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.