Robert B. Parker

It is hard to imagine Robert B. Parker gone. But alas, Monday, he died at the age of 77 - allegedly sitting at his desk writing.

I really enjoed Spenser. I LOVED the Jessie Stone novels and I liked the Sunn Randall books. Parker has been a huge influence on me and my writing and it is difficult to conceive that he is gone.

He was a tough guy with a soft heart - every single novel he wrote was dedicated to his wife.

It is a sad day.

Self Publishing

I've been thinking and reading about self-publishing a lot lately. Not for a novel, however, for two options.

One, I have a couple of novellas I've written. I think they are pretty good. The problem is length. Too long for short story markets, too short to be novels. Sure I could pad and puff them into novels, but that would force me to double each with stuff that is...well....stuffing.

So I've been thinking about publishing them electronically for the Kindle and other readers.

I may even add a short story or two to the mix.

Not entirely sure exactly how it will all come together, but it is on my mind.

Reading Goals for 201

I'm still working up my list, however, here's a few things I want to read this year.

1. The Bible - I have received a one-year Bible as a Christmas present and started reading it. I've read bits and pieces over the years but never sat down to read the whole thing.

2. At least two or three more of Patrick O'Brian's books. So far, I've read through The Nutmeg of Consolation, so I still have a few more to go in his acclaimed Aubrey-Maturin series.

Not sure when it will come out, but I'd like to read the book on Teddy Roosevelt Doris Kearns Goodwin is working on. Maybe it'll publish in 2010, but I've not heard (or looked that hard).

Still early in the year, so my thoughts are fuzzy, but every year, I try to read 2-3 mysteries by foreign (and that means no Canadian or British also) authors and a couple of small press books.

I'll be adding more to the list soon.

Revised

I'm revising this old blog and will focus on fiction, mysteries and writing. More posts coming this week.