"What are you working on?"

What am I working on? I'm glad you asked. :)

These days I'm writing a lot of articles for print and the web. I've also had a few pieces in our local daily news. This includes several pieces for GraysHarborTalk.com, a couple for thekickerblog.wordpress.com, and a couple for Washington Coast magazine.

I am also working on a few books, too.

1) I have recently squeezed in time to write a couple bits for an upcoming anthology. I'm mostly collecting others' work for this project, but contributing as well as co-editing with my wife Ruth. It's called Another Load of Chicken Poop on My Sole as the follow-up to our Chicken Poop on My Sole. I have several pieces that I've edited in preparation for inclusion, but I need more stories, so if you've got something that's true; touching and/or funny; about farm life, country living, gardening or pets and can be told in 300 to 1,200 words (give or take) let me know. You could be published, too! (We hope to publish this in September.)

2) I'm working on and off on a book called If It Was a Snake It Would Have Bit You (and other things my father said and what I think he meant), too. It may take me a while as I consider it a side project.

3) I also have significant work done on the fourth Bayou Boys Adventure: Alien Ambush. It's been a couple years in the works due to some plot problems (as well as other projects), but I believe I have those worked through and I have scheduled to complete the work this fall for a Thanksgiving Release (as the story takes place during that time).

4) Finally (for now), I will be doing research in late June on what I hope will be my first full-length adult novel* titled Dead Men DO Tell Tales and writing (feverishly) over the summer. I plan to complete the first draft by November and redraft for NanoWriMo (Nov.) completing the work by the end of 2017 and publishing some time in 2018. (Yay, it be a modern pirate forensic-mystery novel, indeed. I'll say no more, fer the time bein'.)

Meanwhile, I'm at work on other projects as well including our writing center, opening a bookstore and more. I have a few signing events coming up over the summer and into the fall, too (watch for those on my Facebook page).

*I've previously written two adult novellas, The Amish vs. the Zombies and Hell, Heaven and Back.

A Writer's New Year's Revolution, well, ya know...

I hope y'all had a great Christmas and a good start to the New Year. What are YOUR plans for 2017?

Me? Oh, I thought I'd do a little writing and publishing. (BTW: Christmas was great.)

I've got a new book titled Beyond Insanity (the sequel to Rocketman) coming out in February, so I'm in the thick of putting that together for print.

The wife and I are editing Another Load of Chicken Poop (the sequel to Chicken Poop on My Sole), due out in the spring. Get your short story submissions in for that ASAP if you'd like to be included. Email me for details.

And, hopefully, I'll have the fourth Bayou Boys Adventure, Alien Ambush, out for Halloween. I'll be finishing that this summer if all goes well.

I've been recently published in the winter edition of Washington Coast Magazine and in December I had three front page stories for The Daily News (Aberdeen, Wash. newspaper). I've also begun writing for Grays Harbor Talk.com.

Meanwhile, I'm at work working for other writers with Harbor House Center for Writing and the Arts. Lots of good teaching and activities coming up there. Check it out.

Drop me a comment or email and let me know what you're up to.

Pending Penning and Publishing Plans

I'm not sure what I'll be working on for NaNoWriMo, but, rest-assured, I'll be working on something (plenty of story ideas in my files). It may not be a novel though. (It may be finishing the novella, Alien Ambush; maybe not. I've not decided.)

I actually plan to do  LOT of writing over the next three months (working six hours a day at Harbor House). I'll be taking a two week break the latter part of December, then back at it for the new year.

My publishing plans are as follows:

Beyond Infinity (the sequel to Rocketman), March 2017
Another Load of Chicken Poop (editing), April 2017
Alien Ambush (a Bayou Boys Adventure), October 2017
and maybe something for summer 2017?

Stay tuned.

I Don't Know Why, but Chickens are Funny

Amusing Book Trailer for "Chicken Poop on my Sole"?

