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