Spent another good portion of my day today working on the publication of my new book. The book is a sequel and continues the story of a Manhattan bartender whom through a series of seemingly unrelated events, winds up in the body guarding business.
The reason that this guy was especially important to me these past two days, aside from just being my hero, is that he's big, tough, smart (street and otherwise) and doesn't like being pushed around. Beyond that, he's a certified martial arts expert and he carries a gun. These are skills, qualities and aids that as an author (or perhaps, anyone else) trying to get something accomplished in today's world can certainly come in handy.
It seems that every step I take toward publication, leads to another step and if every single base isn't touched precisely, the process stops altogether. A completed form leads to another form and that's followed by a questionnaire which leads to what? Of course, another form. What's more, since a lot of time can be saved by trying to do this stuff on the web, if a required field is left blank (because it doesn't apply to you or your project and you therefore don't have the information) you might as well choose another career, because the technology won't let you proceed with this one. And, talking to someone doesn't help, because they either send you right back to the web or suggest snail-mail. While mail perhaps results in better help, I don't want to add six weeks to the project.
Without putting down another two hundred words, because I think you now have the picture, I was considering what Bobby Cole, the guy in my books would do were he in the same position. As a first step he'd probably just show up in person. Most often, in that situation folks generally go out of their way to assist him because he doesn't look like someone who likes "No" as an answer. But, heaven forbid, even if the situation heats up a little, folks most often eventually comply because Bobby's the type that doesn't have to sound like a threat to be one.
Then, last but not least, there's always his weapon. As I sit here and write about him even I am generally amazed at how compliant people suddenly become when they're staring down the barrel of his Walther.
Now that I've put these ideas firmly down on paper I think I might just go out and try to take Bobby's approach. Who knows, maybe I'll be the first guy to serve ten to twenty for "Attempted Publication".
That's it for today, folks
Adios
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