Has it really been a whole year since I posted my last blog entry? In a word, yes. And here's why. Since September of 2008, I have been head's down in the most ambitious, research intensive novel of my early career. I learned about art, European history, the Renaissance, anatomy, optics, philosophy, religion, astrology, pamistry, relics and reliquaries, and the end of the world. Especially, I have spent the most time learning about one man who was the embodiment of all those fields of scientific and artistic study: Leonardo Da Vinci. He was a vwey handsome man, by all accounts. A veritable giant with an incredible singing voice, who expressed his curiosity by endeavoring to learn and recreate the nature and ability of everything around him. He would spend as much as necessary in the market place to buy the caged and penned animals there, so he could set them free. By profession, he was a polymath, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor, architect, botanist, musician and writer. Born the illegitimate son of a notary who would go on to sire no less than 21 children, Leonardo's mother was a 16 year old servant girl in the household of a friend. Due to the nature of the novel I would spend nearly a year to date writing, I found myself completely captivated by his wit and wisdom, courtesy of the notebooks he wrote. I learn a great deal about the man and the world in which he lived, and learned one very startling detail which has been thought about this man throughout the past century. In 1898, a French photographer took the first known photograph of the Shroud of Turin. Arguably the burial cloth of Christ, I learned that it appeared in its negative as the positive of a negative. In other words, it was the picture of another photographic negative. Could it possibly be that Leonardo Da Vinci defied Church edicts against alchemy and even magic to counterfeit the most acclaimed relic to emerge from the Dark Ages? He certainly had the knowledge of the areas which would permit such a forgery, and he himself was prone to jests and trickery, mostly for the benefit of entertaining the guests of his wealthy patrons. Its owners included the Knights Templar, the power De Medicis of Florence, Italy, the Catholic Church in Rome and, most notably, the House of Savoy. The latter used its influence to grow from humble beginnings in a small Duchy in France, to rule and reign over the kingdom of Italy. They were the longest surviving royal dynasty in Europe, lasting nearing a thousand years. I can't divulge the rest of what I learned, of a 15th century conspiracy which I believe continues to this day. Although the shroud has been patched and burned twice in the care of its owners, radiocarbon dating has placed its age at somewhere in the latter part of the middle ages. If it is two thousand years old as some maintain, does it have any residual power from the resurrection of Jesus Christ? If it is only slightly older than 500 years, did Leonardo Da Vinci or some other master produce or reproduce it? The possibilities are as endless as the debate which rages about its authenticity. I don't want to give any of the plot away, but I think you'll be pleased at this huge story. It is by far and away the longest novel I've ever written, but also the most demanding, in terms of what it required of me to learn about so many aspects of its timeline. I am very tired at this time, almost exhausted from writing well into the morning hours after work, for weeks on end. I am doing well, and have also been very busy on other fronts. I have been approached by Variance Books, who is currently reviewing my books for possible mass publication. The owner is a very nice fellow with a publishing company full of well-known and talented authors. It is too soon to tell whether I may have the opportunity of joining them or not, but I am grateful for the chance to be considered. I also filmed 10 segments as a commentary expert for the #1 rated Animal Planet show, "Lost Tapes". Basically, I am the fellow who talks about subjects as diverse as ghosts, werewolves, UFOs and Bigfoot, while th program reenacts sightings of weird creatures. Last but not least, I am under consideration to become an associate professor at a local college, where I have lectured on mysterious creatures, writing and publishing over the past several years. All in all, it's been a busy year, and I hope to be able to resume my radio show once I get "The Shroud" published later this year. My next project, if you're interested, is to dust off my catalog of songs I've written through the years, and go into the studio and produce my first musical album in a very long time. I play 6 and 12 string guitar, and will have accompaniment behind me as I perform some of my old classics, along with several new songs I have written, along with 1 or 2 composed just for the album. My style is definitely acoustic, along the lines of James Taylor and Dan Fogelberg. While I can't say I am in their league, I've had people singing my songs for over 30 years, and that in itself has been pretty satisfying. Thank you for keeping up with me, and for all your support in my writing career. I've had publishers, agents and even screenwriters contact me about my novels, and I really enjoy the creative process. My next will be an even bigger mystery, a sort of historical whodunit with a cast of dozens of noteworthy figures from the past. I hope you'll tag along, and remember to give me a good look and review, if you like the samples of my work on google and my web site. I'd like to thank my editor, Billye McCarty, for working this summer on the next edition of "The Cryptids Trilogy," and ready it for the next big step in the small publishing vernture she and I have put together, through the Trilogus Media Group. Until next time, find your creative passion and share it with the world! ~ D.L.

