Yes, this is me telling on myself once again but in order to be successful as an author, I had to come to a few terms with myself on a few things.
As many of you know, I've been wiriting since I was nine and you've known since then I've published seven books of different genres- Romance, Mystery/Suspense and Espionage Thriller with one Paranormal Romance. My first group of stories started off with Espionage Thrillers in which I believed were going to be my first books to be published. I've been writing short Sergeant Wiseguy stories for years and those who read them loved them. They loved the format I wrote them in and those who bought books the first time found them interesting and entertaining. My readers loved the first two books and I'll be writing more stories with side stories and a spin off that I've already test marketed.
In 2027, I'll bring re-releases and new stories to you with my first hero. However, you didn't come to this blog for a pitch. You came here to read how I almost sold myself out, my flagship character and what 9-11 have to do with it. Most of my life, I've been obsessed with terrorist groups, espionage and everything with it. I love anything with international intrigue. Superweapons, take over of nations, bio-weapons and other illegal activity that terrorists are involved in. I wanted to create a hero that was real, sarcastic, and highly intelligent. That's where Sergeant Wiseguy came in. He's the world's top battlefield strategist capable of coming up with the best plans at the last minute in the heat of battle.
Before 9-11 most international crimes were on the network news on the so called "boring" international news. Something many folks didn't care about. I mean certain terrorist attacks like the plane crash over Lockerbie, Scotland, the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole, the Oklahoma City Bombing, or the first World Trade Center boming just to name a few, were given attention, many plots I discussed were not treated as such.
Many non-readers and those who only read one genre outside espionage thrillers believe that certain plots didn't have basis in reality. Especially when I talk about certain superweapons used to cripple mass targets. Despite the fact that these superweapons and plots all do have basis in reality as I write them. Many in the nineties who weren't fans dismissed my stories as fantasy. Many classed my book as science-fiction in which the spy novel/espionage thriller is far from it.
I got a few opportunities in the 90s in which I missed. It wasn't until 1999, I got my first opportunity to publish. I publshed my first book (which turned out to be Romance), How To Lose A Black Woman was a sleeper hit. I followed it up with two mystery/suspense stories I was convinced to tone down. All this while still working on Sergeant Wiseguy stories. I was surrounded by folks who didn't know anything about the writing industry but felt they could slow me down with it.
I was told no one wants to hear stories about a black spy. I had to explain just because there's a lot of black romance out doesn't mean there isn't room for different types of storyteling. That caused me to work slower and slower on Sergeant Wiseguy and more on other projects. Then 9-11 happened. Many of the folks who told me "things like this couldn't happen in real life" now see terrorists acting in real time. Couple that with the "War On Terror" and the controversial "Weapons Of Mass Destruction", folks realized this isn't science fiction.
My book was originally published with the sequel years later and it received great reviews. What happened to it now? Well, with all of my books, the publishing company I was with folded and had to buy all of my titles back. Now I'm rereleasing all of my titles under Hard Drive Publishing mixed in with new titles.
However, between allowing others' opnions to live rent free in my head. I'm talking non readers and those who are outs ide of the writting industry who know nothing about how the writing industry works. As of this writing you will be seeing a lot more from my first hero and when you get a chance, check out the Sergeant Wiseguy Chronicles page for character descriptions, and so much more.
What have I learned? Besides the fact that I've wasted so much time worried about folks who are not my readers, I'm working on any and everything I want to at this point. My first two Sergeant Wiseguy Chronicle books will be released in 2027 with new stories coming out shortly after and some shorter novellas will be coming out (some free on here). There is a spin-off I started, I'll slowly reintroduce soon. Until next time, Let Your Writing Fuel Your Spirit & God Bless.
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