Do the Chicken Run for Chicken Poop on my Sole

"Funny and Feel-Good Fodder from the Farm"

Get running to a Chicken Poop on my Sole signing near you this Memorial Day (2016). It's the new book that will tickle your funny bone, bring a tear to your eye, and even fill you with inspiration

More than twenty short stories from sixteen different writers and authors contributed stories from life on the farm.

Do you know any of them? They'd LOVE you to buy a copy!

Authors include: Joe Benjamin, Andy R. Bunch, Patrick Dwyer, Suzi Goedert, Chris Johnson, Bethany Rose Lewis, Carolyn Norland, Tammy Owen, Melissa Eskue Ousley, Dennis J. Sparks, Cherie Walter, Joyce Reynolds-Ward, Arvol E. Zschomler, Keilah Joy Zumstein and the editors Ruth and Gregory Zschomler. See their website, Facebook or blog for more information.

You'll notice a few changes in this finalized design from what I've been showing you up until now.

Files for Feel-Good and Funny Farm Fodder Finished

At last, the final files for Chicken Poop on my Sole have been delivered for approval! 

The final proofing will take place over the next week and, if all continues smoothly, the release will take place on May 28th, as planned. (It should actually be available on Amazon by May 16.)

<Click on the image at the left to enlarge and read more.

Here's the Poop on Chicken Poop

Well, the Chicken Poop* is about to drop. 

I just realized  that all the files have to be finalized by May 11 and uploaded by May 12 with the proofing process completed by May 17 in order to meet the release date of May 28, 2016!

The good news is that the interior is nearly done and the cover has been designed (though the final art needs created). I also need to get back all the use agreements from the authors.

With only two weeks as of today (April 27) to get that all done I'd better step up my game!

*Chicken Poop on My Sole: Feel-Good Fodder from the Farm

New/Upcoming Publication News & New Cover Designs

With the publication of Joe Benjamin's Silly Billy and Ducky Dee through my press, my self-publishing workshop over, and the Indie Author & Book Fair done and gone it's time to turn my attention back to my own work. That is the work of writing, editing and designing stuff that is my own.

Some of you may know that I've been casually working on new cover designs for some of my older books. Actually, I've been working on a new cover for Rocketman: From the Trailer Park to Insomnia and Beyond and now have the concept design finalized. I just have to complete the final art. That should take about a day.

I'm also doing up an omnibus of my three Bayou Boys books (Voodoo Virus, Marsh Monster and Playhouse Phantom). That means I'm compiling all three books into one volume, titled simply The Bayou Boys. I'm working on the cover for that. I came up with four designs and sought opinions and comments. My readers and fellow authors supplied and they definitely ruled out one of the four, but, as yet, I have no clear consensus on the remaining three. LOL I do have one I'm leaning toward, though (see the concept art below).

When I do finally and firmly know which cover I'll go with I'll have to complete the final art, compile the texts and format the interior. That's a good solid week's work. (BTW: I have no plans at this time to complete the fourth Bayou Boys Adventure, Alien Ambush.) I have begun work on the interior layout as of this writing.

Finally, I'm working toward completion of Chicken Poop on My Sole. I still need a couple stories and I have a cover design that needs fleshed out and completed. I have begun formatting the interior, but that, too, needs work. Should I get those stories in (Might you have one you'd like to submit?) I could be done inside two weeks.

All in all, I'm looking to complete these projects before the end of May. Chicken Poop is slated to be released on Memorial Day weekend.

I'm not sure what the summer will bring yet. I do have a humorous short story that I'm looking into possibly making into a graphic novel or something, but haven't really decided what to do with it. I might just put it into another anthology.

You can read it here.

I do plan to write more short works: articles, personal essays, short fiction, and poetry. Sure, I have ideas for novels, but I'm not sure that's what I want to pursue right now.

March Madness Means Manuscript Munching Mode

Munch, munch, munch. I guess I'm in the editing and design modes for the month of March. I have two editing and three design projects I'm working on for a total of three projects (that's right one of the projects requires no editing).

Project One is simply the redesign of the cover for my book Rocketman: From the Trailer Park to Insomnia and Beyond.