It has been a very long, very involved summer. I completed no less than two classic collections for my publishing venture, Trilogus Books. One is a two volume collection of all 15 of L. Frank Baum's "Wizard of Oz" books. I am proud to say that the pair outsell all other compilation sets combined, by a margin of two to one. I followed it up with an equally ambitious, 2 volume set of all the published works of Edgar Allen Poe, complete with over 70 black and white pen and ink, water color, oil and engraved illustrations. It wasn't until I actually finished that I discovered there are other collections already available, as well. The advantage of mine, as with the "The Complete Oz" books, is that they are produced in an 8" x 10" inch format. Nearly all others are over 800 pages in length in a 6" x 9" format, with quality sacrificed for the sake of quantity. I will do other classic compilations as well, interspersed with adding more present day novelists to Trilogus. Currently, I have two authors, with a third under consideration. The father and son writing team of Tuklo and Brandon Nashoba combine for some of the most interesting paranormal novels I have come across in some time. Tuklo's first title for us is "The Dark Side of the Dream", while Brandon offers up the first in a series of vampyre tales, "Blood Lines". As ever, the magnificent Billye McCarty handles all the editing duties of grammar and continuity. It is her deft hand that is all over "The Cryptids Trilogy". At the beginning of summer, there were potential opportunities unlike anything I had previously experienced in conjunction with my writings. The college where I lecture is working to establish a professorship for me in a year-long course based on my trilogy of cryptofiction novels. While I am still hopeful the English Department is still endeavoring to arrange the funding, it will now have to be in the Winter Quarter, after the first of the year. As I let many of you know, a major literary agency spent 6 weeks going through the manuscripts for my novels. They were intrigued by the subject matter and very complimentary, but in the end, said my stories just didn't "resonate with them". Curious as to what 'resonated' with their other clientele, I looked up one of their best and brightest online. It turns out these folks specialize in paranormal romance. It seems their current bestseller concerns a demon-possessed dominatrix who uses a cat-o-nine-tails to exorcise her victims. Oh well, I will have to settle for the high road. I prefer the ratings and respect of my peers, than to go after the more gratuitous aspects designed just to sell books. I am doing pretty well in that department, thank you very much. My readers range from teens to college professors, career military officers to housewives. I wouldn't want to put anything in my novels that would detract from the story I have to tell. I am so grateful that I have found such long lasting supporters of my writing and research. I have also begun to host my own radio show, "The Paranomaly Radio Network", Thursday nights at 11:00 PM on Blog Talk Radio. Unlike my days on the wildly popular "Bigfoot Central" and "Paranormal Airwaves" programs on Artist First, where I worked with producer Tom Cousino to interview the biggest names in cryptozoology, I usually just chat with my audience. At first, I wasn't sure anyone was listening, until the downloads of the show's archives topped a hundred the first time. I have a small but steady listenership, and it allows me to add the content under the author page of my web site. What else is new? I have begun working an incredible new topic (for me, at least) into my fourth novel. It again borrows on the popular themes of of historical anomalies, but this time out I am going in search of giants. The Nephilim, to be exact, the ancient biblical giants with a history that parallels our own. Discovery of their writings, remains and artifacts during the excavation of tombs throughout the world, has led to a cover up of these archived relics. Many of the world's largest and most prestigious museums have collected these finds, catalogued and then conveniently lost them in a veritable well of souls. I am already well into the project, incorporating mathematics and cartography based on lines of power converging at the sites of some of history's most intriguing and enigmatic man made structures. I am so grateful to have this opportunity to share the latest news and information with you, in my efforts to become a full-time novelist. I am also working to create my first musical studio release in years, utilizing a number of my 800+ backlog of songs written in a career which began some thirty years ago. I have reached the mid-century mark, but I grow younger every day. I am comfortable in my skin and enjoy life to the fullest. Just ask anyone who knows me. I am having a blast, and love having you along for the ride. If there is ever anything I can do for you, please don't hesitate to ask. There are limits to everything but my time and talents, and they have been yours since the beginning. Until next time, peace and joy. ~ D.L.

