Once again I have waited six months since the last blog entry. This is not intentional and while most of my time is for writing, it is not in the blog.
About six months ago I began writing pieces for a book review concern. Since publishing my first book I have used various review services to gather professional opinions about my own work and it seemed a good idea to see the process from the other side. This takes a fair amount of time for which I’m paid a nominal fee but I took it on to grow as a writer. The more writing I get “out there” under the byline of “J. L. Askew”, whether books, reviews, newspaper articles (I’ve done a few), the more widely known I become as a writer/author. The books I review are by “Indie” authors like me and doing these helps expand my perspective of what others are doing. It’s all part of the educational process as an author. Since publishing my first book in 2020 I’ve been amazed at how vast is the writing/publishing landscape. Resources and opportunities are almost unlimited and these present a myriad choices.
For example, with the book I just finished, I had to decide whether to self-publish or use another hybrid publisher. While the former is the most economical, I chose the latter, a more familiar process, the same way I got my first two books in print. But I chose a different publisher this time because the previous one took fifteen months to bring “Alaska Deadly” to fruition. I signed a contract a month ago with my present publisher to do my third book which should be released by next spring. The title is “Alaska Bloodlust” and it continues the story of the main characters from the previous novel. In my last blog I told of Race Warren’s new love interest which adds a different dimension to his character, especially in the way he tries to keep his work separate from his personal life. His dilemma is worsened in the absence of sidekick Ron Billings, comatose in a hospital, leaving Warren to fight alone against a new threat, an Inuit from North Alaska named Kallick Smith, now in Warren’s home town bent on murder. Smith is a major player in the book, a demented shaman cult leader come to the lower forty-eight to wreak vengeance on social scientists who exposed tribal secrets. Smith confronts hero Race Warren in a series of death defying faceoffs, one involving opposing teams, leaving only Smith and Warren alive, both knowing they will meet again till one of them is dead. The story is tightened and more focused than the previous novel which was roundly criticized for multiple plots that went in several directions.
Recently at a gathering at a coffee shop a friend said he wanted a copy of my book “War in the Mountains” to give to his nephew, a young high school teacher who is working toward a doctorate in history. The teacher developed an interest in the American Civil War as a child after his parents took him to the Shiloh National Battlefield Park. Often what happens in childhood has a great influence on our lives and this man’s career choice was due to his parents providing learning experiences by exposing him to history.
A great opportunity in this regard is an event coming up in a few months, the Mid-South Military History & Civil War Show. The show will be at the Landers Center on Friday March 7, 2025, from 1:00 – 6:00 PM and Saturday March 8 from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. The Landers Center is just a few miles south of Memphis, located at 4560 Venture Drive in Southaven, MS 38671. The event will feature books, weapons, uniforms, photographs, re-enactors, music, food trucks, and have a raffle. Also, the show will host well known authors and speakers giving talks on various topics about American conflicts. This is a great educational opportunity for all ages, especially youngsters.
For more information contact the show chairman Donald Harrison at his email address: dwharrison@aol.com or his telephone (901) 832-4708.
If you like this blog and would like to keep up with what I’m doing in the writing sphere, please select the email block at http://www.jlaskew.com and drop me a note. If there’s interest, I’ll write more.
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