Pax Centurion Review

After weeks of sweating it out, I just received a copy of the review of my book in the Boston Police journal, Pax Centurion. Cops can be the toughest critics of crime fiction, for obvious reasons. Most crime fiction authors are civilians and so run the risk of mischaracterizing the noble and risk-fraught job of fighting crime and keeping order. I am glad to report that the reviewer found The Ranks of Jody Brae particularly satisfying and I was pleased by the thoughtful and considerate exploration of my work. Please take a look http://www.jonathancullen.com/paxrev.html .

On another note, I am nearing completion of Tommy’s Rock. The novel is done from beginning to end and I am currently working on the epilogue. I am so excited by this story and looking forward to some early feedback from trusted readers.

JC.

Coming down the stretch…again…

Long time no write. Blog-keeping is a tough job. I admire folks who can post each day and can maintain the attention of so many followers. Although I think a blog is necessary, I also think it’s a challege for novelists, especially ones just starting out. The business just seems to roll along in fits and starts, so weeks and months can go by without anything new of interest to offer fans and readers. As for me, I’ve been working day in, day out to complete the manuscript for Tommy’s Rock. I changed some things around since the early draft, but the fundamental story remains the same. I am hoping to be finished sometime in early September. As a work of fiction, I find this work much simpler in plot but having much more depth of character than The Ranks. I am super excited to have the final draft (before submitting it to my publisher) and I am confident it will be well-received. So this is just a short, mid-summer, note to update folks and I am going to try to blog more frequently, once the busyness of writing this second book is over. Until then, JC.

Coming down the stretch…

Things are moving along with my second novel, Tommy’s Rock, and I should be finished with the first draft in two weeks. Throughout the process, I have been much more careful in my writing and so the manuscript shouldn’t require as much re-writing as the last. This story is incredible and I look forward to getting some initial feedback. I am still struggling with some plot elements and other small adjustments. There’s a lot going on in the story, so I need to make sure it comes together clearly. Until later, JC.

Back to old title…

Again I have lapsed in my blogging…it’s been over a month now. Not much new to update, but I have decided to revert to the original title of my next novel, “Tommy’s Rock.” My publisher didn’t like it and as a result I, too, wavered. But after a couple of months brainstorming for a good, strong title, I realized that my first instinct was probably right. That’s the way it usually works; your instinct tells you something, then reason sets in, you agonize for days, weeks, months, then finally just submit to what your guy tells you. “Tommy’s Rock”–simple, strong, ambiguous. For anyone listening–and I mentioned this a few months back–Tommy’s Rock was the nickname for a section of Roxbury behind St. Joseph’s parish. Some oldtimers still refer to this area, but mostly it has faded with the past. If you google Tommy’s Rock, you will find some results in obituaries of former residents.

I have had to take some geographic and historical liberties with the next novel, placing Tommy’s Rock on the backside of Fort Hill, the highest point in Roxbury where stands a 19th century water tower (for those who aren’t from the Boston area). I am hoping this won’t be a sticking point with reviewers, especially since a review I received yesterday decried the fact that my last book referenced two-way traffic on some Boston streets that have long been one-ways. Geez! It’s hard trying to satisfy the factoids out there. My books aren’t historical novels and don’t make any claims of historical accuracy. What they do is capture the zeitgeist, the essence of the era and the culture of Boston. And quite well, I believe.

Halfway Point for next novel…

I’ve finally reached what I consider the halfway point of my follow-up novel (a sequel of sorts). I’ve so far written 45,000 words, most novels being between 80,000 and 100,000. I don’t measure the progress strictly in terms of word count, but it does help to have a sense of the scope of the story. I knew I was at the half-way point even before I read the word count, having gotten to the point where the tension of the story was consistent and the plot just beginning to fully form. Unlike Jody Brae, this novel will require a little input from outside sources and I am waiting to hear back from a “forensic” knot expert so that I can confirm some of the technicalities of the storyline. I never knew there was such a specialty as “forensic” knot expert but indeed there is. Much has change since Jody Brae and this story will be very different in scope and tone, but the core characters are the same, except with more depth and detail. I scrapped the working title, “Tommy’s Rock,” which my publisher didn’t like. I can’t say I blame her, since few people outside of the Boston area would know it was the nickname of a neighborhood in Roxbury long ago. Otherwise, it sounds a little childish. My current working title, which I am trying on for size, is “The Desolate Hour.”