Wow, has it really been 3 1/2 months since my last post? Well, if the date of my last entry is any indication. To be honest, I have been heads down and busy with so many projects that I haven't made the time. My apologies, to those of you who keep up with my doings through this online journal. I will try to be a tad more regular, in the future. Now, with that out of the way, what I have been up to, since I last wrote to you? On February 8th, Trilogus Books had just released my trilogy of cryptofiction novels. They have done well enough, but I confess my efforts were in all areas but promotion. I also completed a labor of love which lasted 8 months - a 2 volume set of all 14 of the "Wizard of Oz" books by L. Frank Baum. At the last, I added the rare transitional Little Wizards of Oz tales - 6 short stories which marked the return of Baum to writing about the 'closed' land of Oz. After that, I created a forum and radio station at http://www.paranomaly.com/. I actually recorded two shows from the live broadcast, before taking a brief hiatus. Since then, I have also begun building up my own publishing company, including soliciting manuscripts from other authors. The results may be found at http://www.trilogus.com/. I am currently working on my first non-Dallas Tanner book, "The Dark Side if the Dream", by Tuklo Nashoba. His style is wild and woolly, with lots of paranormal events and encounters occurring in a rustic setting. I have approached three other authors, who are working furiously to complete their own manuscripts for consideration. I also added a service which delivers targeted hits to my web site, and it appears to be having some limited success. This month, I have broken the 75,000 ranking barrier for both "Track of the Bigfoot" and "Wake of the Lake Monster". "Shadow of the Thunderbird" seems to have yet to draw any more sales, since it sold incredibly well during its first run, and is still available in an earlier edition. I would highly recommend the Trilogus Books edition, as it is revised and expanded by 40 pages. I also contacted over 100 of my closest book and CZ-related friends, hearing back from many who bought my first two books, to let them know about the release of "Wake". I have taken advantage of several Amazon programs for author and books, including "Search Inside" and "Amazon Connect", which allows me to post messages to the detail pages of my books on Amazon. I simply have not had time to properly promote them yet, but I have contacted a few well-known authors and reviewers. Hopefully, one or two will have a kind word for "The Cryptids Trilogy" that I could use in their behalf. I am also working with my first documentary, a compelling DVD about the socio-economic impact of an aging population unreplaced by an adequate number of children. It has such wide-reaching implications, and has been a lightning rod of divided opinions. My prospective backers feel they have connections which might help with its promotion. As with all things, we shall see if it comes to pass. Speaking of which, I have spent far more time in contacting literary agents. Several got back in touch and said they were impressed with the premise, but didn't feel that they were the right ones to handle the kind of thriller I wrote. One or two even offered advice in finding the right agent. None said I had submitted an unacceptable query. I heard from one agent/agency, who requested the first three chapters of my latest novel, "Wake of the Lake Monster". I am so proud of that book, which has prompted incredible reviews and responses (mostly off the record), of reviewers and fellow authors. One NYT bestselling author writes back a page when I send them a line. Another replies with a line when I send them a page. It takes all kinds, and it really depends on how busy they are when you reach them. The important thing is that most will take the time to write back, when they can. I am not yet a big name, but every indication is that the books can stand alongside the biggest and the best the genre has to offer. These are not my words, and I really believe it is a matter of time before I am accepted by a major publisher and begin the next phase of my writing career. I have several new projects in the works already, and look forward to reporting on those, as they develop. As always, thank you so much for all the years of support and friendship. It means so much to me that you have taken the time to read my books, and keep in touch with me, by whatever means, to let me know