Here, at the left, is a rough of the new design without some of the detail (like an old fashioned photo border, a drop shadow for the rocket, a better space background and possibly a 3D-like text for the top title word).

Project Two is the design and layout (with some line editing) of a new children's book, Silly Billy and the Duck for new author Joe Benjamin (the pen name for my son Josiah).

Basically, I just have to check the spelling and punctuation, put the pages together and convert the files. See the unfinished, uncolored, proposed working panel on the right.

Project Three, the final project (which I don't expect to be done this month), Chicken Poop on My Sole, which I am editing with my wife, is mostly editing for now, but I may get to finalizing the cover soon. The proposed cover mock-up is at the left. This could be on ongoing project through the summer depending on one major factor:

We need stories! That's right this book is meant to be a multi-author anthology. the slower they trickle in the longer the project will take. I'd like to have the book out no later than the first of September.

Do you have a story to contribute?

I'm looking for first person, original pieces 300 to 3,000 words in length (750-1,200 is ideal) that are true (or based on a true event) that are comedic and/or inspirational in nature.

If you have a story you can share email me for details. I may publish up to three stories from any given writer. gregory.zschomler@gmail.com

New News You Never Knew About Books, but no Gnus

As I write inside the cozy warmth of Insomnia Coffee Company it is a blustery-rainy day outside on the Oregon north coast. That's what you call perfection for a writer; no temptation to be enjoying the shoreline trio of surf, sand and sun. However I am enjoying a trail mix cookie and a white chocolate mocha while listening to big band tunes and working on a few writing related projects (including this blog post). Now here's the new news:

The New Book

The new book shipment arrived yesterday!

Earlier this morning I mailed out the first six orders of my new book, Hell, Heaven and Back. Signed, sealed, sent. Okay, one wasn't an order, it was a review copy. I have four local orders to deliver so leaves twenty out of my initial order.

If you want one (signed, sealed and sent for a flat $10) let me know. That's cheaper than Amazon ($9.99 + postage). Whatever I have left come next weekend I'll take to sell at the Portland Home & Garden Show.

Garden of Books

And speaking of the Portland Home & Garden Show: From Thursday, Feb. 25 through Sunday, Feb. 28 there will be thirty Oregon and Washington Author's books at the NIWA Garden of Books. That represents more than 100 titles in all genres (except Western, I don't think there are any of those).

Many of the authors will be making appearances to do signings. I will be at the show 2-6 p.m., Sun. Feb. 28 with all eleven of my titles, including my newest, Hell, Heaven and Back, hot off the press (no pun intended). In essence the official public launch party. There's a discount coupon for $2 off the show admission here and parking is free after 4 p.m. (before that it will cost you an arm and a leg).

Book Publishing Workshop

If you're close to the Oregon North Coast area and wish to know how to go about self-publishing with relative ease and little cost, I'm giving a two-hour workshop on the topic 1-3 p.m., Sat., March 26 at the Tolovana Arts Colony hall in Cannon Beach, Oregon.

If you click on the graphic on the left it will get larger and you can see all the things I'll be covering in this intensive workshop. (Plus, participation gets you some free consultation time, too, for when you're actually working on that book of yours.) Cost is $25.

Commute or stay, it'll be a great day.

Indie Author & Book Fair

Mark your calendar for April 10. That's the day of the North Coast Indie Author & Book Fair in the courtyard behind Jupiter's Books in Cannon Beach, Oregon. The book fair will follow on the heels of the weekend's Get Lit at the Beach event.

We're expecting 24 Oregon and Washington authors for the 12:30 to 3 p.m. fair. To date we have eighteen authors signed up with room for six more (contact me if interested in booth space).

Short Stories for New Book

My publishing company eyrie press is accepting short story submissions for an upcoming anthology called Chicken Poop on My Sole (subtitled Funny Fodder from the Farm). It is to be a collection of short, true stories of humor and inspiration about farm life and country living.

We need several dozen more stories to complete the collection before publication in time for the harvest season of 2016. So...

If you have a story to tell and share contact me for details on how to be included and get copies to sell or give as gifts.

