLucero

Words of Wisdom by S. King

One rule of the road not directly stated elsewhere in this book: "The editor is always right." The corollary is that no writer will take all of his or her editor's advice; for all have sinned and fallen short of editorial perfection. Put another way, to write is human, to edit is divine. Chuck Verrill edited this book, as he has so many of my novels. And as usual, Chuck, you were Divine.

     Stephen King

My sister in-law bought me a copy of Stephen King's On Writing, A Memoir of the Craft, and I have to say it was one of the most enjoyable books I've read. Mr. King happens to be my wife's favorite author, but that's okay by me. At least I can still lay claim to being husband to the woman who has tolerated and loved me for twenty-something years.
What I found most enjoyable about Stephen King's book was that all these years I have been doing precisely what he, and many other authors, have been doing as we endeavor to get our books out there for readers. I found it refreshing to learn how he played the same game of coming up with stories, finding time to write, finding time to be a family man, getting books rejected time and again. After 30 years of writing it was good to know I'd been doing something right after all these years.

Keep on reading!

David

http://lucerobooks.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/WhosMindingTheStore?ref=hl

http://www.twitter.com/DavidLucero