that I have never been in this alone. With any luck, I hope to have good news for you the next time I will definitely post to my blog, regarding the agent situation. I am a firm believer in the 80/20 rule: 1 in 5 will not like what you do, no matter what, and 1 in 5 will not like what you do, no matter what. It's really the three in the middle. that 60% who could go either way, that I want to reach with my writings and publishing efforts. If you enjoy what I do, let others know. It takes only 3 sales on Amazon in a given day to break the 100,000 mark, and that has been my goal from the beginning. Steady sales reach the attention of trolling publishers and agents interested in discovering the Next Big Thing. In my opinion, that would be fellow novelist Jeremy Robinson. The author of three thrillers, "The Didymus Conspiracy", "Raise the Past" and "Antarktos Rising", he has gone from self-published wunderkind to a three book deal with St. Martin's Press. Not bad. Not bad at all. My goal is to replace him on Megaliths Thriller reviews site, as the most underrated author of 2008. Wish me luck, and check back in to see how I'm doing. ~ D.L.

Have you ever heard the old saying that the only thing constant in the universe is change? Well, that seems to be especially true for me these days. As I ready the first offerings from my own publishing company, Trilogus Books, I am struck by how many windows are opening up for me even as doors are closing. I am amazed at the 6 year journey to bring "The Cryptids Trilogy" to print. It took a trip to the Altamaha River at the request of a good friend, (remembered as the persona of Captain Angus Finnegan in "Wake of the Lake Monster"), to get me moving on finishing that novel. Another, Silvia Encinas, motivated me to get in shape and focus on end results. If not for her, I never would have brought about all that has transpired with the launch of my own venture. Life has a way of bringing into our lives people and situations designed to keep us moving forward. Unfortunately, some that we would keep in our lives as friends forever move on with their own hopes and dreams, and all we can do is wish them well. My one true and steadfast guide in reaching the end of a massive undertaking of over half a million words has been my editor, Billye McCarty. She, more than anyone else, is responsible for making the most of the stories I had to tell, and pushes me onward to tell the rest of the tales I have rattling around inside my head. "Shadow of the Thunderbird" was not ready for the popularity which found it. In the years since its original publication, it has grown and become a novel of which I will always be proudest - my very first published book. I have a copy of the cover as it was back in 2002 mounted in a matted frame, along with the first royalty check I ever received. It meant that someone, in fact many people I did not know, bought the book. In the years since, "Track of the Bigfoot" became a bestseller on Amazon internationally, and "Wake of the Lake Monster" is the highly anticipated conclusion to the arc of stories. Currently, I am working on a novel other than cryptofiction, but will return to form in my next project. I have plans to return to radio, as well as publish audio versions of my novels and serialize another novella, as I did with Chupacabra. I am looking forward to the next several weeks, as I release the books on Amazon as a complete series. They are ready, and I am looking forward to finally establishing myself outside of the limitaions of my original publisher. There is a great deal you have to be able to do, in order to produce your own works. Cover design and interior layout are just part of the tasks. I do not edit my own work, a task for which the aforementioned Billye McCarty is nothing short of incredible. Once you have created documents to the specification of the printers, you have to check the results to see if they are indeed ready for release. I use two services currently, and both have been gracious enough to accept my efforts as meeting both their guidelines and requirements. I have been giving serious thought to having my image reshot for the back of the book. Although I really like the leather jacket and Fedora combination, I am also nearly 20 pounds lighter, leaner, and in the best shape of my life, thanks to Ms. Encinas. As for that, it is a discipline I will never give up, for the rest of my life. If nothing else, invest in an eliptical machine, and get on it 20 minutes a day three times