Sick and Needing Chicken Soup Today, Also Need Some Stories for Chicken Poop

HERE’S THE DEALIO:

Eyrie Press is taking submissions for a new anthology.

Here’s how it will work:

You submit your funny farm stories.  (That’s tales from your life in the country, not stories from your stint in the asylum.)

If we like them we’ll edit them as needed and include them in our upcoming anthology. You get a free copy and you can buy additional copies at wholesale to sell for whatever you wish (wholesale is anticipated to be less than $10 and the suggested retail price will be $14.95). All authors will be credited and appreciated.

We want true (or partly true) tales of life in the country (urban farming okay). You may submit as many as you please, but we won’t print more than three from any given author.

Stories may be any length between 300 and 3,000 words, but we’re more likely to print stories between 500 and 1,500 words. All submissions need to be clean (poop is the strongest word we’ll print) and amusing (but they can be touching and meaningful, too). 

CONTEST:

We don’t yet have the title story. So, we’re holding a contest. The best story about getting “chicken poop on your sole” (you can make this one up out of thin air if you need to) will win the privilege of being the first story in the book and you’ll receive $50 plus a certificate of merit and two additional free copies of the book.

Submissions should be emailed [as Word files] to: gregory.zschomler@gmail.com

Submissions will be received through March 2016 and we hope to publish in time for summer.

NaNoWriMo and Mo' Bits and Pieces (an aggregation)

I've been trying to blog once a week, but I think that might fall by the wayside for much of this month. There's just not much on the docket for the rest of the month except NaNoWriMo writing. And that's taking up much of my time.

I'm working on my first full-length adult novel (most of my fiction works have been novellas for youth and young adults). It's an exciting sci-fi tale based on a true story encased in speculative science and spiritual quandaries. It should be out by next spring (2016).

For those joining me in the NaNoWriMo challenge, I wish you well.

As for other news:

• This weekend is Wordstock in Portland, but I'll not be going. If you go please buy an indie book and fill out a survey asking for more representation by indie authors at the event. Wordstock has typically sided with the publishing industry and panned indies.
• Speaking of indies, many authors I know (especially through NIWA) have new books out and they would love your support. These are good authors with some very intriguing new titles. You can look at the NIWA titles here.
• And, of course, there's my new book, Plays and Sketches for Schools & Churches, for those into theater. I'd appreciate you sharing with school and church theater people you might know.
• I had planned to have a new cookbook (Tex-Mex and Southwest BBQ) in time for Christmas, but I'm behind on the project. Hopefully we'll see that in time for the summer grilling season.
• Finally, my wife and I are still collecting humorous (yet poignant) short stories for an anthology we're editing called Chicken Poop on My Sole (Funny Fodder from the Farm). So if you got 'em, write 'em and send them in.

Submissions for Anthology Now Accepted

HERE’S THE DEALIO:

Eyrie Press is now taking submissions for a new anthology.

Here’s how it will work:

You submit your funny farm stories. (That’s tales from your life in the country, not stories from your stint in the asylum.)

If we like them we’ll edit them as needed and include them in our upcoming anthology.

You get a free copy and you can buy additional copies at wholesale to sell for whatever you wish (wholesale is anticipated to be around $10 and the suggested retail price will be $14.95).

We want true (or mostly true) tales of life in the country. You may submit as many as you please, but we won’t print more than three from any given author.

Stories may be any length between 300 and 1,500 words, but we’re more likely to print stories between 500 and 750 words. All submissions need to be clean (poop is the strongest word we’ll print) and highly amusing (but they can be touching and meaningful, too). All authors will be credited and appreciated.

CONTEST:

We don’t yet have the title story. So, we’re holding a contest. The best story about getting “chicken poop on your sole” (you can make this one up out of thin air if you need to) will win the privilege of being the first story in the book and you’ll receive $50 plus a certificate of merit and two free copies of the book.

Submissions will be received through September 2015 and we intend to publish in time for Christmas.

Submissions should be emailed [as Word files] to: gregory.zschomler@gmail.com