Several months ago, I mentioned that I had some exciting news, but I couldn’t share it yet, until I was certain it was going to happen. Fortunately, it happened. What is it? I got a piece in Newsweek.

If you read Newsweek, you’re familiar with the “My Turn” column, in which writers (and readers) can submit an essay on any topic under the sun. I chose to write about a dog I used to have--a pit bull named Esmerelda.

I haven’t seen a copy of the magazine yet, but the column is already online at the MSNBC site. Here’s a link:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20643577/site/newsweek/page/0/

Of course, as a writer, I have to grouse about the fact that they made some minor edits to the piece that I didn’t like (including the opening), but what can you do? They’re Newsweek. Overall, I’m thrilled.

Hope you get a chance to check it out.

Dear (your name here):

This is a invitation specifically for you, (your name), to visit me at a couple of events this weekend. Come on by if you get a chance. We can talk about (your gifted child/your talented pet/that bunion you need removed). I'm pretty sure there will be (cold beer/iced tea/vending machines in the vicinity). Just think how much fun it will be! We can (talk about the book industry/chuckle about Red and Billy Don/swap pancake recipes). And I promise to (sign your book/answer your questions/keep my eyes off your teenage daughter).

Saturday, September 8, 2:00–4:00 pm
Booksigning
Hill Country Bookstore
719 S. Main Street
Georgetown, TX
(512) 869-4959

Sunday, September 9, 2:00–5:00 pm
Booksigning
Mike Blakely's Annual Tex-Americana Fandango
Luckenbach, TX
www.luckenbachtexas.com
(830) 249-7323

Still trying to figure out what to write next.

Watched Zodiac last night, and enjoyed it quite a bit. It’s compelling subject matter, obviously, and I thought the cast did a great job. Jake Gyllenhall’s performance reminded me of Richard Dreyfus in Close Encounters, to a degree. Worth watching, for sure.

Read The Road by Cormac McCarthy a few weeks ago. Absolutely outstanding, even a work of genius. If you haven’t read it, you should. I’ve read six of his previous works, and this, to me, is probably his landmark book, in a career full of them.

There’s talk about another chupacabra here in Texas again, but the thing the woman found looks similar to the critters that were found a few years ago, which were dead coyotes with mange. Could be some sort of bulldog this time. Follow this link for more:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jgIXOzgj5X8SCBnCesj3lr62Yczw

Author Tess Gerritsen had an interesting post recently about the number of books published in the U.S. every year. Here’s an excerpt:
If you’re talking about new titles that would come through a large urban bookstore in a single year, one rough but reliable estimate I’ve been given (by a source that declined to be named) is that it’s about 10,000 titles.
Her blog is here:
http://tessgerritsen.com/blog/

Gun Shy was reviewed by the Washington Times two Sundays ago. Here’s a link:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070826/BOOKS/108260007/1010&template=nextpage

One of the topics that is bouncing around in my head as potential material for a new book is the immigration issue. I’ve been reading a ton about it, but this particular article addressed it from a landowner’s perspective:
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Currents/Content?oid=oid:66509

Gotta get back to work and stop procrastinating.

When I'm not getting anywhere with my writing, Becky tells me to go to a movie, or go for a drive. Instead, today, I decided to sort through all my old concert and sporting-event tickets stubs, and share them with you here. Lucky you, huh?

This isn't everything I ever attended, just what I have stubs for. I tried to put them in chronological order. All you Texans, look through here and see if we were ever at the same event together....

1979
Boston
Rush

1980
The Kinks
Sammy Hagar
Summer Jam '80 (Black Sabbath, Riot, and others)

1982
Foreigner
The Kinks

1983
Robert Plant
AC/DC

1984
The Cars

1986
Van Halen
Dallas Cowboys v. Raiders
Greater Tuna
John Conlee

1987
Pink Floyd
UT (baseball) v. UT Arlington
Tom Petty
George Strait
The Cars

1988
Astros v. Pittsburgh
UT (football) v. Arkansas
George Strait

1989
Houston Oilers v. Miami Dolphins
Rice v. TCU (football)
Leonard v. Hearns (closed circuit)

1992
The Geezinslaws
Garth Brooks

1994
Johnny Cash
World Cup (soccer)--5 games in Dallas

1995
Lyle Lovett
Hal Ketchum
Merle Haggard
Dallas Cowboys v. NY Giants

1996
Chavez v. De La Hoya (closed circuit)

1997
Lyle Lovett

2001
Lee Ann Womack at Star of Texas Rodeo
Red White & Tuna

2002
UT football v. Iowa State
The Tale of the Allergist's Wife (in NYC)

2004
Simon and Garfunkel
UT baseball regional tournament
UT baseball super-regional tournament

2005
UT baseball v. Texas A&M Corpus Christi

2006
UT football v. Nebraska

2007
UT baseball v. Missouri
UT baseball v. U. of San Diego

Unknown date:
Johnny Dee and the Rocket 88's

Some other events I attended, for which I don't have stubs:
Judas Priest
ZZ Top (twice)
Lots of other UT baseball games
Ray Price
Blue Oyster Cult
Lots of other boxing matches on closed circuit
Several NASL games, mostly the Tampa Bay Rowdies
A Tuna Christmas
The Firm
Willie Nelson
Jesus Chavez versus that guy with the really long name

I'm sure there are many others, but I can't remember them right now.

And yes, I'm man enough to admit the following: The first concert I ever went to--with my mother, no less--was The Captain and Tennille, back in 1976. Muskrat love indeed.

Got any favorite concert memories?

Joe asked some questions, and I knew my reply would be long enough to make it a post, so here goes...

Joe said:

Say you write from the heart and the book isn't as successful as the previous books. Do you hammer on or do you go back to what you had success with? Not necessarily where you want to be, but maybe back to what your readers want.

Follow up question - Do your readers have an impact on what you do? I personally run bar ditch to bar ditch on the books I read. Sci-fi to Blanco county mysteries, politics to shoot-em ups, so I guess I am not a good barometer, but I do hate to stay in a rut. I know what I like but am not afraid to try new authors or genres or authors who try new genres.

How about a kids book? I know you have one in there somewhere.

My answer:

Joe, regarding the first part, the answer is an emphatic "I don't know." Depends on how Holy Moly does when it's released next year. Also depends on what Gun Shy does as a paperback, assuming there is one (which isn't always a given). I wrote the Blanco books from the heart, and they earned me a spot in midlist, with a gajillion other authors. I’m not complaining. I’m happy to have done what I’ve done. But, it’s only natural to want more. More readers, that is. Might be unrealistic, based on the last post I made. Timing can also make this business tricky. For example, what if Holy Moly sold like crazy next year, and it would make sense to do another Blanco book? In the meantime, though, say I’ve been writing something else. Then I’d have to scramble to write another Blanco book, or wait to years between Blanco books, with the other standalone in between. Not ideal, but it could happen.

Regarding the second part, absolutely, readers have an impact on what I do. If my Blanco books had twice the readership they have (or, better, ten times), I’d be happy to write dozens of them. I think what a lot of authors would do in my situation--or, at least, it’s what I’m doing--is to come up with a handful of ideas that I’d genuinely enjoy writing. Then write the one that has the potential to draw the widest readership. This all sounds so crass, talking about sales, but nobody can deny the fact that publishing is a business, and sales matter. Authors get dropped every day--or they decide to try something new on their own--based solely on sales numbers.

Regarding a kid’s book: Maybe, someday, but not yet. No ideas for children’s books have popped into my head. But if one did, and it was compelling and unique enough, sure, I’d write it.