a week, and you will have all the workout you'll need - cardio and resistence. I am also trying to diet properly and get more rest, as I love Cherry Cokes and sleep about 4-5 hours a night. The important thing I learned is that you can exercize and diet too much. 1200 calories a day, and an hour of exercize a week have done the trick for me. I have other projects in mind, as well. I mentioned in my last post that I left a very promising music career. Since I fall in the category of folk/soft rock, my music still has a niche audience. It has been many years since I recorded, but I have already begun to lay down tracks in my home studio. With several hundred songs, I intend to record and release them through the same channels available for my novels. If you have a passion for anything, find a way to share it with the world. Creativity is in the expression of your talents, whether it be art, music, or poetry. You may never be a Picasso, but then, he never sold a painting in his lifetime. You'll never know how your talents will affect those around you, or even live on after you. A rich life has very little to do with the accumulation of wealth. I love to write and perform music, because I can look into the eyes of my audience. When I write novels, I almost never meet those who read my books. I have developed a much tougher skin, because there is always a critic out there, that 1 in 5 who doesn't like what you do. The Rule of 80/20 always puts at 1 in 5 the number who always like what you do. It is the other 3 in 5 you are working to win over - and they have been very good to me. I hope that you have been able to glean more than just what it takes to bring a book to publication. It is a mindset, a tenacious desire to see your name in print, with the restraint to wait until your novel is truly ready. I did not learn that lesson at first, but have more than made up for early mistakes with the edition I am now releasing of all three books of The Cryptids Trilogy. As I mentioned at the beginning, changes are coming. Personally and professionally, I have committed myself to nothing less than focusing on a life and lifestyle which will enable me to make the most of my talents, for the benefit of those around me. If you read my blog, web site, novellas or novels, you will get a sense of what I care about. I will never do anything at the expense of others. I know how that feels, and will always do my best to share my experiences with you, to help you better understand how to make the most of your talents, whatever they may be. Else, what's a blog for? Until next time, my friend. ~ D.L.

I thought I would get a rousing start off on 2008 by making my first post in a couple of months. I have been very busy setting up not only my own imprint around Trilogus Enterprises LLC, but finalizing projects in the works to launch its initial publications under Trilogus Books. To that end, I have accomplished the following in the past month: Created, sized and laid out my cover designs, including spine width Format the interior of my novels, and review before turning cover and book into PDFs Worked extensively with my editor on finishing up the Cryptids Trilogy Expanded "Shadow of the Thunderbird" some 40 pages, without changing the story Revised "Track of the Bigfoot" with only slight edits - never mess with a 5 Star novel! Completed "Wake of the Lake Monster", after 4 years of stops and starts Compiled a 2 volume collection of all 14 L. Frank Baum Oz books for publication Created Trilogus Enterprises LLC as a means to produce my own books and music Wrote the first 3 chapters of my 4th novel, which is high tech and non-cryptofiction I am very proud of these accomplishments, and look forward to a very productive year in growing my own business. I have a three phase plan to bring my books back to market, and will definitely take the high road in doing so. It is an unfortunate thing that I had to part company with others whose paths no longer parallel my own, but I wish them every success in their own endeavors. I am grateful for those of you who have stuck by me, encouraging me with your ongoing support and asking when The Cryptids Trilogy will be complete. Well, it is finished now, with the publication of "Wake of the Lake Monster". All I lack now is to literally turn the switch and release the book to the general public. I have grown exponentially in the scope of my writing, although I have tempered my mechanics in the process. The initial response by those who have proofed or