The unexpected, accidental career.

I began writing The Unlived Lives of Raymond Quinn almost seven years ago. Five and a half years writing it, another half year to get it ready to publish this past fall.

I began the sequel the first week of January this year. The draft was complete in six weeks. I'm doing read throughs now, number six currently. I'll keep doing them until I see no more I want to change.

When that happens, I'll send it to Valerie, my editor, for copyediting/proofreading. When she's done it goes to Paula for marketing assistance/preparation for publishing this fall.

I'll write the third installment this summer in about the time it took to write the second one; six weeks.

Why the big difference in time to write the first book relative to the second and third books, all essentially the same length?

Laziness!

I had nothing pushing me to finish the first until it was time to publish.

So what's pushing me now?

I'm spending real money for outside help, advertising, and assorted other things relating to RQ's story and the sequel. Even more with the third book.

I can no longer lollygag.

Like it or not, it's become a second career I wasn't looking to have. 

Writing a book? Thinking about writing a book?

Retired?

Not if you want to stay that way.