2024 has been a really productive year for me in publishing. Besides my day job, which requires a lot of editorial content production (including newsletters and two issues of a 48-page magazine!), I was so thrilled to publish my first novel and write a lengthy introduction for an amazing photography collection.
A Walker in the Evening is a gothic novel that toggles between 19th century London and early 20th century Ukraine (well, it wasn’t called Ukraine then, but I don’t want to get into the historical weeds here). I published my novel with the startup indie press Ruby Violet Publishing and struck gold early. Kirkus Reviews gave it a terrific review, calling it a “canny and ambitious cross-continental tale of apostolic anxiety.”
Yeah, I know that’s a mouthful, but I don’t care — I’ll take it!
I also wrote a 10,000-word introduction to the book Last Days of Summer, a collection of Hugh Holland’s skateboard photography published by Chronicle Books. It was a pleasure to have my byline alongside Hugh’s and Shepard Fairey’s; and I really enjoyed describing the 1970s Southern California milieu in which Hugh’s photos were taken. It gave me a chance to wax nostalgic on an era when I was a little kid with a crummy skateboard and scabby knees and elbows.
One of the things I’ve always noticed about my writing is that I never struggle with writer’s block. I’m sure I owe this to years and years of deadlines as a newspaper reporter and editor. There’s no time for writer’s block; you need to get it out, quick and dirty, as one old editor told me when I was a young pup.
But I think that what I learned is something that can be taught to other writers. If you’re struggling with your writing and desperately desire to have a productive, satisfying career, reach out to me. I’d be honored to coach you and help you realize your goals.
Check out Impressive Content for more descriptions of various services that might help you.
Onwards, my friends.