edited the last book have been struck by the epic scope of the storyline, and how themes throughout the trilogy have been intertwined to fruition. I combine storyline, in which characters change but situations remain the same, with plot, in which the opposite is true. I would be less than honest if I said that the last 6 years spent in creating "The Cryptids Trilogy" was not rife with triumphs and tragedy. I became well known in cryptozoology, with conference appearances, newspaper articles and hosted 2 radio shows. I fell away for a period of three years, when I had to put matters of family and finances first, and tend to the needs of those dearest to me. I was involved with 2 start up ventures in which I spent hundreds of hours, but ultimately could neither sustain or justify supporting them. I am still friends with those individuals, but decided thereafter against any other such arrangement. Trilogus Enterprises LLC is a dream come true for me, and an outlet for my creativity. Long before I wrote my first novel, I was a singer-songwriter, with early success in Nashville. I walked away to honor a greater commitment, with a backlog of hundreds of songs. I sang and played through the years in concerts and on television, won awards for show music and songwriting contests, but ultimately laid the guitar aside. My publishing venture will allow me to record and sell that music again. I am looking forward to promoting and growing 2 careers simultaneously, alternating 125,000 word novels with 125 word songs. Too often, I let my dreams slip away in favor of difficulties beyond my control, when I could have just as easily used these outlets as a means to restore balance in my life. Many times in the past, I used creative mediums as ways to express myself to others. I even created a comic strip based on Noah's Ark, as a microcosm of the world in its diversity. A major newspaper and comic syndicator liked it so much that a ranking editor sent me a three page rejection letter, in which the strip, a la The Far Side, was described as 'too secular for the religious, and too religious for the secular'. It did not, however, keep that same paper from taking the idea and producing their own version, 6 months later. If you have a creative thought or idea for anything from a story to an invention - get it out there! A creator is one who creates! In spite of what is going on around you, use your imagination and reorganize thoughts and matter into creative expressions unlike anyone else's, unique to you. In this digital age, if you wish to publish a book, music, video, game or art - there are means out there for you to do so. Never let anyone tell you that you are not good enough to make it. Even the most famous now started out with doubts and rejection. We seldom fail because we are defeated - we fail because we don't persevere - we quit before we win. The only way to lose in the end is by not trying. I know that I may never be rich by my books, my music or any other thing that I have done to fully utilize my creativity - but I did it. I wrote three novels, a comic strip and hundreds of songs. Those who know you will be amazed by what you have accomplished, even if they try to dissuade you, or show no interest in what you have done. Life is full of doubters, or wonder if any great thing can come out of someone they have known for so long. Your audience, strangers who come to enjoy what you do, but who may never make themselves known to you, appreciate the contribution you have made as entertainment. Trust me - you can expect as many fans as critics, and it is the silent majority in between who will want you to continue, for years to come. That is what I hope to accomplish in my writing of novels and songs. I know that I will never be the greatest that ever lived in either case, but I will be the most unique in capturing and presenting my own thoughts and ideas. If I can make you feel as I did when I created that book or music, I will have accomplished something that will hopefully enrich your life, and creating them for you has enriched mine. If you have a book in you - write! If you can dance, sing, play an instrument, sculpt or paint, let that expression become a part of your life. Who knows? It may just become a part of someone who needs what you have to offer, even if they live a thousand miles away, and you never ever meet. I am a firm believer that if I can do it - anyone can! Good luck, God bless, and a happy and prosperous 2008 to you and yours! Until next time, ~ D.L.

