Sue Coletta

The Journal, Monday, November 19

Hey Folks, Feeling fine this morning. Also, the second book in the Nick Spalding series launched this morning. You can see the cover and read the description at http://harveystanbrough.com/transitions/. The universal link for all retailers is https://www.books2read.com/u/38r5WO. The next two books in the series will launch, respectively, on December 15 and January 15. If you (or someone you know) enjoy rich settings in action-adventure romantic-suspense novels and being immersed in the characters, you will enjoy this series. *** To the Hovel at 3 and spent the first hour+ dinging around the Internet and updating my publisher website. (Much more to … Read more

The Journal, Monday, November 5

Hey Folks, Yesterday evening, I saw a great little post in one of the blogs I subscribe to, and it led me to write the topic below. You can read the original post. It’s in “Of Interest” today. *** Food for thought: “The first page sells this book. The last page sells your next book.” ~ Mickey Spillane Topic: NaNoWriMo: Just Stop Already. Or Go Do It. I Don’t Care. Sounds callous, doesn’t it? Sorry. I only say I don’t care because I’ll be too busy writing instead of and seeking or checking with online partners and concentrating on doing … Read more

The Journal, Monday, October 22

Hey Folks, Long post today, but a good one, I think. I’m in the Hovel as I write this. I got out here around 7 this morning, played a game or two of Spider Solitaire, then decided to write this stuff before moving back to the novel. I’ll probably finish the novel today, but as I’ve mentioned, I’m in no big rush. After I write the stuff below, I’ll probably delay writing on the novel for a little longer. I have to update my reverse outline. For those who don’t know yet what a “reverse outline” is, I’ll explain it … Read more

The Journal, Monday, October 8

Hey Folks, Well, I just start thinking I’m posting way too much stuff about my current situation when I get a kind email saying some of you appreciate it. Thanks, I needed that. (grin) Still, maybe it’s at least time to mix in some other things. It’s bitterly cold here this morning (at 43°) under a crystal clear sky full of stars. But no wind, so it isn’t all that bad. And I keep reminding myself, this year, for the first time ever (having been a desert rat most of my life), I actually looked forward to cooler weather. Still, … Read more

The Journal, Monday, September 24

Hey Folks, A LOT in “Of Interest” today. I even added a couple of them to my website Writer Resources page. Absolutely nothing to report from yesterday. But this morning, after spending a couple of days getting over this cold or whatever it is, I feel better enough that I can at least think. I mentioned a few days ago that I received a copyedit. It’s a re-edit, so it shouldn’t be all that difficult. Since it’s also prepaid, I’m going to set everything else aside and work on that until it’s finished. Some reshuffled priorities, in light of my … Read more

The Journal, Monday, September 17

Hey Folks, A lot in “Of Interest” today. Be sure to check it out. Not a lot going on at the Stanbrough camp today. Mostly I’m just writing, cycling, and writing some more. The babies are all behaving themselves, so today is mostly about the writing process. I rolled out a little early this morning, mostly so I’ll be tired early this evening so I’ll get up early (to write) tomorrow. I have a medical test in Tucson tomorrow, a prelude to getting my pacemaker swapped out, so tomorrow afternoon will be gone. Hence I have to get any writing … Read more

The Journal, Monday, September 10

Hey Folks, First (so I don’t forget), I have a late-morning appointment in Tucson tomorrow, so there might not be a Journal entry. The place is a couple hours away, so it blows a lot of the day. Of course, I’m planning for it. I expect to get up early and write early, then make the rounds of the Internet afterward and file the Journal entry. We’ll see. *** Saw an ad for a “writers retreat” for which registration is about to close. The cost is $40 to “hold your spot” and then an unadvertised amount due by the end … Read more

The Journal, Monday, August 27

Hey Folks, Well, one of my novels is in a new bundle from BundleRabbit: Cosmic Clashes. So that makes eight active bundles. (grin) You can see all of the bundles that contain my work at http://harveystanbrough.com/bundles/. *** Worked through the day yesterday and finished the copyedit. Looking very forward to getting back full-time to my own WIP today. *** My first reader is excellent. Chief (to me) among her finds were places where my character “secreted himself” instead of simply “hid.” (grin) In every case, those were places where I allowed the language to take precedence over the story. I … Read more

The Journal, Monday, August 13

Hey Folks, I wish I’d found me before I started writing novels. I mean, if I were not me, I wish I’d found me. Something like that. I did rediscover Dean Wesley Smith after a long absence. And I learned a lot from him, often plucking free gems from his blog posts. But most of the in-depth stuff that I learned from him came at $300 a whack. Not that I regret any of it. Knowledge is priceless, and paying $300 for a huge shortcut in the learning curve is pretty inexpensive really. You know, depending on what’s important to … Read more

The Journal, Saturday, August 11

Hey Folks, Topic: How to Write Like I Do Recently I received an email in which a writer wrote (toward the end of some lengthy praise of my “process”) “I only wish I could write like you.” During an exchange of emails, I eventually determined the writer was talking about my ability to turn out a lot of quality short stories and novels fairly quickly (though I’m pretty much a slug by old pulp standards). And what the writer really meant was that s/he wished s/he could write, period. I explained that a short four years ago (2014) I too … Read more