Steady At Work…

Well, my New Year’s resolution to blog consistently has fallen behind like the best intentions to lose weight, or quit smoking, or start working out. It happens. Truth is, I don’t want to bore readers with mindless daily ramblings unrelated to my book or my promotional efforts. With that said, things are going well. I had an interview on blog talk radio, The Kim Smith Show, on February 8th. The show went well and can be heard on the link posted under News and Events on my website. There were a few points where I was distracted by an irritable three year-old, which caused me to lose my train of thought. But otherwise, it was an interesting discussion on The Ranks and the host was very passionate about the story. Looking ahead, I’ve just been booked on March 26th for The Author Show, with Don McCauley, a radio show out of Arizona. Can’t wait! As for the writing? Still trudgin ahead with the second book and the story is unfolding very nicely. I hope to have a rough draft by April. Until next time, JC.

New Years Resolution?

Well, my New Year’s resolution to blog each day is off to a bad start. Truth is, I’ve been extremely busy with other book-related activities. Last week a photographer stopped by from the West Roxbury/Roslindale Trascript in advance of an interview I have this week. I’ve been reading the Transcript most of my life so it’s really exciting to be reviewed and interviewed for The Ranks. I have just begun to pick up the pace writing Lovell’s Lament, a novel that’s going to have much more depth and complexity than The Ranks, but with all the action. With a heavily reduced work schedule, I am able to write for many hours at a time, which fits my writing style. I am never more efficient and creative than when I have eight solid hours to write. Writing in bits and spurts is just not effective because when you finally reach peak performance, you’re pulled away from the computer. Anyway, before I babble on…until next time, JC.

Happy New Year!!!

I have annointed 2010 as the Year of Jody Brae I am looking forward to meeting with readers this year and talking more about the book. I’ve already had several requests to appear before book clubs and reading groups, as well as some previously booked radio interviews. There will be an article in the West Roxbury/Roslindale Transcript in a couple of weeks about me and the novel. I am also awaiting the publication of a review in Mysterious Reviews, a subsidiary of OmniMystery that reviews and presents news works of fiction. Book sales have been tremendous and I wasn’t able to count how many copies I signed over the holidays. Feedback, also, has been increasingly stronger and more thoughtful. I am plowing my way through the Brae sequel, which I’ve given the working title “Lovell’s Lament,” a change from the previous working title of “Tommy’s Rock.” What’s in a name? The narrative scope is going to be much broader than that of Brae, but the tension and suspense will be just as compelling. Finally, my New Year’s resolution is to blog at least three times per week, to continue to update readers and provide a little insight into my life and my work, for those who might be interested…

Christmas Update

Well, either Boston is a small town or word of my book is spreading, or both. But someone stopped me downtown today and asked if I was “the guy who wrote the book about Dorchester.” I was sure he was wrong, until he described the cover. Someone at work had given him a copy but he hadn’t started reading it. I was hoping to hear that he “bought” a copy, but either way I am happy to know the novel is in circulation. I’ve had other people in my neighborhood mention they bought the book after reading about it in the Bulletin, or Dorchester Reporter, or Transcript. I am also grateful to the Boston Readers Book group (http://sites.google.com/site/bostonreaders/) who have chosen my novel for their next read. I really appreciate the support! Not much else new to report, except that I have put a Book Trailer on my website which I think captures the tone and times of the story. Until next time, JC.

Moving on to sequel…

Well, it’s been some time since I’ve last written. The Ranks of Jody Brae was released on November 4th and sales have been strong. Much of the exposure so far has been word of mouth, augmented by a few news stories in local Boston papers. My publisher is hard at work scheduling promotional dates for after the first of the year. The real marketing journey begins mid-January when I will have a little more free time to devote. As for now, I am still focusing on generating sales via email, through friends and friends of friends. Feedback has been great and varied. It’s amazing to hear so many different perspectives on the book. It’s humbling when people say it was terrific and it’s agonizing when someone says it was just ‘OK.’ But everyone has different interests and different tastes. As for me, I’ve never been more confident in the quality of my writing and I absolutely love the story. Strangely, each time I re-read the novel I discover different things (and new spelling errors!). I think that so much of narrative is drawn from the subconscious that it’s no surprise when I, the author, even end up wondering about certain plot elements. It’s a wonderful journey. “Tommy’s Rock,” the sequel, is well underway and I am enjoying every step of the journey. Will update you soon! JC.