Well, aside from a few comments by a best pal and reader who has been going through "Wake of the Lake Monster", "The Cryptids Trilogy" is done. I have made attempts to contact both publishers and agents, but I believe I am working backwards. Instead of being a somewhat talented but fairly unknown author (outside of my niche of cryptofiction) trying to get an agent to get a publisher, I am now going to go the route of self-publication in a head-to-head competition with some of the bigger names. I feel that my novels can stand up to both the scrutiny and the comparison. I have labored over them for 6 years, with the help of editor Billye McCarty. She is chomping at the bit to get her hands on my next project, which will make my first foray into a more mainstream, yet untapped area of thrillers. In fact, I would go so far as to say I am uniquely qualified to tell this story. All I'll say thus far is that it is love story of highly technical proportions, based on a growing segment of the population. It might sound a little bland, but you'll soon learn it is as topical as today's headlines. Stay tuned for more on that. Back to agents and publishers. I have had agents request everything from samples to full manuscripts. No one has said they don't like what I have to offer, but most admit they don't handle or know what to do with books about mythical, legendary monsters. They are nice enough about it, when they reply - and most do. One word of advice to both: Don't snub anyone whose eventual popularity and success might come back to haunt you. Nicholas Sparks, Tom Clancy and John Grisham all come to mind. I do not equate myself with authors of this magnitude - except that they started out just like me. I dropped my publisher because they took 3 days to complete the layout of my book, and 2/3 of the profit from sales thereafter. I did all the work to get it to them, with no staff or support system in place to handle writer's block or promotion work. Instead, I have laid out a plan for myself and my books - even though there are companies that I know would take the books today, if I allowed it. In fact, I went so far as to request reviews of well-known authors I had corresponded with in the past. When I revealed that I was a POD (Print on Demand) author, the lines of communication went cold. POD is a technology, though the notion of so much being put out before it is ready or properly prepared has created a massive stigma. Still, these same individuals have gone out of their way to help others, so why not me? One of the pair of authors of whom I speak went so far as to tell me why he would not offer a review: "Your book may compete with my novel, ******" What a backhanded compliment! I was not insulted. On the contrary, I had gleaned favorable comments from the other author, though this one was always a bit put off by my status as an unknown. I own all the books by both authors, and consider them good. I want to do the same, and will promise you this. To the degree that I succeed or fail, I will mark the path on steps to take or avoid, to aid my brothers in ink. I am by no means competition to authors of this magnitude, but one reader knows another, who knows another. My 2nd novel became a bestseller on Amazon without my promoting it. With all that I have learned from some of the great POD authors, my plan can't help but make the most of this opportunity. When I have brought my books to the attention of agents and publishers, then they will be interested in carrying them as mass market paperbacks. Until then, I am what I am. To that end, I will endeavor to release all three volumes of "The Cryptids Trilogy" between now and Christmas. It may take time on the part of the publisher, but that is fine with me. The important thing is that the books are done (with a few final tweaks at the suggestion of the reader-friend I mentioned earlier), and the revised cover art - specially for "Wake", is stunning. I have in place a 4 tier plan, based on various levels of promotion and sales goals. These books are clean. "Shadow" has been expanded by 40 pages, and yet reduced in size by nearly a 100 pages. "Track" required very slight editing - you don't mess with a 5 star book. "Wake" is a Juggernaut of a book, with roots in the Civil War and World War II. It took 4 years to write, as I regained my footing in a career interrupted by two attempts to begin a business of my own. The only issue was that I did all the work, and was expected to split the profits. Not anymore. As I read the milestones set in my plan, the way will be made for me to advance toward my dream of working as an author for the rest of my life. Let's be honest, not that many survive solely on writing - but I want to come as close to it as I can. I will also pull out and dust off music I have written over the past 30 years, and release CDs and downloadable music. That was my first love and my first career. A 125 word song is so much easier to write than a 125,000 word book! I do not regret anything up to this point, with regard to my writing. Except, that I allowed other things to delays the release of "Wake of the Lake Monster". I have chosen my niche with cryptofiction, for its ability to draw in so many other elements of mainstream thrillers. It doesn't mean that I won't depart from it, from time to time, but I have other tales to tell, as well. I hope, in the days, weeks, months and years ahead, you will come to discover what I committed to this day, in my hopes to find and keep you as a reader, from this day to that. If and when you do find me, or another like me, show your support for your local POD author. Just don't let them ever pay a dime to anyone for the honor of appearing in print. Better to pay others to keep the rights than to allow anyone else to charge you for keeping the bulk of the profits. I know I won't go that route. Aside from my beloved editor, I can do it all - and I will. It is my intention to become the king of cryptofiction - to tell a better story while staying true to the science. I know I can do it, with your help. I have learned too much to go back now, and wouldn't it I could. If you like my books, tell others about them. I will make myself and their availability known very, very soon, and then we shall see where they lead. I am so grateful for your continued support, and my lake monster will soon rise from the depths to announce that I have come back from the abyss! ~ D.L. By the way - In spite of 1500+ links to D.L.Tanner, it is my intention to return to use my given name of Dallas Tanner. I own that domain now, as well, and my friends all know me by Dallas, any way. Even when I hosted the radio shows. What do you think? We shall soon see about that, as well...

