Along the way, I'm hoping she learns a few things, too. Some of what I hope she learns comes full circle to that column I wrote ten years ago. The overemphasis on image, popularity, and crowd thinking in social media life has a long history of undermining good ideas, worthwhile efforts, and individual actions.
Ten years ago, I wasn't a novelist. I'm on a book tour this summer.
People tend to ask authors two common questions. First, what advice would you give to any aspiring writers? Second, what was the worst advice you ever received?
I have a variety of answers to the first question in interviews but the one that stands out the most hit me today. Don't wait. We spend far too much time fretting over reasons not to pursue our passions.
The second goes hand in hand with the first. Don't start because you'll never finish it is the worst advice I ever received. And if you finish it, they cotninued, no one will ever read it. It doesn't even matter if we hear this bad advice from someone else or that little voice in the back of our head that prefers practicality over aspiration. Don't believe it. I've sold thousands of books.
I've also lined up a book tour that coincides with the trip. We'll take in some sights and stop at bookstores along the way. You can follow us on TikTok, Instagram, X, Facebook, and elsewhere. Or, even better, drop by if I am in your area (or afterward to snap up a signed copy left behind). Event times will be posted on Facebook as they are finalized.
Pretour Warmup
July 16: The Book Haven in Prescott Valley, Arizona
Summer Book Tour
August 26: Barnes & Noble Grand Junction (signing) in Grand Junction, Colorado
August 27: Old Firehouse Books (visit) in Fort Collins, Colorado
August 28: Barnes & Noble SouthPointe (signing) in Lincoln, Nebraska
August 29: Bumble Books (signing/reading) in Amana, Iowa
August 31: The Atlas Collective (visit) in Moline, Illinois
September 2: Wordsmith Bookshoppe (signing) in Galesburg, Illinois
September 3: Spine Indie Bookstore (author showcase) in St. Louis, Missouri
September 5: Commonplace Books (signing) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
September 6: Barnes & Noble Coronado (signing) in Albuquerque, New Mexico
September 7: Page 1 Books (signing) in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Posttour Wrapup
October 19: Las Vegas Book Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada
Stay tuned. I might be adding another mini-book tour in early October. My sights are set on Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. The trip is still tentative, but I hope it will help move my next WIP forward. It's set in Maine and will become my second novel, and fourth or fifth book (depending on what happens in the next few months). Pretty exciting — stuff I would have done sooner had I already carved out time to write fiction alongside client work. And that's the point.
I've never been happier writing fiction. In fact, doing so has elevated my commercial work too. And that's what I want my daughter to learn before I drop her off at her new home away from home. Don't wait. Be happy.