I have not posted to my blog in nearly two months to the day. I have been busy preparing my trilogy for republication under a new banner. "The Cryptids Trilogy", which consists of "Shadow of the Thunderbird", "Track of the Bigfoot" and "Wake of the Lake Monster", will be released in their entirety as the first titles for Cryptofiction.com. While I am counting down the obligatory 100 agents and 50 publisher I feel would free me to pursue my own dream of publishing my own and others' works of cryptozoological fiction, I have been busy lining up resources in all aspects of the creative process. The domain is already mine, of course, and the rest will come from associations I have made through my years as an author of cryptid novels. Although I have in mind other tales I want to tell, in spelling my overriding interest in exploring the nature and origins of species depicted only in myth and legend, I feel that I will always return to my first love - cryptozoology. I am interested in all aspects of the paranormal, but UFO and ghost encounters always seem to involve abduction and possession. Cryptofiction offers the writer and reader the opportunity to pool their research and theories in a story of high adventure. In my novels at least, the manner of beast is at the heart of the mystery. My characters are real people, with faults and weaknesses that hamper their understanding, and impede their search for the creature of the title. They are all based, in whole or in part, on people I have known. Nearly all of them know who they are, when they read the stories. There are no truly good protagonists, truly bad antagonists, and certainly no perfect characters in my books. They each act as a catalyst for the plot, and drive the story along. Their conflict, either with each other or themselves, is what makes the story worthwhile. I pride myself on the intensive research that goes into my novels. I do not take the popular conception of any cryptid. I tend to disagree with most popular notions any way. The quest is in the discovery of a new species, whether or not that find is made known. Along the way, these past 6 years have been marred by ups and downs in my personal and professional life, resulting in the long delay in the completion of the third leg of my trilogy. That is all pretty well behind me now, as I focus on my goal of growing this subgenre of thriller. It is not easy to do, and there is not yet a universal acceptance of it by the publishing community at large. I read one agent's comments that it is too hard to verify, let alone edit. The terms and science involved, if done correctly, requires resources not available at most publishing houses. Therefore, I am creating my own. I have the means and the connections to accomplish it. Cryptofiction.com will not be a vanity publishing house, where the author pays in advance to have the book set up and made available at online and brick and mortar stores. Yes, they will still be in the 6x9 trade paperback format and POD, which makes remaindering for store credit difficult. Still, selected authors, once I do open the submissions to others, will not pay a penny out of their own pocket. I will insist that their novels be ready for publication, at least in terms of the quality and market readiness of their manuscript. Few houses have the resources any more to completely re-do a manuscript. Grammatical errors, logical disconnects, and poor plot development/lack of conflict will be grounds for refusing a book. I want to offer the best commission rate possible, per book. I am still working out the details on that point, but suffice it to say I have been on the receiving end of a publisher who took the lion's share, while I had to defray costs. Still, I will always be grateful to them, for teaching me the viability of what I offer, and how to make the most of it. So, that being said, I hope that the release of "The Cryptids Trilogy" will be a welcome addition to your library of books. I have labored six years on its final format, much of it with many people who offered their time, talents, and even their means to make it happen. You, as my reader and potential fellow author, have been the focus of this effort. I did not want to mention anything, before I was ready to begin. And that moment has come. So, prepare to be finally see cryptofiction come into its own, with a publisher equipped and supportive of the genre. If all goes well in the waning months of this year, you will see first my revamped novels, and their publishing house, come to fruition. For here there be monsters.... ~D.L.